The Senate met from 12.30 pm until 12.23 am, Wednesday, 27 June 2012
Legislation
Bills and related documents
Bills considered
The following bills were passed
- Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment Bill 2012 [first speaker] [The bill will now be assented to]
- Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (2012 Budget and Other Measures) Bill 2012 [first speaker] [The bill will now be assented to]
- Superannuation Legislation Amendment (Stronger Super) Bill 2012 and a related bill [first speaker] [The bills will now be assented to]
- Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards Amendment (Scheme Enhancements) Bill 2012 [first speaker] [The bill will now be assented to]
Notices of motion
To exempt a bill from the cut-off order [to enable consideration this period of sittings – 18 to 28 June 2012]
- Financial Framework Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 3) 2012
To vary the hours of meeting and routine of business
A notice was given by the Parliamentary Secretary for School Education and Workplace Relations (Senator Collins) to vary the hours of meeting and routine of business for 28 June 2012 to enable the Government’s legislative program to be considered.
Bills assented to
Assent to a number of laws was reported in the Senate.
See Committees for details of reports relating to legislation
Committees
Scheduled public committee hearings
Committee reports
Estimates
Legislation committees tabled reports into the 2012-13 Budget estimates [a motion to take note of the reports was debated – first speaker].
New inquiry
The Senate referred matters relating to allowance payment systems to the Education, Employment and Workplace Relations References Committee to report by 1 November 2012.
Reports tabled
- Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee–Prospective marriage visa program [report] [a motion to take note of the report was debated – first speaker]
- Procedure Committee–First report of 2012–Consideration of private senators’ bills; routine of business; consideration of non-controversial legislation; raising matters of privilege; changes to the printed Notice Paper and related matters [report] [consideration of the report will take place on a future sitting day]
- Public Works Joint Committee–3rd report of 2012–Referrals made November 2011 to March 2012: Proposed development and construction of housing for Defence at Rasmussen, Townsville; Proposed improvement to fuel storage and supply on Christmas Island, Indian Ocean Territories; Proposed fit-out of Commonwealth Parliamentary offices at 1 Bligh Street, Sydney, NSW [report]
Meetings during the sitting of the Senate
The Senate authorised the following meetings to be held while the Senate is sitting:
- Cyber Safety Joint Select Committee–15 August 2012 from 4.30 pm to 5.30 pm–public meeting
- Law Enforcement Joint Committee–27 June and 22 August from 5.30 pm–private meetings
- Migration Joint Committee–15 August 2012 from 10.30 am to 11.30 am–public meeting
Reporting dates extended
The Senate extended reporting dates for the following inquiries:
- Education, Employment and Workplace Relations References Committee–Infrastructure delivery and engineering skills shortages–to report by 12 July 2012
- Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee–Procurement procedures for defence capital projects–to report by 23 August 2012
Notices of motion
To extend a reporting deadline
- Australia’s Food Processing Sector Select Committee–to report by 16 August 2012
To establish a committee
- National Disability Insurance Scheme Joint Select Committee–notice given by Senators Boyce and Fifield
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]
Documents tabled
Ministerial statement tabled
The Parliamentary Secretary for School Education and Workplace Relations (Senator Collins) tabled a ministerial statement about the retirement of the Inspector of Transport Security and a document about the security of offshore oil and gas resources.
Other business
Questions without notice and issues arising during question time–first question
Adjournment debate–first speaker
Motions negatived
Statement by President
The President made a statement relating to the donation of two ornate carved walnut chairs to the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House.
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 at www.aph.gov.au/senate
It is issued by the Senate Table Office as a convenient summary of each day’s proceedings in the Senate. For a complete account see the official record, the Journals of the Senate.
Follow the Australian Senate on Twitter: @AuSenate
Related resources
The Order of Business (or ‘Senate Red’) and the Dynamic Red (which updates the Order of Business throughout the sitting day) are also available on the Internet at www.aph.gov.au/senate
Contact details
Inquiries, comments and suggestions:
phone 6277 3021
e-mail: sds@aph.gov.au