Legal and Constitutional Affairs

1 July 2009 - 31 December 2009

	Matters Current as at 1 July 2009	Matters Referred during period*	Reports tabled that discharge a reference**	Current Inquiries as at 31 December 2009
Legislation	7	8	13+(3)	2
References	2	0	2+(^1)+(2)	0
Total	9	8	15+(^1)+(2)	2

Number and Hours of Meeting
	Public	Hrs	Public Estimates	Hrs	Private	Hrs	Insp/Other	Hrs	Total Meetings	Total Hours
Legislation	11	43:28	2	21:58	18	2:32	0	0:00	31	67:58
References	6	24:34	0	0:00	8	3:10	0	0:00	14	27:44
Total	17	68:02	2	21:58	26	5:42	0	0:00	45	95:42

Meetings by State
	ACT	NSW	VIC	TAS	SA	WA	NT	QLD
Legislation	20	5	6	0	0	0	0	0
References	9	1	1	0	0	3	0	0
Total	29	6	7	0	0	3	0	0

		Witnesses			Hansard Pages
	Televised hearings	Estimates	Other (Bills)	General	Estimates	Other (Bills)	General	No. of submissions#	No. of Pages	Government Responses
Legislation	3	170	138	0	265	499	0	409	2430	1
References	1	0	0	58	0	0	315	19	223	0
Total	4	170	138	58	265	499	315	428	2653	1

* includes referral of Annual Reports x 1
** includes 3 Interim Legislation reports; 2 Interim References Reports
^ includes one report on possible contempt in relation to a witness
# The committee also received 22,636 standard & form letters for Marriage Equality Amendment Bill 2009 inquiry

 

Legal and Constitutional Affairs (Legislation)

1 July 2009 to 31 December 2009

Method of appointment

Pursuant to amended Senate Standing Order 25.

 

Current members	Date of appointment
Senator Trish Crossin (NT, ALP) (elected Chair on 14.05.09)	14.05.09
Senator Guy Barnett (TAS, LP) (elected Deputy Chair on 14.05.09)	14.05.09
Senator David Feeney (VIC, ALP)	14.05.09
Senator Mary Jo Fisher (SA, LP)	14.05.09
Senator Scott Ludlam (WA, AG)	14.05.09
Senator Gavin Marshall (VIC, ALP)	14.05.09

