Dean Smith (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I present the first report of 2020 of the Selection of Bills Committee and I seek leave to have the report incorporated into the Hansard.

Leave granted.

The report read as follows—

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

REPORT NO. 9 OF 2019

I. The committee met in private session on Wednesday, 5 February 2020 at 7.12 pm.

2. The committee recommends that—

(a) the provisions of the Australian Business Growth Fund Bill 2019 be referred immediately to the Economics Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 21 February 2020 (see appendix 1 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(b) contingent upon introduction in the House of Representatives, the provisions of the Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Simplifying Income Reporting and Other Measures) Bill 2020 be referred immediately to the Community Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 20 February 2020 (see appendix 2 for a statement of reasons for referral); and

(c) contingent upon introduction in the House of Representatives, the provisions of the Paid Parental Leave Amendment (Flexibility Measures) Bill 2020 be referred immediately to the Community Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 19 March 2020.

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

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

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

(Dean Smith) Chair

6 February 2020

Appendix 1

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Name of bill:

Australian Business Growth Fund Bill 2019

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

To seek clarity or the governance and operational arrangements of the Fund

To seek views from stakeholders and experts on how best to implement the Fund

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Department of the Treasury

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Senate Economics Legislation Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

To be determined by the Committee

Possible reporting date:

21 February 2020

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Australian Business Growth Fund Bill 2019

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

To understand the current supply of credit to small and medium enterprises (SMEs), including any particular market conditions and any regulations that are affecting the supply of credit to SMEs.

To understand the possible competition impacts of this Bill, including whether it would give preference to bank capital over other forms of capital.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Economists

Business associations and industry groups

Financial sector

Shareholders

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Economics

Possible hearing date(s):

Not necessary

Possible reporting date:

April 2020

Appendix 2

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Social Security and other Amendments (Simplifying Income Reporting and Other Measures) Bill 2020

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

To be determined by the Committee

Possible reporting date:

19 March 2020

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Simplifying Income Reporting and Other Measures) Bill 2020

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

This bill fundamentally changes the way income is reported and assessed for the purposes of determining income support payments. It will affect 1.2 million income support recipients and generates significant savings from the social security budget. It is necessary to scrutinise and understand the impact this new legislation will have on income support recipients.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

ACOSS, NSSRN, Anglicare Australia, Jobs Australia, Australian Unemployed Workers Union, Community and Public Sector Union, Accountable Income Management Network.

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Community Affairs Legislation Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

Possible reporting date:

Appendix 3

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Name of bill:

Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment (Ensuring Integrity No. 2) Bill 2019

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

The Bill is substantially different from its previous iteration. None of the amendments incorporated by the Government to form the new bill were debated in either House. The potential impact!, of these amendments need to be examined in detail.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

The ACTU, state labour councils, unions, union members, workplace relations academics and lawyers, employer representatives.

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

To be determined by the Committee

Possible reporting date:

Friday, 1 May 2020.

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment (Ensuring Integrity No.2)

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

The Bill is incompatible with International Labour Organisations (ILO) treaties and infringes on the rights of workers and their unions.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Unions

Fair Work Commission Fair Work Ombudsman

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Education and Employment Legislation Committee Possible hearing date(s):

Possible reporting date:

25 June 2020

Appendix 4

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Treasury Laws Amendment (Research and Development Tax Incentive) Bill 2019

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Economics Legislation Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

To be determined by the Committee

Possible reporting date:

Friday, 30 April 2020

I move:

That the report be adopted.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move the following amendment:

At the end of the motion, add "but in respect the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment (Ensuring Integrity No. 2) Bill 2019, the bill not be referred to a committee."

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have an amendment to the government's amendment that has been circulated. I move the amendment to the amendment moved by Senator Ruston circulated in my name, which completely disagrees with the government's amendment:

Omit "not be referred to a committee", substitute "be referred immediately to the Education and Employment Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 1 May 2020"

We do believe this is a fair request to put to the government. This is a highly contested bill. There were significant amendments made to the bill during the debate last year in this place. We think a quick committee inquiry into those changes and any further ones that are currently being negotiated, as we are aware through media reporting, should be explored by the Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee prior to formal debate in this chamber. We would seek other senators' support for that amendment.

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

I indicate that we will be supporting that amendment.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that the amendment moved by Senator Gallagher to the amendment to the Selection of Bills Committee report moved by Senator Ruston be agreed to.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that the amendment moved by Senator Ruston to the Selection of Bills Committee report be agreed to.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

At the end of the motion, add "and in respect of the Treasury Laws Amendment (Research and Development Tax Incentive) Bill 2019, the provisions of the bill be referred immediately to the Economics Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 19 March 2020."

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have an amendment to Senator Ruston's amendment. I move:

Omit "19 March 2020", substitute "30 April 2020".

I acknowledge that there has been effort to reach agreement and not resolve this in the chamber, but, unfortunately, on this one we haven't been able to reach agreement. My amendment seeks to extend the reporting date by six weeks to 30 April 2020, and I ask for other senators' support for this amendment.

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

Can I indicate that the Greens will be supporting this amendment to the amendment.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that the amendment moved by Senator Gallagher to the amendment moved by Senator Ruston be agreed to.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question now is that Senator Ruston's amendment, as amended, be agreed to.

Question agreed to.

There being no other amendments, I will put the question on the original motion moved by Senator Smith on the Selection of Bills Committee report, with the amendments incorporated by the Senate just now.

Question agreed to.