Kerry O'Brien (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I present the 19th report of 2009 of the Selection of Bills Committee.

Ordered that the report be adopted.

I seek leave to have the report incorporated in Hansard.

Leave granted.

The report read as follows—

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

REPORT NO. 19 OF 2009

1.

.    The committee met in private session on Friday, 27 November 2009 at 12.08 pm.

2.

The committee resolved to recommend—That—(a)   the provisions of the Do Not Call Register Legislation Amendment Bill 2009 be referred immediately to the Environment, Communications and the Arts Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 24 February 2010 (see appendices 1 and 2 for statements of reasons for referral);(b)   the provisions of the Freedom of Information Amendment (Reform) Bill 2009 and the Information Commissioner Bill 2009 be referred immediately to the Finance and Public Administration Committee for inquiry and report by 16 March 2010 (see appendix 3 for a statement of reasons for referral);(c)   the provisions of the Occupational Health and Safety and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2009 be referred immediately to the Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 25 February 2010 (see appendix 4 for a statement of reasons for referral); and(d)   the Trade Practices Amendment (Material Lessening of Competition—Richmond Amendment) Bill 2009 be referred immediately to the Economics Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 18 March 2010 (see appendix 5 for a statement of reasons for referral).

(a)

the provisions of the Do Not Call Register Legislation Amendment Bill 2009 be referred immediately to the Environment, Communications and the Arts Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 24 February 2010 (see appendices 1 and 2 for statements of reasons for referral);

(b)

the provisions of the Freedom of Information Amendment (Reform) Bill 2009 and the Information Commissioner Bill 2009 be referred immediately to the Finance and Public Administration Committee for inquiry and report by 16 March 2010 (see appendix 3 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(c)

the provisions of the Occupational Health and Safety and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2009 be referred immediately to the Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 25 February 2010 (see appendix 4 for a statement of reasons for referral); and

(d)

the Trade Practices Amendment (Material Lessening of Competition—Richmond Amendment) Bill 2009 be referred immediately to the Economics Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 18 March 2010 (see appendix 5 for a statement of reasons for referral).

3.

The committee resolved to recommend—That the following bills not be referred to committees:

Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Amendment (Disallowance and Amendment Power of the Commonwealth) Bill 2009

• Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Income Support for Students) Bill 2009 [No. 2].
• Trans-Tasman Proceedings (Transitional and Consequential Provisions) Bill 2009
• Trans-Tasman Proceedings Bill 2009.

The committee recommends accordingly.

4.

The committee deferred consideration of the following bills to its next meeting:

• Britt Lapthorne Bill 2009
• Fisheries Legislation Amendment Bill 2009
• Health Insurance Amendment (Diagnostic Imaging Accreditation) Bill 2009
• Keeping Jobs from Going Offshore (Protection of Personal Information) Bill 2009
• Therapeutic Goods (Charges) Amendment Bill 2009
• Therapeutic Goods Amendment (2009 Measures No. 3) Bill 2009.

(signed)

Kerry O’Brien

Chair

30 November 2009

 

APPENDIX 1

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

DO NOT CALL REGISTER LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL 2009

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

To examine the implications of changes on Small Business.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy Australian Direct Marketing Assoc,

ACMA,

Council of Small Business Organisations of Australia

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Environment, Communications and the Arts Legislation Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

Throughout summer break.

Possible reporting date:

Report 12 February 2010

(signed)

Stephen Parry

Whip / Selection of Bills Committee member

APPENDIX 2

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

DO NOT CALL REGISTER LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL 2009

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

To establish whether the Bill adequately protects all Australians from unsolicited marketing calls

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Office of the Privacy Commissioner

Australian Privacy Foundation

Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman ACMA

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Environment, Communication and the Arts Legislation Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

February 5, February 16

Possible reporting date:

February 24 2010

(signed)

Rachel Siewert

Whip / Selection of Bills Committee member

APPENDIX 3

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Freedom of Information Amendment (Reform) Bill 2009 Information Commissioner Bill 2009

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Whether the Bills contain measures effective to ensure that the right of access to documents is as comprehensive as it can be;

Whether improvements to the request process are efficient and could be further improved;

Whether the measures will assist in the creation of a pro-disclosure culture with respect to government and what further measures may be appropriate;

Assessment of the functions, powers and resources of the Information Commissioner

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Department of Prime Minister & Cabinet, Attorney-General’s Department, the Privacy Commissioner, the Human Rights Commission, the Law Council of Australia and civil liberties organisations.

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Finance and Public Administration Legislation

Possible hearing date(s):

Possible reporting date:

End of spring session.

(signed)

Stephen Parry

Whip / Selection of Bills Committee member

APPENDIX 4

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Occupational Health and Safety and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2009

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

To examine changes to benefits for employees and also impacts on the Consolidated Revenue Fund from claims from the past.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Employee Advocacy Organisations

ComCare Licencees

Other Occupation al Heath & Safety Peak Groups

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Legislation Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

Throughout summer break.

Possible reporting date:

Report 25 February 2010

(signed)

Stephen Parry

Whip / Selection of Bills Committee member

APPENDIX 5

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Trade Practices Amendment (Material Lessening of Competition - Richmond Amendment) Bill 2009

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

In undertaking the inquiry, the Committee should consider:

• The current threshold for determining when mergers and acquisitions lessen competition;
• The impact of corporations with an already substantial share of a market acquiring assets/shares on small businesses within the same market;
• The role of small business in ensuring a competitive market;
• And related matters

Possible submissions or evidence from:

ACCC

Associate Professor Frank Zumbo, University of New South Wales Australian Retailers Association

National Association of Retail Grocers of Australia

CHOICE

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs (Legislation)

Possible hearing date(s):

February/ March 2010

Possible reporting date:

Thursday 18 March 2010

(signed)

Kerry O’Brien

Whip / Selection of Bills Committee member