Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I present the government's response to the President's report of 9 February 2011 on government responses outstanding to parliamentary committee reports and seek leave to have the document incorporated in Hansard.

Leave granted.

The document read as follows—

GOVERNMENT RESPONSES TO PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE REPORTS

RESPONSE TO THE SCHEDULE TABLED ON THE 9 FEBRUARY 2011 BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AS AT 25 NOVEMBER 2010

Circulated by the Leader of the Government in the Senate

Senator the Hon Chris Evans

6 July 2011

A CERTAIN MARITIME INCIDENT (Senate Select)

Report on a Certain Maritime Incident

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

AGRICULTURAL AND RELATED INDUSTRIES (Senate Select)

Pricing and supply arrangements in the Australian and global fertiliser market—Final report

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

The incidence and severity of bushfires across Australia

The government response was tabled in the Senate on 6 July 2011.

Food production in Australia—Final report

The government response was presented out of sitting in the Senate on 20 May 2011 and tabled on 14 June 2011.

COMMUNITY AFFAIRS LEGISLATION

National registration and accreditation scheme for doctors and other health workers

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

Provisions of Schedules 2 and 3 of the Families. Housing. Community services and Indigenous Affairs and Other Legislation Amendment (Budget and Other Measures) Bill 2010

Recommendations in this report were dealt with during the debate of the bill. No formal response required.

COMMUNITY AFFAIRS REFERENCES

Hear us: Inquiry into hearing health in Australia

The government response was presented out of sitting in the Senate on 30 May 2011 and tabled on 14 June 2011.

Consumer access to pharmaceutical benefits

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

COMMUNITY AFFAIRS STANDING

Funding and operation of the Commonwealth State/Territory Disability Agreement

The government response was presented out of sitting in the Senate on 21 December 2010 and tabled on 9 February 2011.

Towards recovery: Mental health services in Australia

The government response is being considered.

CORPORATIONS AND FINANCIAL SERVICES (Joint Statutory)

Review of the Managed Investments Act 1998

The government response is being considered.

Inquiry into Regulation 7.1.29 in Corporations Amendment Regulations 2003 (No. 3), Statutory Rules 2003 No. 85)

The Government does not intend to respond to the report because of the time elapsed since the report was tabled. Key recommendations relate to the introduction of a licensing exemption for accountants who provide certain financial services. This issue is being addressed by the Future of Financial Advice reforms which will come into effect on 1 July 2012.

Corporations Amendment Regulations 7.1.29A. 7.1.35A and 7.1.40(h)

The Government does not intend to respond to the report because of the time elapsed since the report was tabled. Key recommendations relate to a licensing exemption for accountants who provide certain financial services. The exemption is being addressed by the Future of Financial Advice reforms which will come into effect on 1 July 2012.

Corporate responsibility: Managing risk and creating value

The Government does not intend to respond to the report because of the time elapsed since the report was tabled; and the significant developments in the corporate social responsibility area since the inquiry.

The structure and operation of the superannuation industry

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

Better shareholders—better company—Shareholder engagement and pa rticipation in Australia

The Government does not intend to respond to the report because of the time elapsed since the report was tabled.

Inquire into aspects of agribusiness managed investment schemes

The Government will provide a response on the finalisation of two separate committee inquiries that overlap with issues raised in this report.

Statutory oversight of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission

The government response is being considered.

ECONOMICS LEGISLATION

Food Standards Amendment (Truth in Labelling Laws) Bill 2009

The government response is being considered.

Tax Laws Amendment (Public Benefit Test) Bill 2010

The government response was presented out of sitting in the Senate on 11 February 2011 and tabled on 28 February 2011.

Corporations Amendment (No. 1) Bill 2010 [Provisions].

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

Annual reports (No. 2 of 2010)

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

ECONOMICS REFERENCES

Consenting adults deficits and household debt—links between Australia's current account deficit, the demand for imported goods and household debt

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

Employee share schemes

The government response was presented out of sitting in the Senate on 7 February 2011 and tabled on 9 February 2011.

Foreign investment by state-owned entities

The government response was tabled in the Senate on 23 June 2011.

Government measures to address confidence concerns in the financial sector —The Financial Claims Scheme and the Guarantee Scheme for Large Deposits and Wholesale Funding

Report overtaken by the recommendations of the Senate Economics References Committee report on Competition within the Australian Banking Sector.

Report on bank mergers

Report overtaken by the recommendations of the Senate Economics References Committee report on Competition within the Australian Banking Sector.

GROCERYchoice website

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

Milking it for all it's worth—competition and pricing in the Australian dairy industry

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

Access of small business to finance

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

The regulation, registration and remuneration of insolvency practitioners in Australia: the case for a new framework

The government presented an interim response out of sitting in the Senate on 9 June 2011 and tabled on 14 June 2011. A further response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT AND WORKPLACE RELATIONS REFERENCES

Provision of childcare

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

Welfare of international students

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

Primary schools for the Twenty First Century—Interim report

The government response was tabled in the Senate on 3 March 2011.

