Senate debates Committees

Selection of Bills Committee; Report


Anne Urquhart

Anne Urquhart Tasmania, Australian Labor Party

11:15 am

I present the seventh report of 2024 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 2024

4 July 2024

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 Jacqui Lambie (Jacquie Lambie Network Whip)

Senator Nick McKim (Australian Greens Whip)

Senator Ralph Babet

Senator the Hon. Anthony Chisholm

Senator the Hon. Katy Gallagher

Senator Maria Kovacic

Senator Matt O'Sullivan

Senator David Pocock

Senator Lidia Thorpe

Senator Tammy Tyrrell

Senator David Van

Secretary: Tim Bryant 02 6277 3020

1. The committee met in private session on Wednesday, 3 July 2024 at 7.15 pm.

2. The committee recommends that—

(a) the Communications Legislation Amendment (Regional Broadcasting Continuity) Bill 2024 be referred immediately to the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 8 August 2024 (see appendix 1 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(b) the provisions of the Future Made in Australia Bill 2024 and the Future Made in Australia (Omnibus Amendments No. 1) Bill 2024 be referred immediately to the Economics Legislation Committee but was unable to reach agreement on a reporting date (see appendix 2 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(c) contingent upon introduction in the House of Representatives, the provisions of the Migration Amendment (Strengthening Sponsorship and Nomination Processes) Bill 2024 be referred immediately to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 2 September 2024 (see appendix 3 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(d) the National Housing and Homelessness Plan Bill 2024 (No. 2) be referred immediately to the Economics Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 10 October 2024;

(e) contingent upon introduction in the House of Representatives, the provisions of the Taxation (Multinational—Global and Domestic Minimum Tax) Bill 2024, the Taxation (Multinational—Global and Domestic Minimum Tax) Imposition Bill 2024 and the Treasury Laws Amendment (Multinational—Global and Domestic Minimum Tax) (Consequential) Bill 2024 be referred immediately to the Economics Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 14 August 2024 (see appendix 4 for a statement of reasons for referral); and

(f) the provisions of the Veterans' Entitlements, Treatment and Support (Simplification and Harmonisation) Bill 2024 be referred immediately to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 3 October 2024 (see appendix 5 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 Commission of Inquiry into Antisemitism at Australian Universities Bill 2024 (No. 2) but was unable to reach agreement.

                                          Anne Urquhart

                                          Chair

                                          4 July 2024.

                                          Appendix 1

                                          SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

                                          Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

                                          Name of bill:

                                          Communications Legislation Amendment (Regional Broadcasting Continuity) Bill 2024

                                          Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                          To enquire into the Governments Bill to understand any implications. Th

                                          Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                          Individuals, interested stakeholders and other parties.

                                          Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                          Environment and Communications Legislation Committee

                                          Possible hearing date(s):

                                          July

                                          Possible reporting date:

                                          8 August 2024

                                          (signed)

                                          Wendy Askew

                                          Appendix 2

                                          SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

                                          Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

                                          Name of bill:

                                          Future Made in Australia Bill 2024

                                          Future Made in Australia (Omnibus Amendments No. 1) Bill 2024

                                          Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                          To ensure there is a committee enquiry into the Governments legislation so all possible impacts are canvassed.

                                          Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                          Individuals, stakeholders, and other interested parties.

                                          Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                          Economics Legislation Committee

                                          Possible hearing date(s):

                                          July and August

                                          Possible reporting date:

                                          5 September 2024

                                          (signed)

                                          Wendy Askew

                                          SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

                                          Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

                                          Name of bill:

                                          Future Made in Australia Bill 2024 (and associated Bill)

                                          Reasons for referra l /principal issues for consideration:

                                          To examine in detail and hear from relevant stakeholders

                                          Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                          Relevant Government Departments

                                          ARENA

                                          EFA

                                          Other civil society organisations

                                          Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                          Senate Economics Legislation Committee

                                          Possible hearing date(s):

                                          17 July

                                          7 August

                                          Possible reporting date:

                                          5 September

                                          (signed)

                                          Nick McKim

                                          Appendix 3

                                          SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

                                          Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

                                          Name of bill:

                                          Migration Amendment (Strengthening Sponsorship and Nomination Processes) Bill 2024

                                          Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                          To ensure there is a committee enquiry into the Governments legislation so all possible impacts are canvassed.

                                          Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                          Individuals, stakeholders, and other interested parties.

                                          Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                          Legal and Constitutional Legislation Committee

                                          Possible hearing date(s):

                                          July and August

                                          Possible reporting date:

                                          2 September 2024

                                          (signed)

                                          Wendy Askew

                                          Appendix 4

                                          SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

                                          Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

                                          Name of bill:

                                          Taxation (Multinational-Global and Domestic Minimum Tax) Bill 2024

                                          Taxation (Multinational-Global and Domestic Minimum Tax) Imposition Bill 2024

                                          Treasury Laws Amendment (Multinational-Global and Domestic Minimum Tax) (Consequential) Bill 2024

                                          Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                          To further understand this legislation.

                                          Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                          Individuals, stakeholders, and other interested parties.

