Community Affairs

1 July 2008 - 31 December 2008

	Matters Current as at 1 July 2008	Matters Referred during period*	Reports tabled that discharge a reference**	Current Inquiries as at 31 December 2008
Standing Committee	6	11	14	3

Number and Hours of Meeting
	Public	Hrs	Public Estimates	Hrs	Private	Hrs	Insp/Other	Hrs	Total Meetings	Total Hours
Standing Committee	17	61:20	3	27:55	20	9:30	3	20:45	43	119:30

Meetings by State
	ACT	NSW	VIC	TAS	SA	WA	NT	QLD
Standing Committee	35	2	1	0	0	1	4	0

		Witnesses			Hansard Pages
	Televised hearings	Estimates	Other (Bills)	General	Estimates	Other (Bills)	General	No. of submissions	No. of Pages	Government Responses
Standing Committee	15	563	147	56	291	660	296	260	4205	3

* includes referral of Annual Reports (1)

**Total reports tabled 12 (3 separate references - Poker Machine Harm Reduction Tax (Administration) Bill 2008; Poker Machine Harm Minimisation Bill 2008; and ATMs and Cash Facilities in Licensed Venues Bill 2008 - were included in one report

 

Community Affairs (Standing)

1 July 2008 to 31 December 2008

Method of appointment

Pursuant to amended Senate Standing Order 25.

Current members	Date of appointment
Senator Claire Moore (QLD, ALP) (elected Chair on 13.02.08)	12.02.08
Senator Rachel Siewert (WA, AG)	01.07.08
(elected Deputy Chair on 27.08.08)
Senator Judith Adams (WA, LP)	12.02.08
Senator Catryna Bilyk (TAS, ALP)	01.07.08
Senator Sue Boyce (QLD, LP)	12.02.08
Senator Carol Brown (TAS, ALP)	12.02.08
Senator Mark Furner (QLD, ALP)	28.08.08
Senator Gary Humphries (ACT, LP)	12.02.08

 

Substitute members	Date of appointment
Senator Trish Crossin (NT, ALP)[1]	01.07.08

 

Participating members	Date of appointment
Senator the Hon Eric Abetz (TAS, LP)	12.02.08
Senator Mark Arbib (NSW, ALP)	01.07.08
Senator Guy Barnett (TAS, LP)	12.02.08
Senator Cory Bernardi (SA, LP)	12.02.08
Senator Simon Birmingham (SA, LP)	12.02.08
Senator Mark Bishop (WA, ALP)	12.03.08
Senator the Hon Ronald Boswell (QLD, NATS)	12.02.08
Senator the Hon George Brandis (QLD, LP)	12.02.08
Senator Bob Brown (TAS, ALP)	14.02.08
Senator David Bushby (TAS, LP)	12.02.08
Senator Doug Cameron (NSW, ALP)	01.07.08
Senator Michaelia Cash (WA, LP)	01.07.08
Senator the Hon Richard Colbeck (TAS, LP)	12.02.08
Senator Jacinta Collins (VIC, ALP)	14.05.08
Senator the Hon Helen Coonan (NSW, LP)	12.02.08
Senator Mathias Cormann (WA, LP)	12.02.08
Senator Trish Crossin (NT, ALP)	12.03.08
Senator Alan Eggleston (WA, LP)	12.02.08
Senator the Hon Christopher Ellison (WA, LP)	12.02.08
Senator Don Farrell (SA, ALP)	01.07.08
Senator David Feeney (VIC, ALP)	01.07.08
Senator Steve Fielding (VIC, FFP)	13.02.08
Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells (NSW, LP)	12.02.08
Senator Mitch Fifield (VIC, LP)	12.02.08
Senator Mary Jo Fisher (SA, LP)	12.02.08
Senator Michael Forshaw (NSW, ALP)	12.03.08
Senator Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, AG)	01.07.08
Senator the Hon Bill Heffernan (NSW, LP)	12.02.08
Senator Annette Hurley (SA, ALP)	12.03.08
Senator Steve Hutchins (NSW, ALP)	12.03.08
Senator the Hon David Johnston (WA, LP)	12.02.08
Senator Barnaby Joyce (QLD, NATS)	12.02.08
Senator Helen Kroger (VIC, LP)	01.07.08
Senator Scott Ludlam (WA, AG)	01.07.08
Senator the Hon Ian Macdonald (QLD, LP)	12.02.08
Senator Gavin Marshall (VIC, ALP)	12.03.08
Senator the Hon Brett Mason (QLD, LP)	12.02.08
Senator Anne McEwen (SA, ALP)	12.03.08
Senator Julian McGauran (VIC, LP)	12.02.08
Senator the Hon Jan McLucas (QLD, ALP)	12.03.08
Senator Christine Milne (TAS, AG)	14.02.08
Senator the Hon Nicholas Minchin (SA, LP)	12.02.08
Senator Fiona Nash (NSW, NATS)	12.02.08
Senator Kerry O'Brien (TAS, ALP)	12.03.08
Senator Stephen Parry (TAS, LP)	12.02.08
Senator Marise Payne (NSW, LP)	12.02.08
Senator Helen Polley (TAS, ALP)	01.07.08
Senator Louise Pratt (WA, ALP)	01.07.08
Senator the Hon Michael Ronaldson (VIC, LP)	12.02.08
Senator Scott Ryan (VIC, LP)	01.07.08
Senator the Hon Nigel Scullion (NT, CLP)	12.02.08
Senator the Hon Ursula Stephens (NSW, ALP)	12.03.08
Senator Glenn Sterle (WA, ALP)	12.03.08
Senator the Hon Judith Troeth (VIC, LP)	12.02.08
Senator Russell Trood (QLD, LP)	12.02.08
Senator John Williams (NSW, NATS)	01.07.08
Senator Dana Wortley (SA, ALP)	12.03.08
Senator Nick Xenophon (SA, IND)	01.07.08

