David Bushby (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I present the 15th report of 2017 of the Selection of Bills Committee, and I seek leave to have the report incorporated in Hansard.

Leave granted.

The report read as follows—

1. The committee met in private session on Wednesday, 6 December 2017 at 7.19 pm.

2. The committee recommends that—

(a) the Judiciary Amendment (Commonwealth Model Litigant Obligations) Bill 2017 be referred immediately to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 8 May 2018 (see appendix 1 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(b) the provisions of the Bankruptcy Amendment (Debt Agreement Reform) Bill 2017 be referred immediately to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 19 March 2018 (see appendix 2 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(c) the Communications Legislation Amendment (Online Content Services and Other Measures) Bill 2017 be referred immediately to the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 19 March 2018 (see appendix 3 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(d) the Communications Legislation Amendment (Regional and Small Publishers Innovation Fund) Bill 2017 be referred immediately to the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee but was unable to reach agreement on a reporting date (see appendix 4 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(e) the Copyright Amendment (Service Providers) Bill 2017 be referred immediately to the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 19 March 2018 (see appendix 5 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(f) the Crimes Legislation Amendment (Combatting Corporate Crime) Bill 2017 be referred immediately to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 20 April 2018 (see appendix 6 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(g) the Family Law Amendment (Family Violence and Other Measures) Bill 2017 be referred immediately to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 20 April 2018 (see appendix 7 for a statement of reasons for referral); and

(h) the Family Law Amendment (Parenting Management Hearings) Bill 2017 be referred immediately to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 26 March 2018 (see appendix 8 for a statement of reasons for referral).

3. The committee recommends that the following bills not be referred to committees:

Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Bill 2017

Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme (Charges Imposition) Bill 2017

Security of Critical Infrastructure (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill.

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

(David Bushby)

Chair

7 December 2017

I move:

That the report be adopted.

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move the following amendment:

At the end of the motion, add 'and, in respect of:

(a) the Communications Legislation Amendment (Regional and Small Publishers Innovation Fund) Bill 2017, the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee report on 12 February 2018; and

(b) the Communications Legislation Amendment (Online Content Services and Other Measures) Bill 2017, the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee report on 12 February 2018.'

That amendment has been circulated in the chamber, I understand. I thank the opposition for their constructive engagement with the government this morning in relation to item (b), the Communications Legislation Amendment (Online Content Services and Other Measures) Bill 2017. The government had incorrect advice last night for the Selection of Bills Committee about the critical passage date for the bill. I put on the record the appreciation of the government to Ms Rowland and Senator Urquhart for, what I understand will be, the support of the opposition to have an early reporting date of 12 February 2018.

I also speak briefly to the date which the government is seeking to add to the Selection of Bills Committee report, in relation to the Regional and Small Publishers Innovation Fund. That reporting date for the committee would enable the Australian Communications and Media Authority to administer the $50 million Regional and Small Publishers Innovation Fund. As colleagues would know, the purpose of the fund is to assist small publishers, particularly those in regional areas, with grants to help them transform their businesses in a challenging media market. The government wants the architecture for the fund in place to allow for the first round of grants to be awarded in June 2018, with funds to flow from July 2018. I should, for the benefit of colleagues, indicate that, if the proposed reporting date doesn't find favour with colleagues, it would be unlikely that ACMA would be in a position to award grants by 1 June 2018, as is intended.

Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

At the end of the motion, add, "but, in respect of the Communications Legislation Amendment (Regional and Small Publishers Innovation Fund) Bill 2017, the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee report by 19 March 2018."

If I had a dollar for every time I heard the minister say, 'You're not going to be able to do something if this isn't achieved by this particular date,' I think I could fund our next election campaign. Sorry, I've heard it so often that I just don't believe the comments that they make. This reporting date would allow proper review of the bill and still would allow sufficient time for the measures to be put in place to allow the fund to operate.

Sue Lines (WA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Has your amendment been circulated, Senator Siewert?

Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes.

Question negatived.

Sue Lines (WA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that the motion, as amended, be agreed to.

Question agreed to.