Selection of Bills Committee

Anne Urquhart

I present the fifth 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. 5 OF 2024

16 May 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 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 David Van

Secretary: Tim Bryant 02 6277 3020

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

REPORT NO. 5 OF 2024

1. The committee met in private session on Wednesday, 15 May 2024 at 7.14 pm.

1. The committee recommends that—

(a) the Airline Passenger Protections (Pay on Delay) Bill 2024 be referred immediately to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 18 November 2024 (see appendix 1 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(b) the provisions of the Criminal Code Amendment (Protecting Commonwealth Frontline Workers) Bill 2024 be referred immediately to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 20 June 2024 (see appendix 2 for a statement of reasons for referral);

(c) the provisions of the Education Services for Overseas Students Amendment (Quality and Integrity) Bill 2024 be referred immediately to the Education and Employment Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 15 August 2024 (see appendix 3 for a statement of reasons for referral); and

(d) the provisions of the Illegal Logging Prohibition Amendment (Strengthening Measures to Prevent Illegal Timber Trade) Bill 2024 be referred immediately to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 20 June 2024 (see appendix 4 for a statement of reasons for referral).

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

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

1. The committee considered the following bills but was unable to reach agreement:

(Anne Urquhart)

Chair

16 May 2024

Appendix 1

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill toa committee

Name of bill:

Airline Passenger Protections (Pay on Delay) Bill 2024

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

To ensure a senate enquiry has the opportunity to scrutinize the current aviation issues that this Bill seeks to address,

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Airline industry, individuals, interested parties and other stakeholders.

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee

Possible hearing date(s): June—November

Possible reporting date:

18 November 2024

(signed)

Wendy Askew

Appendix 2

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Criminal Code Amendment (Protecting Commonwealth Frontline Workers) Bill 2024

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

A short referral for the committee to investigate this legislation.

Possible submissions or evidence from: Interested parties and other stakeholders.

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

N/A

Possible reporting date:

20 June 2024

(signed)

Wendy Askew

Appendix 3

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Education Services for Overseas Students Amendment (Quality and Integrity) Bill 2024

Reasons for referra1/principal issues for consideration:

We expect that this Bill contains amendments to the Education Services for Overseas Students Act to give the education minister power to set limits on enrolments for each education provider, including specific courses or locations.

These powers are extraordinary and warrant interrogation.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Universities, student unions, NTEU, international students

Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Education and Employment Legislation Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

Thursday 20 June

Wednesday 24 July

Thursday 8 August

Possible reporting date: 30 August 2024

(signed)

Nick McKim

Appendix 4

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill:

Illegal Logging Prohibition Amendment (Strengthening Measures to Prevent Illegal Timber Trade) Bill 2024

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

To allow stakeholders the opportunity to comment on this legislation through a committee process.

Possible submissions or evidence from:

Interested parties and the forestry sector. Committee to which bill is to be referred:

Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee

Possible hearing date(s):

May-June

Possible reporting date:

27 June 2024

(signed)

Wendy Askew

SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE

Proposal to refer a bill to a committee

Name of bill: Illegal Logging Prohibition Amendment (Strengthening Measures to Prevent Illegal Timber Trade) Bill 2024

Reasons for referra l /principal issues for consideration: Possible ramifications and considerations for timber/forests standards, supply chain management, illegal logging operations, and modem slavey protections.

Possible submissions or evidence from: Advocates and peak bodies representing conservation, industry standards, trade unions, and human rights.

Committee to which bill is to be referred: Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport

Possible hearing date(s): conduct on the papers

Possible reporting date: 19 June 2024

(signed)

Nick McKim

I move:

That the report be adopted.

Katy Gallagher

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

At the end of the motion, add "and, in respect of the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard Bill 2024 and New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2024 the bills not be referred to committee."

Anne Ruston

I move an amendment to the minister's amendment:

At the end of the motion, add:

"and, in respect of the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard Bill 2024 and the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2024, the provisions of the bills be referred immediately to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 13 August 2024."

Sue Lines

The question is that the amendment as moved by Senator Ruston, which amends Senator Gallagher's amendment, be agreed to.