Senate debates

Thursday, 4 February 2010

Committees

Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee; Reference

9:58 am

Photo of Rachel SiewertRachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | | Hansard source

I move:

That the following matters be referred to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee for inquiry and report by 30 September 2010:
(a)
what compensation payments are made by Commonwealth, state and territory governments to people adversely affected by government policies, legislation or unlawful actions;
(b)
what is the legal basis for payments, what defines their size and are there variations between the legal basis and amounts paid between state and federal governments;
(c)
what are the principles on which compensation payments should be based in order that they are proportionate, appropriate and easily understood; and
(d)
what opportunities are there for national coordination to ensure equity and consistency where people have been adversely affected by similar government policies, legislation or unlawful actions.

Mr President, I seek some guidance, please. I have circulated amendments to this under standing order 77. There is no reference to that, so I am just making sure that that is the one we are voting on.

Photo of John HoggJohn Hogg (President) Share this | | Hansard source

It is in the amended form in the Notice Paper, Senator Siewert, so it is quite in order.

Question agreed to.