Bills and Legislation

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Date: 23 Aug 2018
Chamber: Senate
Status: Before Senate
Sponsor: DI NATALE, Sen Richard
Summary: The bill: enshrines the principles of diversity and multiculturalism; establishes the Australian Multicultural Commission and provides for its functions, powers, constitution, operation and inquiries; and provides for annual reporting requirements for Commonwealth entities.

Date: 22 Aug 2018
Chamber: Senate
Status: Before Senate
Sponsor: PATRICK, Sen Rex
Summary: Amends the:
Archives Act 1983
to require the reporting of external legal expenses incurred by the National Archives of Australia;
Australian Information Commissioner Act 2010
to: ensure that the Information Commissioner holds specified qualifications; and require the separate appointment of the Australian Information Commissioner, the Privacy Commissioner and the Freedom of Information (FOI) Commissioner; and
Freedom of Information Act 1982
to: enable the transfer of Information Commissioner reviewable decisions to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT); require the consistent application of exemptions by decision makers in the context of a review by the Information Commissioner; prevent the Information Commissioner from making FOI decisions if he or she does not hold specified qualifications; prevent agencies from publishing FOI information until at least 10 days after the applicant has received his or her copy of the information; and require the reporting of external legal expenses for each Information Commission or AAT FOI matter that has concluded.

Date: 14 Aug 2018
Chamber: Senate
Status: Before Senate
Sponsor: PATRICK, Sen Rex
Summary: Amends the
Intelligence Services Act 2001
to expand the functions of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security to include reviewing the activities of Australia’s national security and intelligence agencies, subject to certain exclusions.

Date: 18 Jun 2018
Chamber: Senate
Status: Before Senate
Sponsor: STEELE-JOHN, Sen Jordon
Summary: Amends the
Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918
and
Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984
to: lower the minimum (non-compulsory) voting age in Australian federal elections and referenda from 18 to 16 years; allow 14 and 15 year olds to be added to the electoral roll in preparation for their eligibility to vote at 16 years of age; provide for 16 and 17 year olds to be included in the certified list of voters (but not to be given a penalty notice if they do not vote); and provide that an eligible voter, who is not yet on the electoral roll or enrolled at their correct address, is able to cast a provisional vote on election day.

Date: 09 May 2018
Chamber: Senate
Status: Before Senate
Sponsor: PATRICK, Sen Rex
Summary: Amends the
Defence Act 1903
to provide that the Commonwealth may only enter into an agreement with an entity for the building of certain vessels for use by the Royal Australian Navy if the vessel is to be constructed in Australia by an Australian shipbuilder.

Date: 27 Mar 2018
Chamber: Senate
Status: Before Senate
Sponsor: RICE, Sen Janet
Summary: Amends the:
Air Services Act 1995
to: provide that the functions of Airservices Australia (AA) include undertaking activities to protect the human and natural environment, community amenity and residential areas from the effects of the operation and use of aircraft, and associated effects; introduce new consultation arrangements for AA and persons affected by aircraft noise; require AA to consider the need to minimise the impact of aircraft operations on the human and natural environment, community amenity and residential areas when preparing corporate plans; expand the AA board by up to two members and require that it include an expert in environmental management and a representative of a community group affected by aircraft noise; and provide for the creation and operations of the Aircraft Noise Ombudsman and related reporting arrangements; and
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
to require the minister to appoint an independent Community Aviation Advocate to represent communities affected by aircraft noise.

Date: 14 Nov 2017
Chamber: Senate
Status: Before Senate
Sponsor: BERNARDI, Sen Cory
Summary: Amends the
Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Act 1998
and
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
to remove prohibitions on the construction or operation of certain nuclear installations.

Date: 17 Oct 2017
Chamber: Senate
Status: Before Senate
Sponsor: DI NATALE, Sen Richard
Summary: Prohibits the Commonwealth government or its agencies from funding the refurbishment, building or purchase, or assisting in the transfer of ownership, of a coal-fired power station.

Date: 07 Sep 2017
Chamber: Senate
Status: Before Senate
Sponsor: RICE, Sen Janet
Summary: The bill: repeals the
Regional Forest Agreements Act 2002
; and makes consequential amendments to the
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
.

Date: 21 Jun 2017
Chamber: Senate
Status: Before Senate
Sponsor: XENOPHON, Sen Nick
Summary: Amends the
Competition and Consumer Act 2010
to require the minister to make an information standard for goods containing palm oil and ensure that the information standard is in force at all times.

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