ELECTORAL MATTERS (Joint Standing)

Civics and electoral education

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

Implications of the Parliamentary Electorates and Elections Amendment (Automatic Enrolment) Act 2009 (NSW) for the conduct of Commonwealth elections

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

Report on the 2007 federal election—Events in the division of Lindsay—Review of penalty provisions in the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918

The government response was presented out of sitting in the Senate on 1 July 2011 and tabled on 4 July 2011.

ENVIRONMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS LEGISLATION

Radiocommunications Amendment Bill 2010 [Provisions]

Recommendations in this report were dealt with during the debate of the bill. No formal response required.

National Broadcasting Legislation Amendment Bill 2010 [Provisions]

The government responded in the second reading speech on the amended bill which was introduced in the House of Representatives on 23 March 2011.

ENVIRONMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS REFERENCES

Sustainable management by the Commonwealth of water resources

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

Green Loans Program

The Australian Government notes the Senate Inquiry report into the Green Loans program.

The majority of the recommendations in the Senate Inquiry report were regarding the Green Start program, including the recommendation not to proceed. The Green Start program did not commence, and the Green Loans program has now closed.

In addition, the Government has responded to the following reports into the Green Loans program:

ENVIRONMENT, COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS LEGISLATION

Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Fibre Dep loyment) Bill 2010 [Provisions]

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

ENVIRONMENT, COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS REFERENCES

Forestry and mining operations on the Tiwi Islands

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

The impacts of mining in the Murray-Darling Basin

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

Australia Post's treatment of injured and ill workers

The government response was presented out of sitting in the Senate on 22 December 2011 and tabled on 9 February 2011.

Energy Efficient Homes Package (ceiling insulation)

The Australian Government notes the Senate Inquiry report into the Energy Efficiency Homes Package.

Substantial analytical work relating to the safety programs has been recently released, and the Government has publicly announced clear actions for program closure.

In addition, the Government has responded to the ANAO Audit Report into the Home Insulation Program.

ENVIRONMENT, COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS STANDING

The operation of the Environment Protection and Biodiversitv Conservation Act 199 9 First report

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

The operation of the Environment Protection and Biodiversitv Conservation Act 1999 Second and final report

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

The reporting of sports news and the emergence of digital media

The government response was presented out of sitting in the Senate on 25 February 2011 and tabled on 28 February 2011.

ENVIRONMENT, COMMUNICATIONS, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND THE ARTS REFERENCES

Living with a salinity—a report on progress: the extent and economic impact of salinity in Australia

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

About time! Women in sport and recreation in Australia

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

ENVIRONMENT, COMMUNICATIONS, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND THE ARTS STANDING

Conserving Australia—Australia's national parks. conservation reserves and marine protected areas

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

FINANCE AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION LEGISLATION

Plebiscite for an Australian Republic Bill 2008

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

Annual reports (No. 2 of 2009)

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

FINANCE AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION REFERENCES

Staff employed under Members of Parliament (Staff) Act 1984

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

Government advertising and accountability

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

Native vegetation laws. greenhouse gas abatement and climate change measures

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

The funding arrangements for tax reform advertising

No recommendations requiring a government response.

Reform of Australian Government administration—Interim report

No recommendations requiring a government response.

FINANCE AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION STANDING

Annual reports (No. 1 of 2008)

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

Annual reports (No. 2 of 2008)

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

Annual report (No. 1 of 2009)

The government response was tabled in the Senate on 12 May 2011.

Residential and community aged care in Australia

The government response was presented out of sitting in the Senate on 17 February 2011 and tabled on 28 February 2011.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS, DEFENCE AND TRADE (JOINT STANDING)

Human rights in the Asia-Pacific: Challenges and opportunities

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

Review of the Defence annual report 2008-2009

The government response was presented out of sitting in the Senate on 28 June 2011 and tabled on 4 July 2011.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS, DEFENCE AND TRADE LEGISLATION

Australian Civilian Corps Bill 2010 (Provisions]

The government response was presented out of sitting in the Senate on 10 March 2011 and tabled on 21 March 2011.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS, DEFENCE AND TRADE REFERENCES

Economic challenges facing Papua New Guinea and the island states of the southwest Pacific—Volume 1

The government response was presented out of sitting in the Senate on 4 May 2011 and tabled on 10 May 2011.

Security challenges facing Papua New Guinea and the island states of the southwest Pacific—Volume II

The government response was presented out of sitting in the Senate on 4 May 2011 and tabled on 10 May 2011.

Report on Parliamentary Privilege—possible interference in the work of the committee—Inquiry into matters relating to events on HMAS Success

The government response was tabled in the Senate on 12 May 2011.

FUEL AND ENERGY (Senate Select)

The mining tax: Still bad for the economy—Still bad for lobs—Second interim report

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

Final report

The recommendation made by the committee is a matter for the Senate to determine.

INTELLIGENCE AND SECURITY (JOINT)

Annual report of committee activities 2008-2009

The government response was tabled in the Senate on 12 May 2011.

Review of administration and expenditure: No. 8—Australian intelligence agencies

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS REFERENCES

The road to a republic

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

MEN'S HEALTH (Senate Select)

Report

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

MIGRATION (Joint Standing)

Negotiating the maze – Review of arrangements for overseas skills recognition, upgrading and licensing

The government response was tabled on 23 June 2011.

