Chapter 1
The Committee's Inquiry
Referral of the Bill to the Committee
1.1 On 18 February 1999 the Selection of Bills Committee recommended to the Senate the referral the
Quarantine Amendment Bill 1998 to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation
Committee. The reasons stated for the referral were:
To enable close examination of proposed changes to Australia's quarantine services with
particular reference to commercially operated quarantine premises.
Possible sources, submissions or evidence on the bill were:
The Senate accepted the recommendation and set a reporting date of 31 March 1999.
Conduct of the inquiry
1.2 On referral of the Bill, the Committee approached a number of groups and bodies associated with
and representing the interests of major users of quarantine services, commercially operated quarantine
premises, the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) and Australian Quarantine and Inspection
Service (AQIS). The Committee received three written submissions on the Bill. A list of those who made
submissions is shown in Appendix 1.
1.3 The Committee held a public hearing on the Bill in Canberra on Monday, 22 March 1999. A list of
witnesses who appeared at the hearing is shown in Appendix 2 of the report.
1.4 All Submissions and the Hansard of the Committee's hearing on the Bill are tabled with this report.
The Hansard of the hearing is available at the Hansard site on the Parliament House homepage on the
Internet (www.aph.gov.au).
Consideration of the Committee's Report
1.5 The Committee met on 29 March 1999 to consider its report.
1.6 The Committee acknowledges the assistance and contribution made to its inquiry by those who
prepared written submissions on this inquiry at short notice. The Committee also acknowledges the
assistance provided at its public hearing on the Bill by all witnesses, and prompt provision of
supplementary information requested by the Committee. This co-operation has allowed the Committee to
prepare and report on time.
1.7 The Committee also acknowledges the assistance provided in its examination of the Bill by reference
to the analysis of the Bill by the Law and Bills Digest Group of the Parliamentary Library and by
reference to the Alert Digest of the Scrutiny of Bills Committee.