Senate debates

Thursday, 24 November 2022

Committees

Selection of Bills Committee; Report

11:18 am

Photo of Anne UrquhartAnne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | | Hansard source

I present the seventh report of 2022 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. 7 OF 2022

24 November 2022

MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE

Senator Anne Urquhart (Government Whip, Chair) Senator Wendy Askew (Opposition Whip)

Senator Ross Cadell (The Nationals Whip)

Senator Pauline Hanson (Pauline Hanson's One Nation Whip) Senator Nick McKim (Australian Greens Whip)

Senator Ralph Babet

Senator the Hon. Anthony Chisholm Senator the Hon. Katy Gallagher Senator Matt O'Sullivan

Senator David Pocock Senator Paul Scarr Senator Tammy Tyrrell

Secretary: Tim Bryant 02 6277 3020

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

REPORT NO. 7 OF 2022

1. The committee met in private session on Wednesday, 23 November 2022 at 7.13 pm.

2. The committee recommends that—

(a) the provisions of the Treasury Laws Amendment (2022 Measures No. 4) Bill 2022 be referred immediately to the Economics Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 25 January 2023 (see appendix 1 for a statement of reasons for referral).

(b) the provisions of the Treasury Laws Amendment (Modernising Business Communications and Other Measures) Bill 2022 be referred immediately to the Economics Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 25 January 2023 (see appendix 2 for a statement of reasons for referral); and

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

    Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 2022-2023

    Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 1) 2022-2023

                    National Anti-Corruption Commission (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2022

                      Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Import Levy) Amendment Bill 2022

                      Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Manufacture Levy) Amendment Bill 2022

                        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:

                                              (Anne Urquhart)

                                              Chair

                                              24 November 2022

                                              Appendix 1

                                              Name of Bill:

                                              Treasury Laws Amendment (2022 Measures No. 4) Bill 2022

                                              Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                              Complicated Bill

                                              Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                              Various Stakeholders

                                              Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                              Economics Legislation Committees

                                              Possible hearing date(s):

                                              Dec—

                                              Possible reporting date:

                                              25.1.2023

                                              (signed)

                                              Wendy Askew

                                              Appendix 2

                                              Name of Bill:

                                              Treasury Laws Amendment (Modernising Business Communications and Other Measures) Bill 2022

                                              Reasons for referral/principal issues for considerati on:

                                              Complicated Bill

                                              Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                              Various Stakeholders

                                              Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                              Economics Legislation Committees

                                              Possible hearing date(s):

                                              Dec—

                                              Possible reporting date:

                                              25.1.2023

                                              (signed)

                                              I move:

                                              That the report be adopted.

                                              Photo of Wendy AskewWendy Askew (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | | Hansard source

                                              I would like to move the amendment that has been circulated in my name with regard to the Selection of Bills Committee report.

                                              The:

                                              I believe Senator Gallagher has an amendment as well. I understand that both amendments deal with the same bill.

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

                                              I have not seen the government's amendment.

                                              Photo of Sue LinesSue Lines (President) Share this | | Hansard source

                                              It has been circulated. We'll make sure that you get a copy of that, Senator Hanson-Young.

                                              11:19 am

                                              Photo of Katy GallagherKaty Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | | Hansard source

                                              I would like to speak to our amendment, which relates to the same bill as Senator Askew's amendment. Our amendment is that the bill not be referred to a committee. It differs from Senator Askew's in that she's referring it to a committee, with a report by 1 March. That's the difference between the amendments.

                                              11:20 am

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

                                              I'll indicate that, on that basis, the Greens will be supporting Senator Askew's amendment. We believe that this bill does require a short inquiry.

                                              Photo of Katy GallagherKaty Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | | Hansard source

                                              by leave—Could we move our amendment before Senator Askew moves hers? They are contradictory amendments. If ours is voted down, we will support hers, but, if she moves hers first, we'll oppose it and not be able to put ours.

                                              Photo of Wendy AskewWendy Askew (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | | Hansard source

                                              I'm happy for yours to go first.

                                              Photo of Katy GallagherKaty Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | | Hansard source

                                              I thank the chamber for its indulgence. I move:

                                              At the end of the motion, add "and, in respect of the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Information Disclosure, National Interest and Other Measures) Bill 2022, the provisions of the bill not be referred to a committee".

                                              Photo of Sue LinesSue Lines (President) Share this | | Hansard source

                                              Senator Hanson-Young, have you seen that amendment now?

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

                                              Yes, and we won't be supporting it.

                                              Photo of Sue LinesSue Lines (President) Share this | | Hansard source

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

                                              Question negatived.

                                              The question is that the amendment circulated by Senator Askew be agreed to.

                                              Opposition's circulated amendment—

                                              At the end of the motion, add:

                                              "and, in respect of the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Information Disclosure, National Interest and Other Measures) Bill 2022, the provisions of the bill be referred immediately to the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 1 March 2023".

                                              Question agreed to.

                                              Original question, as amended, agreed to.