Substitute member	Date of appointment
Senator Rachel Siewert (WA, AG)[1]	29.10.09
Participating members	Date of appointment
Senator the Hon Eric Abetz (TAS, LP)	14.05.09
Senator Judith Adams (WA, LP)	14.05.09
Senator Chris Back (WA, LP)	14.05.09
Senator Cory Bernardi (SA, LP)	14.05.09
Senator Catryna Bilyk (TAS, ALP)	14.05.09
Senator Simon Birmingham (SA, LP)	14.05.09
Senator Mark Bishop (WA, ALP)	14.05.09
Senator the Hon Ronald Boswell (QLD, NATS)	14.05.09
Senator Sue Boyce (QLD, LP)	14.05.09
Senator the Hon George Brandis (QLD, LP)	14.05.09
Senator Bob Brown (TAS, AG)	14.05.09
Senator Carol Brown (TAS, ALP)	14.05.09
Senator David Bushby (TAS, LP)	14.05.09
Senator Doug Cameron (NSW, ALP)	14.05.09
Senator Michaelia Cash (WA, LP)	14.05.09
Senator the Hon Richard Colbeck (TAS, LP)	14.05.09
Senator Jacinta Collins (VIC, ALP)	14.05.09
Senator the Hon Helen Coonan (NSW, LP)	14.05.09
Senator Mathias Cormann (WA, LP)	14.05.09
Senator Alan Eggleston (WA, LP)	14.05.09
Senator Don Farrell (SA, ALP)	14.05.09
Senator the Hon Alan Ferguson (SA, LP)	14.05.09
Senator Steve Fielding (VIC, FFP)	14.05.09
Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells (NSW, LP)	14.05.09
Senator Mitch Fifield (VIC, LP)	14.05.09
Senator Michael Forshaw (NSW, ALP)	14.05.09
Senator Mark Furner (QLD, ALP)	14.05.09
Senator Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, AG)	14.05.09
Senator the Hon Bill Heffernan (NSW, LP)	14.05.09
Senator Gary Humphries (ACT, LP)	14.05.09
Senator Annette Hurley (SA, ALP)	14.05.09
Senator Steve Hutchins (NSW, ALP)	14.05.09
Senator the Hon David Johnston (WA, LP)	14.05.09
Senator Barnaby Joyce (QLD, NATS)	14.05.09
Senator Helen Kroger (VIC, LP)	14.05.09
Senator Scott Ludlam (WA, AG)	25.06.09
Senator Kate Lundy (ACT, ALP)	14.05.09
Senator the Hon Ian Macdonald (QLD, LP)	14.05.09
Senator the Hon Brett Mason (QLD, LP)	14.05.09
Senator Anne McEwen (SA, ALP)	14.05.09
Senator Julian McGauran (VIC, LP)	14.05.09
Senator the Hon Jan McLucas (QLD, ALP)	14.05.09
Senator Christine Milne (TAS, AG)	14.05.09
Senator the Hon Nicholas Minchin (SA, LP)	14.05.09
Senator Claire Moore (QLD, ALP)	14.05.09
Senator Fiona Nash (NSW, NATS)	14.05.09
Senator Kerry O'Brien (TAS, ALP)	14.05.09
Senator Stephen Parry (TAS, LP)	14.05.09
Senator Marise Payne (NSW, LP)	14.05.09
Senator Helen Polley (TAS, ALP)	14.05.09
Senator Louise Pratt (WA, ALP)	14.05.09
Senator the Hon Michael Ronaldson (VIC, LP)	14.05.09
Senator Scott Ryan (VIC, LP)	14.05.09
Senator the Hon Nigel Scullion (NT, CLP)	14.05.09
Senator Rachel Siewert (WA, AG)	14.05.09
Senator Glenn Sterle (WA, ALP)	14.05.09
Senator the Hon Judith Troeth (VIC, LP)	14.05.09
Senator John Williams (NSW, NATS)	14.05.09
Senator Dana Wortley (SA, ALP)	14.05.09
Senator Nick Xenophon (SA, IND)	14.05.09

Former substitute members	Date of appointment
Senator Helen Polley (TAS, ALP)[2]	25.06.09–16.11.09
Senator Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, AG)[3]	25.06.09–07.09.09
Senator Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, AG)[4]	25.06.09–26.11.09
Senator Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, AG)[5]	25.06.09–20.08.09
Senator Steve Hutchins (NSW, ALP)[6]	25.06.09–16.11.09
Senator Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, AG)[7]	14.09.09–19.10.09
Senator the Hon Jan McLucas (QLD, ALP)[8]	19.10.09–20.10.09

Former participating members	Date of appointment
Senator Gavin Marshall (VIC, ALP)	25.06.09–16.11.09
Senator David Feeney (VIC, ALP)	25.06.09–16.11.09

Inquiries

As at 1 July 2009

• Access to Justice (Civil Litigation Reforms) Amendment Bill 2009 [Provisions] (referred 25 June 2009—through the Selection of Bills Committee)
• Anti-Terrorism Laws Reform Bill 2009 (referred 25 June 2009—through the Selection of Bills Committee)
• Australian Citizenship Amendment (Citizenship Test Review and Other Measures) Bill 2009 (referred 25 June 2009—through the Selection of Bills Committee)
• Crimes Legislation Amendment (Serious and Organised Crime) Bill 2009 [Provisions] (referred 25 June 2009—through the Selection of Bills Committee)
• Marriage Equality Amendment Bill 2009 (referred 25 June 2009—through the Selection of Bills Committee)
• Migration Amendment (Immigration Detention Reform) Bill 2009 (referred 25 June 2009—through the Selection of Bills Committee)
• Personal Property Securities Bill 2009 [Provisions] (referred 25 June 2009—through the Selection of Bills Committee)

