Part One - 1 January -30 June 2004 Select Committees


Work of Committees: January 1 2004 - June 30 2004

Part One - 1 January -30 June 2004
Select Committees

Contents


Select Committee on Administration of Indigenous Affairs

Matters Current as at 16 June Matters Refered during period (Including estimates and annual reports) Reports tabled that discharge a reference Current Inquiries as at 30 June
Select 1 0 1

Number and Hours of Meeting
Public Hrs Public Estimates Hrs Private Hrs Insp/Other Hrs Total Meetings Total Hours
Select 1 2:40 0 0:00 2 0:35 0 0:00 3 3:15

Meetings by State
ACT NSW VIC TAS SA WA NT QLD
Select 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Witnesses Hansard Pages
Televised hearings Estimates Other (Bills) General Estimates Other (Bills) General No. of submissions No. of Pages Government Responses
Select 0 0 0 7 0 0 46 0 0 0

Method of appointment

Pursuant to resolution agreed to by the Senate on 16 June 2004

Current members Date of appointment
Senator Trish Crossin (NT, ALP)
(elected Chair 24.6.04) 		23.6.04
Senator David Johnston (WA, LP)
(elected Deputy Chair 24.6.04) 		23.6.04
Senator Bill Heffernan (NSW, LP) 23.6.04
Senator Jan McLucas (Qld, ALP) 23.6.04
Senator Kerry Nettle (NSW, AG) 23.6.04
Senator Kerry O'Brien (Tas, ALP) 23.6.04
Senator Aden Ridgeway (NSW, AD) 23.6.04
Senator Nigel Scullion (NT, CL) 23.6.04

Former members Term of appointment

Current inquiry

As at 16 June 2004

(a) the provisions of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission Amendment Bill 2004;

(b) the proposed administration of Indigenous programs and services by mainstream departments and agencies; and

(c) related matters.

Current inquiry

As at 30 June 2004

(a) the provisions of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission Amendment Bill 2004;

(b) the proposed administration of Indigenous programs and services by mainstream departments and agencies; and

(c) related matters.

Public hearings

16 June 2004 to 30 June 2004

29 June 2004, Canberra

Reports tabled

16 June 2004 to 30 June 2004

Nil

Government responses tabled

16 June 2004 to 30 June 2004

Nil

Select Committee on the Free Trade Agreement between Australia and the United States of America

Matters Current as at 11 February Matters Refered during period (Including estimates and annual reports) Reports tabled that discharge a reference Current Inquiries as at 30 June
Select 1 1* 1

Number and Hours of Meeting
Public Hrs Public Estimates Hrs Private Hrs Insp/Other Hrs Total Meetings Total Hours
Select 13 69:20 0 0:00 11 3:15 0 0:00 24 72:35

Meetings by State
ACT NSW VIC TAS SA WA NT QLD
Select 21 1 2 0 0 0 0 0

Witnesses Hansard Pages
Televised hearings Estimates Other (Bills) General Estimates Other (Bills) General No. of submissions No. of Pages Government Responses
Select 9 0 0 161 0 0 1462 542 1132 0

Method of appointment

Pursuant to resolution agreed to by the Senate on 11 February 2004

Current members Date of appointment
Senator the Hon. Peter Cook (WA, ALP)
(elected Chair 11.3.04)		 12.2.04
Senator George Brandis (Qld, LP)
(elected Deputy Chair - 11.3.04) 		12.2.04
Senator the Hon. Ronald Boswell (Qld, NATS) 12.2.04
Senator Stephen Conroy (Vic, ALP) 12.2.04
Senator Jeannie Ferris (SA, LP) 12.2.04
Senator Leonard Harris (Qld, PHON) 1.3.04
Senator Kerry O'Brien (Tas, ALP) 12.2.04
Senator Aden Ridgeway (NSW, AD) 12.2.04

Former members Term of appointment

Current inquiry

As at 11 February 2004

The committee shall:

(a) examine the agreement;

(b) provide a democratic and transparent process to review the agreement in its totality to ensure it is in Australias national interest; and

(c) examine impacts of the agreement on Australias economic, trade, investment and social and environment policies, including, but not limited to, agriculture, health, education and the media.

