Senate debates

Thursday, 12 November 2015

Committees

Selection of Bills Committee; Report

11:52 am

Photo of David BushbyDavid Bushby (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | | Hansard source

I present the 14th report of 2015 of the Selection of Bills Committee. I seek leave to have the report incorporated in Hansard.

Leave granted.

The report read as follows—

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

REPORT NO. 14 OF 2015

1. The committee met in private session on Wednesday, 11 November 2015 at 7.19 pm.

2. The committee resolved to recommend—That—

(a) the Australian Crime Commission Amendment (Criminology Research) Bill 2015 be referred immediately to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 26 November 2015 (see appendix 1 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(b) the Commonwealth Grants Commission Amendment (GST Distribution) Bill 2015 be referred immediately to the Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 16 March 2016 (see appendix 2 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(c) the provisions of the Health Insurance Amendment (Safety Net) Bill 2015 be referred immediately to the Community Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 23 November 2015 (see appendix 3 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(d) the provisions of the Higher Education Support Amendment (VET FEE-HELP Reform) Bill 2015 be referred immediately to the Education and Employment Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 30 November 2015 (see appendices 4 and 5 for a statement of reasons for referral); and

(e) the provisions of the Migration Legislation Amendment (Cessation of Visa Labels) Bill 2015 be referred immediately to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 25 February 2016 (see appendix 6 for a statement of reasons for referral).

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

            The committee recommends accordingly.

            4. The committee considered the following bill but was unable to reach agreement:

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

                                        APPENDIX 1

                                        SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

                                        Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:

                                        Name of bill:

                                        Australian Crime Commission Amendment (Criminology Research) Bill 2015

                                        Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                        To ensure proper scrutiny of the Bill and to ensure that the new Criminology and Justice Research Centre continues to operate an open access library, provide strong and independent research with continued access to datasets currently available to the Australian Institute of Criminology and operate without funding restrictions.

                                        Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                        Australian Institute of Criminology

                                        Australian Crime Commission

                                        Attorney Generals Department

                                        Rick Sarre, President of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Criminology

                                        John Myrtle, Associate Investigator, ARC Centre of Excellence in Policing and Security,

                                        Griffith University, OLD

                                        Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                        Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee

                                        Possible hearing date(s):

                                        To be determined by the committee

                                        Possible reporting date:

                                        26 November 2015

                                        (signed)

                                        Senator Anne Urquhart

                                        APPENDIX 2

                                        SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

                                        Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:

                                        Name of bill:

                                        Commonwealth Grants Commission Amendment (GST Distribution) Bill 2015

                                        Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                        The measure contained in the Commonwealth Grants Commission Amendment (GST Distribution) Bill 2015, is poorly understood given the complexity of this area of public policy. The Bill does not create new revenue for Western Australia it simply tightens up the accounting period and brings revenue forward and will reduce the same revenue earlier than is currently the case. The understanding of this is poor and I believe through proper presentation and discussion during the committee process the Senate will be better informed.

                                        Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                        State and Territory Governments, government agencies including Commonwealth Grants Commission, Economists

                                        Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                        Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee

                                        Possible reporting date:

                                        16 March 2016

                                        (signed)

                                        Senator Zhenya Wang

                                        APPENDIX 3

                                        SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

                                        Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:

                                        Name of bill:

                                        Health Insurance Amendment (Safety Net) Bill 2015

                                        Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                        To examine the impact of changes to the Medicare safety nets on all patients but especially those requiring access to psychiatrists, radiation oncology patients and those accessing assisted reproductive technology services

                                        Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                        Australian Medical Association, Royal Australia New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, National Association of Practising Psychiatrists, The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists, Department of Health, Consumers Health Forum

                                        Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                        Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee

                                        Possible reporting date:

                                        23 November

                                        (signed)

                                        Senator Anne Urquhart

                                        APPENDIX 4

                                        SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

                                        Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:

                                        Name of bill:

                                        Higher Education Support Amendment (VET FEE-HELP Reform) Bill 2015

                                        Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                        Scrutinise effect of government proposals for VET FEE-HELP reform and proposed opposition amendments

                                        Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                        Stakeholders - TAFE Directors, Private providers (ACPET), TAFE Chairs

                                        Students & Consumer advocates

                                        Staff - AEU, NTEU

                                        Education Experts

                                        Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                        Education and Employment Legislation Committee

                                        Possible hearing date(s):

                                        To be determined by the committee

                                        Possible reporting date:

                                        18 February 2016

                                        (signed)

                                        Senator Anne Urquhart

                                        APPENDIX 5

                                        SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

                                        Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:

                                        Name of bill:

                                        Higher Education Support Amendment (VET FEE-HELP Reform) Bill 2015

                                        Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                        To review the impact and potential outcomes of the reforms within this Bill, and whether they are sufficient to fix the problems currently occurring the for-profit VET sector

                                        Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                        ASQA

                                        AEU

                                        NTEU

                                        TAFE Directors Australia

                                        Council of Private Higher Education

                                        Department of Education and Training

                                        Grattan Institute

                                        Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                        Education and Employment

                                        Possible hearing date(s):

                                        Late November—Late February

                                        Possible reporting date:

                                        March 2-5 2016

                                        (signed)

                                        Senator Siewert

                                        APPENDIX 6

                                        SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

                                        Proposal to refer a bill to a committee:

                                        Name of bill;

                                        Migration Legislation Amendment (Cessation of Visa Labels) Bill 2015

                                        Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                        To further investigate potential impacts and unintended consequences of the Bill

                                        Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                        Department of Immigration and Border Protection Department of Foreign Affairs

                                        Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                        Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee

                                        Possible reporting date:

                                        February 2016

                                        (signed)

                                        Senator Anne Urquhart

                                        ) ( ): I move that the report be adopted.

                                        Photo of Claire MooreClaire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | | Hansard source

                                        I have a motion to amend the report. I move:

                                        At the end of the motion, add, "and in respect of the Social Services Legislation Amendment (Family Payments Structural Reform and Participation Measures) Bill 2015, the provisions of the bill be referred immediately to the Community Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report on 30 November 2015.".

                                        Photo of Gavin MarshallGavin Marshall (Victoria, Deputy-President) Share this | | Hansard source

                                        The question is that the amendment be agreed to.

                                        Question agreed to.

                                        The question now is that report, as amended, be agreed to.

                                        Question agreed to.

                                        Ordered that the report, as amended, be adopted.