Current inquiries

As at 31 December 2009

• Bankruptcy Legislation Amendment Bill 2009 [Provisions] (referred 29 October 2009—through the Selection of Bills Committee)
• Native Title Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2009 [Provisions] (referred 29 October 2009—through the Selection of Bills Committee)

New references

1 July 2009–31 December 2009

• Crimes Amendment (Working With Children—Criminal History) Bill 2009 [Provisions] (referred 10 September 2009—through the Selection of Bills Committee)
• Migration Amendment (Complementary Protection) Bill 2009 [Provisions] (referred 10 September 2009—through the Selection of Bills Committee)
• Crimes Legislation Amendment (Serious and Organised Crime) Bill (No. 2) 2009 [Provisions] (referred 17 September 2009—through the Selection of Bills Committee)
• Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Amendment Bill 2009 [Provisions] (referred 17 September 2009—through the Selection of Bills Committee)
• Bankruptcy Legislation Amendment Bill 2009 [Provisions] (referred 29 October 2009—through the Selection of Bills Committee)
• Native Title Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2009 [Provisions] (referred 29 October 2009—through the Selection of Bills Committee)
• Personal Property Securities (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2009 [Provisions] (referred 29 October 2009—through the Selection of Bills Committee)

Public hearings

1 July 2009–31 December 2009

• Personal Property Securities Bill 2009 [Provisions]—6 and 7 August 2009, Sydney
• Migration Amendment (Immigration Detention Reform) Bill 2009—7 August 2009, Sydney
• Access to Justice (Civil Litigation Reforms) Bill 2009 [Provisions]—27 August 2009, Melbourne
• Australian Citizenship Amendment (Citizenship Test Review and Other Measures) Bill 2009—27 August 2009, Melbourne
• Crimes Legislation Amendment (Serious and Organised Crime) Bill 2009 [Provisions]—28 August 2009, Melbourne
• Anti-Terrorism Laws Reform Bill 2009—22 September 2009, Sydney
• 2009–2010 Supplementary Budget Estimates—19 & 20 October 2009
• Crimes Legislation Amendment (Serious and Organised Crime) Bill (No. 2) 2009 [Provisions]—29 October 2009, Canberra
• Marriage Equality Amendment Bill 2009—9 November 2009, St Kilda
• Crimes Amendment (Working with Children—Criminal History) Bill 2009 [Provisions]—10 November 2009, Melbourne
• Personal Properties Securities (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2009 [Provisions]—10 November 2009, Melbourne

Reports tabled

1 July 2009–31 December 2009

• Migration Amendment (Immigration Detention Reform) Bill 2009—Interim Report (presented out of session on 7 August 2009; tabled 11 August 2009)
• Personal Property Securities Bill 2009 [Provisions]—Interim Report (presented out of session on 7 August 2009; tabled 11 August 2009)
• Migration Amendment (Immigration Detention Reform) Bill 2009—Final Report (tabled 20 August 2009)
• Personal Property Securities Bill 2009 [Provisions]—Final Report (tabled 20 August 2009)
• Australian Citizenship Amendment (Citizenship Test Review and Other Measures) Bill 2009 (tabled 7 September 2009)
• Annual Report (No. 2 of 2009) (tabled 16 September 2009)
• Access to Justice (Civil Litigation Reforms) Amendment Bill 2009 [Provisions] (tabled 17 September 2009)
• Crimes Legislation Amendment (Serious and Organised Crime) Bill 2009 [Provisions] (tabled 17 September 2009)
• Migration Amendment (Complementary Protection) Bill 2009 [Provisions]—Interim report (presented out of session 16 October 2009; tabled 26 October 2009)
• Migration Amendment (Complementary Protection) Bill 2009 [Provisions]—Final report (presented out of session 19 October 2009; tabled 26 October 2009)
• Anti-Terrorism Laws Reform Bill 2009 (tabled 28 October 2009)
• Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Amendment Bill 2009 [Provisions] (tabled 16 November 2009)
• Crimes Legislation Amendment (Serious and Organised Crime) Bill (No. 2) 2009 [Provisions] (tabled 16 November 2009)
• Crimes Amendment (Working With Children—Criminal History) Bill 2009 [Provisions] (tabled 19 November 2009)
• Personal Property Securities (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2009 [Provisions] (tabled 23 November 2009)
• Marriage Equality Amendment Bill 2009 (tabled 26 November 2009)

Government responses

1 July 2009–31 December 2009

• Personal Property Securities Bill 2009 [Provisions] (presented out of session on 21 October 2009; tabled 26 October 2009; report tabled 20 August 2009)

Estimates

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

Legal and Constitutional Affairs (References)

1 July 2009 to 31 December 2009

Method of appointment

Pursuant to amended Senate Standing Order 25.

