Tony Sheldon (NSW, Australian Labor Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

I present Report No. 9 of 2026 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. 9 OF 2026

13 August 2026

MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE

Senator Tony Sheldon (Government Whip, Chair)

Senator Maria Kovacic (Opposition Whip)

Senator Sean Bell (One Nation Whip)

Senator Nick McKim (Australian Greens Whip)

Senator Ralph Babet

Senator Ross Cadell (The Nationals Whip)

Senator the Hon. Anthony Chisholm

Senator Jessica Collins

Senator the Hon. Katy Gallagher

Senator Jacqui Lambie

Senator Kerrynne Liddle

Senator Fatima Payman

Senator David Pocock

Senator Lidia Thorpe

Secretary: Tim Bryant 02 6277 3020

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE REPORT NO. 9 OF 2026

1. The committee met in private session on Wednesday, 12 August 2026 at 7.10 pm.

2. The committee made no recommendations to refer bills to committees.

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

(Tony Sheldon)

Chair 12 August 2026

I move:

That the report be adopted.

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

I move:

At the end of the motion, add ", and the Australia's Foreign Relations (State and Territory Arrangements) Amendment Bill 2026 and the Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment Bill 2026 not be referred to committees".

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

I also have amendments. I'm happy to move them as amendments to Senator Gallagher's amendment. I move:

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

(a) the Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment Bill 2026, the provisions of the bill be referred immediately to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 13 October 2026; and

(b) the Australia's Foreign Relations (State and Territory Arrangements) Amendment Bill 2026, the provisions of the bill be referred immediately to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 13 October 2026".

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that the amendment moved by Senator McKim to the government's amendment to the Selection of Bills Committee report be agreed to.

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

I understand there are a number of amendments. I intend now to put the amendment moved by Minister Gallagher. Then I'll go to Senator Duniam, and I understand there might then be a further amendment. So the question is that the amendment moved by Minister Gallagher be agreed to.

Question agreed to.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate) | Link to this | Hansard source

I move the opposition amendment to the report relating to the Wage Justice for Early Childhood Education and Care Workers (Special Account) (Extending Support and Strengthening Safety) Bill 2026 as circulated in the chamber:

At the end of the motion, add:

"and, in respect of the Wage Justice for Early Childhood Education and Care Workers (Special Account) (Extending Support and Strengthening Safety) Bill 2026, the provisions of the bill be referred immediately to the Education and Employment Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 8 October 2026".

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

I have an amendment to Senator Duniam's amendment, as circulated in the chamber, which would essentially shift the reporting date to 4 September from 8 October. I move:

Omit "date 8 October 2026", substitute "4 September 2026".

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that the amendment as moved by Minister Gallagher to the amendment as put by Senator Duniam be agreed to.

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

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

Question agreed to.

Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

I move my amendment to the Selection of Bills Committee report:

At the end of the motion, add:

"and, in respect of the Protecting Australians from Foreign Terrorist Fighters Bill 2026, the bill be referred immediately to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 7 September 2026".

One Nation is a party of principle. One of our most important principles is putting Australians and their interests first—their freedom, their rights, their safety and the security of our nation. These are not only our principles; they should be national principles. Unfortunately, we have a Labor government which is deliberately and actively compromising these principles. This is why One Nation has introduced the Protecting Australians from Foreign Terrorist Fighters Bill 2026. This legislation is based on the principle of keeping Australians safe from people who would do them harm. We are acting where the Labor government is refusing to act.

Labor has denied assisting the return of terrorists who supported the ISIS terrorist group. Labor has in fact actively assisted their return. Home affairs minister Tony Burke has said that the law leaves him with no choice but to permit their return. One Nation's legislation aims to fix the law so that it gives the minister the ability to prevent their return. It should be this parliament's first responsibility to make laws that keep Australians safe. That's another principle behind this bill.

Labor and the Greens claim One Nation's legislation is unconstitutional. The government has not tabled any advice to this effect. Their claim is also contrary to advice One Nation has received and contrary to public comments made by people who know a lot more about the Constitution than Labor or the Greens. We're very happy for the constitutional validity of One Nation's bill to be examined. That's why we are moving this amendment. In the end, only the High Court can determine the matter, but, at the very least, the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee can consider these issues.

Instead of making excuses about letting terrorists into Australia, Labor should be doing everything possible to prevent it. If the law is a problem, then change it. Stop worrying about your precious Muslim votes in Western Sydney. Act on principle instead of your cheap grubby politics. Stop putting Australians in danger. Act on what Australians want you to do. Keep them safe and keep terrorists out of our country. Failure to support this legislation is a failure to protect Australians.

We must not forget who we are dealing with here. Islamic State horrified the world. It enslaved thousands of people. It burned captives alive and filmed it. Individuals who left Australia to join this organisation celebrated these acts and actively took part in them. Thirteen of them are reported to be held in prison in Baghdad. It is reported they may soon be released from custody and may seek to return to Australia.

One Nation's legislation is aimed at putting in place every possible barrier to prevent their return and to protect Australians. It creates a new foreign terrorist fighter exclusion order for which the minister may apply to the Federal Court. The bill creates stronger bail laws, making community safety and national security the most important factors. The legislation gives the minister the power to refuse, cancel or suspend passports where an exclusion order is in force or if an individual is charged with, or convicted of, a terrorism offence. Finally, One Nation's bill makes it an offence to facilitate bringing a foreign terrorist fighter into Australia without the prior written permission of the Foreign Minister or the Minister for Home Affairs.

These are sensible and necessary measures. So if any member votes against this referral it is anti Australian and supports the ISIS fighters by not doing everything we can legally to keep them out of the country. These are sensible and necessary measures. I ask that the Senate support this amendment in the best interests of the Australian people.

Question agreed to.