On 11 October 2012, the Senate referred the provisions of the Regulatory Powers (Standard Provisions) Bill 2012 (Bill) to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee (committee) for inquiry and report by 29 November 2012.

The House of Representatives also referred the  Bill  to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Law Enforcement (PJC) for inquiry and report.

The Bill provides a framework of standard regulatory powers for exercise by agencies across the Commonwealth. Key features of the Bill include monitoring and investigation powers; and enforcement provisions through use of civil penalties, infringement notices, enforceable undertakings and injunctions. The monitoring and investigation powers are based on those found in existing in Commonwealth legislation.

The committee tabled a  one-page report on 23 October 2012, in which it stated that it would not duplicate the work of the PJC and, accordingly, that it  would not call for submissions or conduct its own inquiry in relation to the Bill.