 

Former members	Term of appointment
Senator Lyn Allison (VIC, AD)	13.02.08–30.06.08
Senator Kate Lundy (ACT, ALP)	12.02.08–28.08.08
Senator Helen Polley (TAS, ALP)	12.02.08–30.06.08

 

Former substitute members	Term of appointment
Senator Trish Crossin (NT, ALP)[2]	20.03.08–15.05.08
Senator the Hon Richard Colbeck (TAS, LP)[3]	15.05.08–24.06.08
Senator Andrew Murray (WA, AD)[4]	16.06.08–24.06.08
Senator Trish Crossin (NT, ALP)[5]	16.10.08–04.12.08
Senator Scott Ludlam (WA, AG)[6]	10.11.08–13.11.08

 

Former participating members	Term of appointment
Senator Andrew Bartlett (QLD, AD)	13.02.08–30.06.08
Senator Carol Brown (TAS, ALP)	16.10.08–04.12.08
Senator George Campbell (NSW, ALP)	12.03.08–30.06.08
Senator Grant Chapman (SA, LP)	12.02.08–30.06.08
Senator Mark Furner (QLD, ALP)	01.07.08–28.08.08
Senator John Hogg (QLD, ALP)	12.03.08–26.08.08
Senator the Hon Rod Kemp (VIC, LP)	12.02.08–30.06.08
Senator Linda Kirk (SA, ALP)	12.03.08–30.06.08
Senator Ross Lightfoot (WA, LP)	12.02.08–30.06.08
Senator the Hon Sandy Macdonald (NSW, NATS)	12.02.08–30.06.08
Senator Kerry Nettle (NSW, AG)	14.02.08–30.06.08
Senator the Hon Kay Patterson (VIC, LP)	12.02.08–30.06.08
Senator Robert Ray (VIC, ALP)	12.03.08–05.05.08
Senator Rachel Siewert (WA, AG)	12.03.08–30.06.08
Senator Rachel Siewert (WA, AG)	10.11.08–13.11.08
Senator Natasha Stott Despoja (SA, AD)	14.02.08–30.06.08
Senator John Watson (TAS, LP)	13.02.08–30.06.08
Senator Ruth Webber (WA, ALP)	12.03.08–30.06.08

Inquiries

As at 1 July 2008

• Mental Health Services in Australia (re-referred 14 February 2008)
• Poker Machine Harm Reduction Tax (Administration) Bill 2008 (referred 12 March 2008—through the Selection of Bills Committee)
• Special Disability Trusts (referred 15 May 2008)
• Petrol Sniffing and substance abuse in central Australia (referred 17 June 2008)
• National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical and Other Benefits—Cost Recovery) Bill 2008 (referred 18 June 2008)
• Poker Machine Harm Minimisation Bill 2008 (referred 25 June 2008—through the Selection of Bills Committee)

Current inquiries

As at 31 December 2008

• Petrol Sniffing and substance abuse in central Australia (referred 17 June 2008)
• Progress with the implementation of the recommendations in the reports by the Community Affairs References Committee, Lost Innocents: Righting the Record, and Forgotten Australians (referred 18 September 2008)
• Impact of gene patents on the provision of healthcare in Australia (referred 11 November 2008)