Immigration detention in Australia – A new beginning – Criteria for release from detention – First report of the inquiry into immigration detention

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

Immigration detention in Australia – Community-based alternatives to detention – Second report of the inquiry into immigration detention

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

Immigration detention in Australia—Facilities, services and transparency—Third report of the inquiry into immigration detention

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

Enabling Australia—Inquiry into the migration treatment of disability

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

MINISTERIAL DISCRETION IN MIGRATION MATTERS (Senate Select)

Report

The government response was presented out of sitting in the Senate on 30 June 2011 and tabled on 4 July 2011.

NATIONAL BROADBAND NETWORK (Senate Select)

Another fork in the road to national broadband—Second interim report

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

Third report

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

Fourth interim report

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

Final report

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

NATIONAL CAPITAL AND EXTERNAL TERRITORIES (Joint Standing)

Inquiry into the changing economic environment in the Indian Ocean Territories

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

PUBLIC ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT (Joint Statutory)

Report 412—Audit reports reviewed during the 41st Parliament

The government response was made by executive minute to the committee.

Report 414—Review of the Auditor-General's reports tabled between August 2007 and August 2008

The government response was made by executive minute to the committee.

Report 415—Review of Auditor-General's report tabled between September 2008 and .January 2009

The government response was made by executive minute to the committee.

Report 417—Review of Auditor-General's reports tabled between February 2009 and September 2009

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

PUBLIC WORKS (Joint Standing)

Report 5/2009—Referral made May to June 2009—Fitout and external works. ANZAC Park West, Parks, ACT—Fitout of Tuggeranong Office Park, Greenwav, ACT

Parliament has approved the proposed public works be undertaken.

Report 6/2009—Redevelopment of the Villawood Immigration Detention Facility

Parliament has approved the proposed public works be undertaken.

Report 7/2009—Referrals made August to October 2009—Construction of housing at Gordon Olive Estate, Brisbane, OLD—construction and renovation of housing at Larrakevah Barracks, Darwin, NT—Enhanced Land Force Stage 2. various locations-Midlife engineering services refurbishment of the Australian Embassy. Paris, France—Tropical marine research facilities, Cape Ferguson and Townsville, OLD—Redevelopment of Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan

Parliament has approved the proposed public works be undertaken.

PUBLICATIONS (Joint Standing)

Inquiry into the development of a digital repository and electronic distribution of the Parliamentary Paper Series

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

REGIONAL AND REMOTE INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES (Senate Select)

Third report

The government response was presented out of sitting in the Senate on 6 April 2011 and tabled on 10 May 2011.

Fourth report 2010

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

Final report 2010

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

RURAL AFFAIRS AND TRANSPORT LEGISLATION

Airports Amendment Bill 2010 [Provisions]

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

RURAL AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS AND TRANSPORT REFERENCES

Iraqi wheat debt—repayments for wheat growers

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

Meat marketing – Interim report

The government response was presented out of sitting in the Senate on 20 May 2011 and tabled on 14 June 2011.

Implications for the long-term sustainable management of the Murray-Darling Basin system—Final report

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

Import risk analysis (IRA) for the importation of Cavendis h bananas from the Philippines– Final report

The government response was tabled in the Senate on 12 May 2011.

Meat marketing – Final report

The government response was presented out of sitting in the Senate on 20 May 2011 and tabled on 14 June 2011.

Investment of Commonwealth and State funds in public passenger transport infrastructure and services

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

Management of the removal of the rebate for AQ IS export certification functions

The government response was tabled in the Senate on the 10 February 2011.

Rural and regional access to secondary and tertiary education opportunities

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

Natural resource management and conservation challenges

The government response was tabled in the Senate on the 3 March 2011.

The possible impacts and consequences for public health, trade and agriculture of the Government's decision to re lax import restrictions on beef —First report

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

The possible impacts and consequences for public health, trade and agriculture of the Government's decision to relax import restrictions on beef —Final report

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

The effectiveness of Airservices Australia's management of aircraft noise

The government response was presented out of sitting in the Senate on 22 February 2011 and tabled on 28 February 2011.

RURAL AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS AND TRANSPORT STANDING

Australia's future oil supply and alternativ e transport fuels –Final report

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

Climate change and the Australian agricultural sector – Final report

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

STATE GOVERNMENT FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (Senate Select)

Report

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

TREATIES (Joint Standing)

Report 99—Treaties tabled on 3 December 2008 and 3 February 2009

The government response was tabled in the Senate on the 10 February 2011.

Report 100—Treaties tabled on 25 June 2008 (2)

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

Report 107—Treaties tabled on 20 August (2) and 15 September 2009

The government response was tabled in the Senate on the 12 May 2011.

Report 110—Treaties tabled on 18.25 (2) and 26 November 2009 and 2 (2) February 2010

The government response is being considered and will be tabled in due course.

Report 111—Treaties tabled on 25 November 2009 (3), 4 and 24 February 2010

The government response was tabled in the Senate on the 12 May 2011.