Current inquiry

As at 30 June 2004

The committee shall:

(a) examine the agreement;

(b) provide a democratic and transparent process to review the agreement in its totality to ensure it is in Australias national interest; and

(c) examine impacts of the agreement on Australias economic, trade, investment and social and environment policies, including, but not limited to, agriculture, health, education and the media

Public hearings

11 February 2004 to 30 June 2004

4 May 2004, Sydney; 5, 10, 17 & 18 May 2004, Canberra; 7 June 2004, Melbourne; 8, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23 & 24 June 2004, Canberra

Reports tabled

11 February 2004 to 30 June 2004

Interim Report (tabled 24 June 2004)

Government responses tabled

11 February 2004 to 30 June 2004

Nil


Select Committee on the Lindeberg Grievance

Matters Current as at 1 April Matters Refered during period (Including estimates and annual reports) Reports tabled that discharge a reference Current Inquiries as at 30 June
Select 1 0 1

Number and Hours of Meeting
Public Hrs Public Estimates Hrs Private Hrs Insp/Other Hrs Total Meetings Total Hours
Select 1 6:59 0 0:00 4 2:33 0 0:00 5 9:32

Meetings by State
ACT NSW VIC TAS SA WA NT QLD
Select 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 2

Witnesses Hansard Pages
Televised hearings Estimates Other (Bills) General Estimates Other (Bills) General No. of submissions No. of Pages Government Responses
Select 0 0 0 3 0 0 110 7 317 0

Method of appointment

Pursuant to resolution agreed to by the Senate on 1 April 2004

Current members Date of appointment
Senator John Watson (Tas, LP)
(elected Chair 27.4.04) 		1.4.04
Senator Linda Kirk (SA, ALP)
(elected Deputy Chair 27.4.04) 		1.4.04
Senator Andrew Bartlett (Qld, AD) 1.4.04
Senator Alan Eggleston (WA, LP) 1.4.04
Senator Leonard Harris (Qld, PHON) 1.4.04
Senator Claire Moore (Qld, ALP) 1.4.04
Senator Santo Santoro (Qld, LP) 1.4.04

Former members Term of appointment

Current inquiry

As at 1April 2004

(d) whether any false or misleading evidence was given to the Select Committee on Public Interest Whistleblowing, the Select Committee on Unresolved Whistleblower Cases or the Committee of Privileges in respect of the matters considered in its 63rd and 71st reports; and whether any contempt was committed in that regard, having regard to previous inquiries by Senate committees relating to the shredding of the Heiner documents, the fresh material that has subsequently been revealed by the Dutney Memorandum, and Exhibits 20 and 31 tabled at the Forde Commission of Inquiry into the Abuse of Children in Queensland Institutions, and any other relevant evidence; and

(e) the implications of this matter for measures which should be taken:

(i) to prevent the destruction and concealment by government of information which should be available in the public interest,

(ii) in relation to the protection of children from abuse, and

(iii) for the appropriate protection of whistleblowers.

Current inquiry

As at 30 June 2004

(a) whether any false or misleading evidence was given to the Select Committee on Public Interest Whistleblowing, the Select Committee on Unresolved Whistleblower Cases or the Committee of Privileges in respect of the matters considered in its 63rd and 71st reports; and whether any contempt was committed in that regard, having regard to previous inquiries by Senate committees relating to the shredding of the Heiner documents, the fresh material that has subsequently been revealed by the Dutney Memorandum, and Exhibits 20 and 31 tabled at the Forde Commission of Inquiry into the Abuse of Children in Queensland Institutions, and any other relevant evidence; and

(b) the implications of this matter for measures which should be taken:

(i) to prevent the destruction and concealment by government of information which should be available in the public interest,

(ii) in relation to the protection of children from abuse, and

(iii) for the appropriate protection of whistleblowers.