New references

1 July 2008–31 December 2008

• Social Security and Veterans' Entitlements Legislation Amendment (Schooling Requirements) Bill 2008 [Provisions] (referred 3 September 2008—through the Selection of Bills Committee)
• ATMs and Cash Facilities in Licensed Venues Bill 2008 (referred 4 September 2008—through the Selection of Bills Committee)
• Protecting Children from Junk Food Advertising (Broadcasting Amendment) Bill 2008 (referred 4 September—through the Selection of Bills Committee)
• National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits—Charges) Regulations 2008—Draft regulations (referred 4 September 2008)
• Levels of Federal and NT government expenditure on Indigenous affairs and social services in Northern Territory (referred 15 September 2008)
• Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Other Legislation Amendment (Further 2008 Budget and Other Measures) Bill 2008 [Provisions] (referred 18 September 2008—through the Selection of Bills Committee)
• Progress with the implementation of the recommendations in the reports by the Community Affairs References Committee, Lost Innocents: Righting the Record, and Forgotten Australians (referred 18 September 2008)
• National Rental Affordability Scheme Bill 2008 [Provisions] and the National Rental Affordability Scheme (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2008 [Provisions] (referred 25 September 2008—through the Selection of Bills Committee)
• Aged Care Amendment (2008 Measures No. 2) Bill 2008 [Provisions] (referred 16 October 2008—through the Selection of Bills Committee)
• Impact of gene patents on the provision of healthcare in Australia (referred 11 November 2008)

Public hearings

1 July 2008–31 December 2008

• National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical and Other Benefits—Cost Recovery) Bill 2008—28 July 2008, Canberra
• Special Disability Trusts—29 July 2008, Canberra
• ATMs and Cash Facilities in Licensed Venues Bill 2008—11 September 2008, Melbourne; 12 September 2008, Sydney; 25 September 2008, Canberra; 16 October 2008, Canberra
• Poker Machine Harm Reduction Tax (Administration) Bill 2008—11 September 2008, Melbourne; 12 September 2008, Sydney; 25 September 2008, Canberra; 16 October 2008, Canberra
• Poker Machine Harm Minimisation Bill 2008—11 September 2008, Melbourne; 12 September 2008, Sydney; 25 September 2008, Canberra; 16 October 2008, Canberra
• Draft National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits—Charges) Regulations 2008—22 September 2008, Canberra; 25 September 2008, Canberra
• Social Security and Veterans' Entitlements Legislation Amendment (Schooling Requirements) Bill 2008 [Provisions]—9 October 2008, Perth; 3 November 2008, Canberra
• 2008–09 Supplementary Budget Estimates—22, 23 & 24 October 2008, Canberra
• Petrol sniffing and substance abuse in central Australia—29 October 2008, Alice Springs
• Levels of Federal and NT government expenditure on Indigenous affairs and social services in Northern Territory—30 October 2008, Darwin; 11 Nove mber 2008, Canberra
• Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Other Legislation Amendment (Further 2008 Budget and Other Measures) Bill 2008 [Provisions]—3 November 2008, Canberra
• National Rental Affordability Scheme Bill 2008 [Provisions] and the National Rental Affordability Scheme (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2008 [Provisions]—6 November 2008, Canberra
• Aged Care Amendment (2008 Measures No. 2) Bill 2008 [Provisions]—14 November 2008, Canberra
• Protecting Children from Junk Food Advertising (Broadcasting Amendment) Bill 2008—19 November 2008, Canberra

Reports tabled

1 July 2008–31 December 2008

• National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical and Other Benefits—Cost Recovery) Bill 2008 (presented out of session 22 August 2008; tabled 26 August 2008)
• Annual Reports (No. 2 of 2008) (tabled 17 September 2008)
• Towards recovery: mental health services in Australia (tabled 25 September 2008)
• Draft National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits—Charges) Regulations 2008 (presented out of session on 2 October 2008; tabled 13 October 2008)
• Building trust: Supporting families through Disability Trusts (tabled 16 October 2008)
• Poker Machine Harm Reduction Tax (Administration) Bill 2008; Poker Machine Harm Minimisation Bill 2008; and ATMs and Cash Facilities in Licensed Venues Bill 2008 (tabled 10 November 2008)
• Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Other Legislation Amendment (Further 2008 Budget and Other Measures) Bill 2008 [Provisions] (tabled 10 November 2008)
• Social Security and Veterans' Entitlements Legislation Amendment (Schooling Requirements) Bill 2008 [Provisions] (tabled 13 November 2008)
• National Rental Affordability Scheme Bill 2008 [Provisions] and the National Rental Affordability Scheme (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2008 [Provisions] (tabled 13 November 2008)
• Aged Care Amendment (2008 Measures No. 2) Bill 2008 [Provisions] (presented out of session 20 November 2008, tabled 24 November 2008)
• Protecting Children from Junk Food Advertising (Broadcasting Amendment) Bill 2008 (tabled 2 December 2008)
• Government expenditure on Indigenous affairs and social services in the Northern Territory (tabled 4 December 2008)

Government responses

1 July 2008–31 December 2008

• A decent quality of life: Inquiry into the cost of living pressures on older Australians—(presented out of session 5 September 2008; report tabled 20 March 2008)
• Workplace exposure to toxic dust (tabled 25 September 2008; report tabled 31 May 2006)
• A matter relating to the PET Review of 2000 (tabled 13 November 2008; report tabled 26 June 2008)

Estimates

A statistical summary of this Committee's work when considering Estimates appears in Part Four.

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