                                          Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                          Economics Legislation Committee

                                          Possible hearing date(s):

                                          July

                                          Possible reporting date:

                                          14 August 2024

                                          (signed)

                                          Wendy Askew

                                          SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

                                          Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

                                          Name of bill:

                                          Taxation (Multinational-Global and Domestic Minimum Tax) Bill 2024

                                          Reasons for referra l /principal issues for consideration:

                                          to examine the bill in more detail and hear from relevant stakeholders.

                                          Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                          Tax Justice Network, The Centre for International Corporate Tax Accountability and Research, Oxfam.

                                          Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                          Senate Economics Legislation Committee

                                          Possible hearing date(s):

                                          on the papers

                                          Possible reporting date:

                                          14 August 2024

                                          (signed)

                                          Nick McKim

                                          Appendix 5

                                          SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

                                          Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

                                          Name of bill:

                                          Veterans' Entitlements, Treatment and Support (Simplification and Harmonisation) Bill 2024

                                          Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                          To further investigate this legislation.

                                          Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                          A range of interested parties and veteran stakeholders.

                                          Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                          Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee

                                          Possible hearing date(s):

                                          August, September

                                          Possible reporting date:

                                          3 October

                                          (signed)

                                          Wendy Askew

                                          SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

                                          Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

                                          Name of bill:

                                          Veterans' Entitlements, Treatment and Support (Simplification and Harmonisation} Bill 2024

                                          Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

                                          To enable detailed consideration of the Bill and any relevant recommendations from the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide's final report (due September 2024)

                                          To seek views of the veteran community on the legislation and ensure that it will meet the needs to veterans into the future

                                          Possible submissions or evidence from:

                                          Veterans and relevant stakeholder organisations such as Ex-Service Organisations (ESOs}

                                          Committee to which bill is to be referred:

                                          Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade

                                          Possible hearing date(s):

                                          To be determined by the committee

                                          Possible reporting date:

                                          1 October 2024

                                          (signed)

                                          Senator Anne Urquhart

                                          I move:

                                          That the report be adopted.

                                          Katy Gallagher

                                          Katy Gallagher ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service

                                          I move:

                                          At the end of the motion, add: ", and:

                                          (a) in respect of the provisions of Future Made in Australia Bill 2024 and the Future Made in Australia (Omnibus Amendments No. 1) Bill 2024, the Economics Legislation Committee report by 8 August 2024.

                                          (b) the Commission of Inquiry into Antisemitism at Australian Universities Bill 2024 be referred immediately to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 4 October 2024."

                                          Anne Ruston

                                          Anne Ruston SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care

                                          11:16 am

                                          I move, as an amendment to the amendment moved by Senator Gallagher:

                                          Paragraph (a), omit "8 August 2024", substitute "5 September 2024".

                                          Sue Lines

                                          Sue Lines President

                                          The question is that the amendment as moved by Senator Ruston to part (a) of Senator Gallagher's amendment be agreed to.

                                          Sarah Henderson

                                          Sarah Henderson Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Education

                                          11:23 am

                                          I wish to move an amendment to paragraph (b) of the government's amendment. I move:

                                          Paragraph (b), omit "Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee", substitute "Education and Employment Legislation Committee".

                                          Mehreen Faruqi

                                          Mehreen Faruqi NSW, Australian Greens

                                          11:24 am

                                          The Greens oppose this amendment, and the Greens also oppose the referral of the Commission of Inquiry into Antisemitism at Australian Universities Bill 2024 (No. 2) to an inquiry. The Liberal Party that has embraced racism as a political strategy is now suddenly interested in tackling racism. Well, excuse me for being cynical, but the Greens are not going to fall for this disingenuous inquiry or a disingenuous bill. All you want to do is weaponise antisemitism to attack those who are standing up against Israel's genocide in Gaza and want justice for Palestine.

                                          Sarah Hanson-Young

                                          Sarah Hanson-Young SA, Australian Greens

                                          Mr Dutton knows all about weaponising racism. He knows all about it.

                                          Mehreen Faruqi

                                          Mehreen Faruqi NSW, Australian Greens

                                          That is right. I agree with my colleague Senator Hanson-Young, who has said that Mr Dutton knows all about weaponising racism.

                                          Mehreen Faruqi

                                          Mehreen Faruqi NSW, Australian Greens

                                          I withdraw. The Greens will not be party to your vile agenda against people protesting a genocide and against pro-Palestine protesters.

                                          Sue Lines

                                          Sue Lines President

                                          The question is that the amendment as moved by Senator Henderson to part (b) of the amendment moved by Senator Gallagher be agreed to.

                                          Nick McKim

                                          Nick McKim Tasmania, Australian Greens

                                          11:32 am

                                          President, I ask that the question be put separately in relation to parts (a) and (b) of Senator Gallagher's amendment.

                                          Sue Lines

                                          Sue Lines President

                                          Thank you, Senator McKim. The question is that part (a) of the amendment moved by Senator Gallagher, as amended by Senator Ruston, to the motion moved by Senator Urquhart be agreed to.

                                          Question agreed to.

                                          The question now is that part (b) of the amendment moved by Senator Gallagher to the motion moved by Senator Urquhart be agreed to.