Public hearings

1 April 2004 to 30 June 2004

11 June 2004, Brisbane

Reports tabled

1 April 2004 to 30 June 2004

Nil

Government responses tabled

1 April 2004 to 30 June 2004

Nil


Select Committee on Medicare

Matters Current as at 1 January Matters Refered during period (Including estimates and annual reports) Reports tabled that discharge a reference Current Inquiries as at 30 June
Select 1 0 1 0

Number and Hours of Meeting
Public Hrs Public Estimates Hrs Private Hrs Insp/Other Hrs Total Meetings Total Hours
Select 2 13:22 0 0:00 3 1:13 0 0:00 5 14:35

Meetings by State
ACT NSW VIC TAS SA WA NT QLD
Select 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Witnesses Hansard Pages
Televised hearings Estimates Other (Bills) General Estimates Other (Bills) General No. of submissions No. of Pages Government Responses
Select 2 0 0 39 0 0 189 66 1116 0

Method of appointment

Pursuant to resolution agreed to by the Senate on 15 May 2003; reappointed on 25 November 2003

Current members Date of appointment
Senator Jan McLucas (Qld, ALP)
(Chair) 		15.5.03
Senator Susan Knowles (WA, LP)
(Deputy Chair) 		15.5.03
Senator Lyn Allison (Vic, AD) 15.5.03
Senator Guy Barnett (Tas, LP) 15.5.03
Senator Michael Forshaw (NSW, ALP) 15.5.03
Senator Gary Humphries (ACT, LP) 15.5.03
Senator Meg Lees (SA, APA) 15.5.03
Senator Ursula Stephens (NSW, CL) 15.5.03

Former members Term of appointment

Current inquiry

As at 1 January 2004

the committee inquire into and report on the Governments Medicare plus package including, but not limited to:

the Governments proposed amendments to the Health Legislation Amendment (Medicare and Private Health Insurance) Bill 2003,

the Governments proposed increase to the Medicare rebate for concession cardholders and children under 16 years of age, and

the Governments proposed workforce measures including the recruitment of overseas doctors; and

the committee have power to consider and use for its purposes the minutes of evidence and records of the select committee appointed on 15 May 2003

Public hearings

1 January 2004 to 11 February 2004

19 & 20 January, Canberra

Reports tabled

1 January 2004 to 11 February 2004

Second report: Medicare Plus: the future for Medicare? (tabled 11 February 2004)

Government responses tabled

1 January 2004 to11 February 2004

Nil


Select Committee on Ministerial Discretion in Migration Matters

Matters Current as at 16 June Matters Refered during period (Including estimates and annual reports) Reports tabled that discharge a reference Current Inquiries as at 30 June
Select 1 0 1 0

Number and Hours of Meeting
Public Hrs Public Estimates Hrs Private Hrs Insp/Other Hrs Total Meetings Total Hours
Select 0 0:00 0 0:00 4 0:51 0 0:00 4 0:51

Meetings by State
ACT NSW VIC TAS SA WA NT QLD
Select 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Witnesses Hansard Pages
Televised hearings Estimates Other (Bills) General Estimates Other (Bills) General No. of submissions No. of Pages Government Responses
Select 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 60 0

Method of appointment

Pursuant to resolution agreed to by the Senate on 19 June 2003

Current members Date of appointment
Senator Joseph Ludwig (Qld, ALP)
(Chair) 		23.6.03
Senator Santo Santoro (Qld, LP)
(Deputy Chair) 		24.6.03
Senator Andrew Bartlett (Qld, AD) 23.6.03
Senator Gary Humphries (ACT, LP) 24.6.03
Senator David Johnston (WA, LP) 24.6.03
Senator the Hon Nick Sherry (Tas, ALP) 23.6.03
Senator Penny Wong (SA, ALP) 23.6.03

Former members Term of appointment

Current inquiry

As at 1 January 2004

the use made by the Minister for Immigration of the discretionary powers available under sections 351 and 417 of the Migration Act 1958 since the provisions were inserted in the legislation;

the appropriateness of these discretionary ministerial powers within the broader migration application, decision-making, and review and appeal processes;

the operation of these discretionary provisions by ministers, in particular what criteria and other considerations applied where ministers substituted a more favourable decision; and

the appropriateness of the ministerial discretionary powers continuing to exist in their current form, and what conditions or criteria should attach to those powers.

Public hearings

1 January 2004 to 31 March 2004

Nil

Reports tabled

1 January 2004 to 31 March 2004

Ministerial Discretion in Migration Matters (tabled 31 March 2004)

Government responses tabled

1 January 2004 to 31 March 2004

Nil