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No. 13/2011
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Tuesday, 22 March 2011
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The Senate met from 12.30 pm until 9.36 pm
Legislation
For bills and related documents
Bills considered
The following bills were introduced
- Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Regulatory Levies Legislation Amendment (2011 Measures No. 1) Bill 2011 and a related bill [passed by the House of Representatives on 21 March 2011]
- Personal Property Securities (Corporations and Other Amendments) Bill 2011 [passed by the House of Representatives on 21 March 2011]
The following bills were exempted from the cut-off order [to enable consideration in this period of sittings]
- Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2010-2011
- Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2010-2011
- Family Assistance Legislation Amendment (Child Care Rebate) Bill 2011
- National Vocational Education and Training Regulator (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2011
- Schools Assistance Amendment (Financial Assistance) Bill 2011
The following bill was introduced, debated and passed
- Family Assistance Legislation Amendment (Child Care Rebate) Bill 2011 [the bill will now be assented to]
The following bills were passed
- Tax Laws Amendment (Temporary Flood and Cyclone Reconstruction Levy) Bill 2011 and a related bill [the bills will now be assented to]
Notices of motion to introduce bills
- Product Stewardship Bill 2011–notice given by the Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and Urban Water (Senator Farrell)
- Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Bill 2011 and a related bill–notices given by Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations (Senator Evans)
Message from the House of Representatives
- Education Services for Overseas Students Legislation Amendment Bill 2010 [2011]–agreeing to the bill without amendments [the bill will now be assented to]
See Committees for details of reports relating to legislation
Committees
For scheduled public committee hearings
For committee reports
Estimates
Reports on the 2010-11 additional estimates were tabled by eight committees.
Reports tabled
- Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Digital Dividend and Other Measures) Bill 2011–Environment and Communications Legislation Committee [report]
- Human Services Legislation Amendment Bill 2010–Community Affairs Legislation Committee [report]
New inquiry
The Senate referred matters relating to the eradication of the Asian honey bee to the Rural Affairs and Transport References Committee to report by 8 April 2011 [terms of reference].
Proposed reference
The Senate did not agree to refer matters relating to the proposed acquisition of the Australian Stock Exchange by Singapore Exchange Limited to the Economics References Committee.
Public meetings
The Senate authorised the following public meetings to be held while the Senate is sitting:
- Cyber Safety Joint Select Committee–24 March 2011 from 9.30 am till 10.30 am–Public meeting
- Electoral Matters Joint Committee–23 March 2011 from 9.30 am till 10.45 am–to take evidence for the inquiry into the conduct of the 2010 Federal Election and matters related thereto
- Scrutiny of New Taxes Select Committee–24 March 2011 from 10.30 am till 12.30 pm–Public meeting
Reporting dates extended
The Senate extended reporting dates for the following inquiries:
- Economics References Committee–Impacts of supermarket price decisions on the dairy industry–to report by 20 April 2011
- Environment and Communications References Committee–Adequacy of protections for the privacy of Australians online–to report by 24 March 2011
Notices of motion
To extend a reporting deadline
- Reform of the Australian Federation Select Committee–to report by 20 June 2011
To hold meetings when the Senate is sitting
- Migration Joint Committee–11 May 2011 from 10.30 am till 12.30 pm–Public meeting
- Reform of the Australian Federation Select Committee–24 March 2011–Private meeting otherwise than in accordance with standing order 33(1)
To refer matters to committees
- Administration of health practitioner registration–Finance and Public Administration References Committee–to report by 6 May 2011–notice given by Senator Cormann
- Operational issues relating to grain export–Rural Affairs and Transport References Committee–to report by 2 November 2011–notice given by Senator Fisher
Membership
A message from the House of Representatives was reported advising that Mr Georganas would replace Mrs D’Ath on the Migration Joint Committee.
Documents
Delegated legislation
See Disallowance Alert for a complete list of notices of motion to disallow (and outcomes)
- Clerk’s documents were tabled [legislative instruments and other documents required by statute to be tabled]
Orders for the production of documents–Orders with continuing effect
Indexed lists of departmental and agency files published on the Internet
Statements of compliance for the Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy and Prime Minister and Cabinet portfolios were tabled [Letters of advice about certain files created by departments and agencies are required to be tabled twice a year]
Documents tabled
Other business
Questions without notice and issues arising during question time–first question
Adjournment debate–first speaker
Motions negatived
Matter of public importance discussed
- Border security and immigration detention facilities–proposed by Senator Fifield [first speaker]
Notices of motion
Notices of motion given today are available in the Senate Journals.
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Online
The Senate Daily Summary is available on the Internet at www.aph.gov.au/senate . On sitting days it provides a summary of each day’s proceedings in the Senate.
Estimates at a Glance is issued this week by the Senate Table Office as a convenient guide and index for information relating to the consideration of estimates by Senate committees.
Further information
Senate Briefs, prepared by the Senate Procedure Office, provide general information about the estimates process:
No. 4: Senate Committees
No. 5: Consideration of Estimates by the Senate Committees
No. 13: Rights and Responsibilities of Witnesses before Senate Committees
Contact details
Inquiries, comments and suggestions:
phone 6277 3021
e-mail: sds@aph.gov.au