Senate debates

Thursday, 5 August 2021

Committees

Selection of Bills Committee; Report

Photo of Dean SmithDean Smith (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | | Hansard source

I present the eighth report of 2021 of the Selection of Bills Committee and seek leave to have the report incorporated into Hansard.

Leave granted.

The report read as follows—

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

REPORT NO. 8 OF 2021

5 August 2021

MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE

Senator Dean Smith (Government Whip, Chair)

Senator Perin Davey (The Nationals Whip)

Senator Stirling Griff (Centre Alliance Whip)

Senator Pauline Hanson (Pauline Hanson's One Nation Whip)

Senator Rachel Siewert (Australian Greens Whip)

Senator Anne Urquhart (Opposition Whip)

Senator Raff Ciccone

Senator Katy Gallagher

Senator Jacqui Lambie

Senator the Hon James McGrath

Senator Rex Patrick

Senator the Hon Anne Ruston

Secretary: Tim Bryant ph: 6277 3020

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

REPORT NO. 8 OF 2021

1. The committee met in private session on Wednesday, 4 August 2021 at 7.12 pm.

2. The committee recommends that—

(a) the Ensuring Northern Territory Rights Bill 2021 be referred immediately to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 6 October 2021 (see appendix 1 for a statement of reasons for referral); and

(b) the provisions of the Treasury Laws Amendment (2021 Measures No. 5) Bill 2021 be referred for inquiry and report by 20 August 2021 but was unable to reach agreement on a committee (see appendix 2 for a statement of reasons for referral).

(c) the provisions of the Export Finance and Insurance Corporation Amendment (Equity Investments and Other Measures) Bill 2021 be referred immediately to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 20 August 2021 (see appendix 3 for a statement of reasons for referral).

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

    Education Services for Overseas Students (TPS Levies) Amendment Bill 2021

    Education Services for Overseas Students Amendment (Cost Recovery and Other Measures) Bill 2021

    Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (Charges) Amendment Bill 2021

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

                  Customs Tariff Amendment (2022 Harmonized System Changes) Bill 2021

                                                      (Dean Smith)

                                                      Chair

                                                      5 August 2021

                                                      Appendix 1

                                                      SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

                                                      Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

                                                      Name of bill:

                                                      Ensuring Northern Territory Rights Bill 2021

                                                      Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                                      1. How this bill will align Commonwealth involvement with laws of the Northern Territory similar to the Commonwealth's involvement with laws of Australian states.

                                                      2. The benefits that will be delivered to Northern Territorians through having legal rights that are equivalent to residents of Australian states.

                                                      3. Outcomes that may be achieved through the removal of: (a)limitations applying to the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly pertaining to the acquisition of property on just terms, (b) Laws that limit the ability of the Northern Legislative Assembly to legislate for voluntary assisted dying if the Legislative Assembly chooses to do so, and (c) Limitations on the ability of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly to make laws conferring powers in relation to the hearing and determination of employment disputes.

                                                      4. Referring this bill will allow broad consultation with a range of stakeholders to ensure all have opportunity to provide input so as to gain the greatest understanding of issues that this bill seeks to address, and how the bill, if passed, will do so.

                                                      Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                                            Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                                            Legal & Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee Possible hearing date(s): September 2021

                                                            Possible reporting date:

                                                            06 October 2021

                                                            (signed)

                                                            Senator Dr Sam McMahon

                                                            Appendix 2

                                                            SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

                                                            Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

                                                            Name of bill:

                                                            Treasury Laws Amendment (2021 Measures No. 5) Bill 2021

                                                            Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                                            This bill makes a number of complex changes to taxation offsets which have been in place for many years. It's important they be properly analysed.

                                                            The government have given no rationale for the changes, and also not detailed the costings associated.

                                                            People in the screen industry deserve to be beard - they have already been severely impacted by COVID, it's important to know how they will be impacted by this.

                                                            Possible submissions or evidence from

                                                            Screen producers, screen industry bodies, creative industry bodies, ATO, Treasury, Office for the Arts

                                                            Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                                            Senate Environment & Communications Legislation Committee

                                                            Possible hearing date(s):

                                                            Friday 13 August 2021

                                                            Monday 16 August 2021

                                                            Possible reporting date:

                                                            Friday 20 August 2021

                                                            (signed)

                                                            Senator Anne Urquhart

                                                            SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

                                                            Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

                                                            Name of bill:

                                                            Treasury Laws Amendment (2021 Measures No. 5) Bill 2021

                                                            Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                                            Consider the impact this will have on the wider screen sector

                                                            Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                                            Peak bodies for screen producers, documentary makers and other industry bodies

                                                            Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                                            Environment and Communications Legislation Committee

                                                            Possible hearing date(s):

                                                            Week of the 16th

                                                            Possible reporting date:

                                                            August 25th

                                                            (signed)

                                                            Nick McKim

                                                            Appendix 3

                                                            SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

                                                            Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

                                                            Name of bill:

                                                            Export Finance and Insurance Corporation Amendment (Equity Investments and Other Measures) Bill 2021

                                                            Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                                            Risk of liability for stranded assets where government makes equity investment in fossil fuel infrastructure projects.

                                                            Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                                            EFIC

                                                            IEFFA

                                                            DFAT

                                                            The Australia Institute

                                                            The Grattan Institute

                                                            APSI

                                                            Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                                            Economics Committee

                                                            Possible hearing date(s):

                                                            September 2021

                                                            Possible reporting date:

                                                            October 2021

                                                            (signed)

                                                            Senator Nick McKim

                                                            I move:

                                                            That the report be adopted.

                                                            Photo of Sarah Hanson-YoungSarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | | Hansard source

                                                            I just want to clarify that the Treasury amendment bill is going to the environment and communications committee, because I haven't got a copy of the amended reference.

                                                            Photo of Dean SmithDean Smith (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | | Hansard source

                                                            That is correct.

                                                            Question agreed to.