Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I present the second report for 2023 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. 2 OF 2023

9 March 2023

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 Lidia Thorpe

Senator Tammy Tyrrell

Secretary: Tim Bryant

02 6277 3020

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

REPORT NO. 2 OF 2023

1. The committee met in private session on Wednesday, 8 March 2023 at 7.15 pm.

2. The committee recommends that—

(a) the Governor-General Amendment (Cessation of Allowances in the Public Interest) Bill 2023 be referred immediately to the Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 10 May 2023 (see appendix 1 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(b) the provisions of the Migration Amendment (Australia's Engagement in the Pacific and Other Measures) Bill 2023, and the Migration (Visa Pre-application Process) Charge Bill 2023 be referred immediatelyto the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 19 June 2023 (see appendix 2 for a statement of reasons for referral); and

(c) contingent upon introduction in the House of Representatives, the provisions of the Social Security (Administration) Amendment (Income Management Reform) Bill 2023 be referred immediatelyto the Community Affairs Legislation Committee but was unable to reach agreement on a reporting date (see appendix 3 for a statement of reasons for referral).

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:

(Anne Urquhart)

Chair

9 March 2023

————

Appendix 1

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

"Governor-General Amendment (Cessation of Allowances in the Public Interest) Bill 2023

Reasons for referra1/principal issues for consideration:

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Department of Finance Office of Governor General Blue Knot,

Bravehearts,

Survivors,

The Anglican Church, St James Ethics Centre

Committee to which bill is to be referred: Finance and Public Administration Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

17 or 21 April

1 or 2 May

Possible reporting date:

l0May

(signed)

Nick McKim

————

Appendix 2

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Migration Amendment (Australia's Engagement in the Pacific and Other Measures) Bill 2023

Migration (Visa Pre-application Process) Charge Bill 2023

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Complicated issue

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Sector, Groups Individuals that are affected.

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

March-June

Possible reporting date:

19 June 2023

(signed)

Wendy Askew

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bills:

The Migration Amendment (Australia's Engagement in the Pacific and Other Measures) Bill 2023 and Migration (Visa Pre-application Process) Charge Bill 2023

Reasons for refe rra1/principal issues for consideration:

The Engagement in the Pacific and Other Measures Bill—a 2022 Labor election policy—will provide an entirely novel approach and functionality to the Migration Act 1958, and how visa applications are allocated in Australia.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Migration experts and academics, legal experts and academics, foreign affairs experts and academics, relevant community organisations.

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation

Possible hearing date(s):

4-6 April 2023

Possible reporting date:

19 June

(signed)

Nick McKim

————

Appendix 3

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill t o a committee

Name of bill:

Social Security (Administration) Amendment (Income Management Reform) Bill 2023

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Social Security (Administration) Amendment (Income Management Reform) Bill 2023

Abolish the Cashless Debit Card

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Community Affairs Legislation Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

Any week in April

Possible reporting date:

1 May 2023

(signed)

Anne Urquhart

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Social Security (Administration) Amendment (Income Management Reform) Bill 2023 (To be Originated in the House of Representatives on 9 March 2023)

Reasons for referra1/principal issues for consideration:

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Community Affairs

Possible hearing date(s):

TBC by Cttee

Possible report ing date:

16 June

(signed)

Nick McKim

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Social Security (Administration) Amendment (Income Management Reform) Bill 2023

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

Complicated issue

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Sector, Groups Individuals that are affected.

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Community Affairs Legislation Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

March-June

Possible reporting date:

16 June 2023

(signed)

Wendy Askew

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE — PRESENTATION OF 2ND REPORT OF 2023 — AMENDMENTS AGREED TO BY THE SENATE ON 9 MARCH 2023

(1) At the end of the motion, add "and, in respect of the provisions of the Social Security (Administration) Amendment (Income Management Reform) Bill 2023, the Community Affairs Legislation Committee report by 6 June 2023".

(2) At the end of the motion, add "but, in respect of the provisions of the Migration Amendment (Australia's Engagement in the Pacific and Other Measures) Bill 2023 and the Migration (Visa Pre-application Process) Charge Bill 2023, the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee report by 13 June 2023".

(3) At the end of the motion, add "and, in respect of the Treasury Laws Amendment (2023 Measures No. 1) Bill 2023, the provisions of the bill be referred immediately to the Economics Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 26 May 2023".

I move:

That the report be adopted.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

At the end of the motion, add:

"and, in respect of the provisions of the Social Security (Administration) Amendment (Income Management Reform) Bill 2023, the Community Affairs Legislation Committee report by 6 June 2023".

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On the amendment moved by Senator Ruston, the government is aware that there is majority support in this chamber for an inquiry referral to the Social Security Administration Amendment (Income Management Reform) Bill 2023 to report on 6 June 2023. We believe that this date will put the timely passage of this important legislation at risk.

We know from previous inquiries that the BasicsCard is out of date and not sufficient to meet the needs of people in community. Our bill directly responds to the clear message given to the Senate Community Affairs Legislation committee inquiry into the cashless debit card last year—importantly, giving income management participants more choice. The bill provides the choice of a better product with modern technology and it does so at a cheaper cost than the previous cashless debit card. To prolong the date of an inquiry we deny more than 24,400 existing income management participants with a choice to access a contemporary and improved card as soon as practicable, and it will keep them on the BasicsCard technology, which is out of date and limits participants' options on where they can shop.

We would prefer an earlier reporting date, but we accept the view of the Senate that the committee report on 6 June 2023. We wanted to record our concern about the delay in the passage of this bill.

Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to indicate that the Greens will be supporting the amendment from the opposition and to reject the assertion from the government that this puts at risk any potential legislative time frame. I also indicate to the government that the Greens are prepared to facilitate the Senate's being able to deal with this legislation in the June sitting, which, we would submit, would give plenty of time for the legislative timetable to be met.

Question agreed to.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move an amendment to the motion to adopt the Selection of Bills report, which has been circulated in my name on sheet GOV1:

At the end of the motion, add "but, in respect of the provisions of the Migration Amendment (Australia's Engagement in the Pacific and Other Measures) Bill 2023, the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee report by 13 June 2023".

I hope that senators can give consideration for a slightly shorter reporting date for this inquiry. While we accept Senate support for a reporting date one week earlier than was originally discussed, to have this report tabled by 13 June, we believe this date still provides some risk that there will be delays to the passage of this legislation and the honouring of the commitments we've made to Pacific countries, and it could delay opportunities for this visa class to address the worker shortages in Australia. Again, I just want to record that, and I hope that we can get Senate support for a reporting date of 13 June.

Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will just make a brief contribution, just to indicate that the Greens will support this. We understand the government's legislative time frame on this, which is why we're happy to support a slightly earlier reporting date.

Question agreed to.

I move the amendment to the motion for the adoption of the Selection of Bills Committee report that's been circulated in my name:

At the end of the motion, add:

"and, in respect of the Treasury Laws Amendment (2023 Measures No. 1) Bill 2023, the provisions of the bill be referred immediately to the Economics Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 26 May 2023".

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I understand again that there's majority support for Senator McKim's amendment. We would prefer not to have another reasonably long inquiry. The industry needs certainty on these matters, and one of the matters has been sitting around since 2016. We don't believe there's a need for a protracted inquiry for what has already been consulted on extensively.

Question agreed to.

Original question, as amended, agreed to.