Current members	Date of appointment
Senator Guy Barnett (TAS, LP) (elected Chair on 14.05.09)	14.05.09
Senator Trish Crossin (NT, ALP) (elected Deputy Chair on 14.05.09)	14.05.09
Senator David Feeney (VIC, ALP)	14.05.09
Senator Mary Jo Fisher (SA, LP)	14.05.09
Senator Scott Ludlam (WA, AG)	14.05.09
Senator Russell Trood (QLD, LP)	14.05.09

Participating members	Date of appointment
Senator the Hon Eric Abetz (TAS, LP)	14.05.09
Senator Judith Adams (WA, LP)	14.05.09
Senator Chris Back (WA, LP)	14.05.09
Senator Cory Bernardi (SA, LP)	14.05.09
Senator Catryna Bilyk (TAS, ALP)	14.05.09
Senator Simon Birmingham (SA, LP)	14.05.09
Senator Mark Bishop (WA, ALP)	14.05.09
Senator the Hon Ronald Boswell (QLD, NATS)	14.05.09
Senator Sue Boyce (QLD, LP)	14.05.09
Senator the Hon George Brandis (QLD, LP)	14.05.09
Senator Bob Brown (TAS, AG)	14.05.09
Senator Carol Brown (TAS, ALP)	14.05.09
Senator David Bushby (TAS, LP)	14.05.09
Senator Doug Cameron (NSW, ALP)	14.05.09
Senator Michaelia Cash (WA, LP)	14.05.09
Senator the Hon Richard Colbeck (TAS, LP)	14.05.09
Senator Jacinta Collins (VIC, ALP)	14.05.09
Senator the Hon Helen Coonan (NSW, LP)	14.05.09
Senator Mathias Cormann (WA, LP)	14.05.09
Senator Alan Eggleston (WA, LP)	14.05.09
Senator Steve Fielding (VIC, FFP)	14.05.09
Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells (NSW, LP)	14.05.09
Senator Mitch Fifield (VIC, LP)	14.05.09
Senator Michael Forshaw (NSW, ALP)	14.05.09
Senator Mark Furner (QLD, ALP)	14.05.09
Senator Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, AG)	14.05.09
Senator the Hon Bill Heffernan (NSW, LP)	14.05.09
Senator Gary Humphries (ACT, LP)	14.05.09
Senator Annette Hurley (SA, ALP)	14.05.09
Senator Steve Hutchins (NSW, ALP)	14.05.09
Senator the Hon David Johnston (WA, LP)	14.05.09
Senator Barnaby Joyce (QLD, NATS)	14.05.09
Senator Helen Kroger (VIC, LP)	14.05.09
Senator Scott Ludlam (WA, AG)	14.05.09
Senator Kate Lundy (ACT, ALP)	14.05.09
Senator the Hon Ian Macdonald (QLD, LP)	14.05.09
Senator Gavin Marshall (VIC, ALP)	14.05.09
Senator the Hon Brett Mason (QLD, LP)	14.05.09
Senator Anne McEwen (SA, ALP)	14.05.09
Senator Julian McGauran (VIC, LP)	14.05.09
Senator the Hon Jan McLucas (QLD, ALP)	14.05.09
Senator Christine Milne (TAS, AG)	14.05.09
Senator the Hon Nicholas Minchin (SA, LP)	14.05.09
Senator Claire Moore (QLD, ALP)	14.05.09
Senator Fiona Nash (NSW, NATS)	14.05.09
Senator Kerry O'Brien (TAS, ALP)	14.05.09
Senator Stephen Parry (TAS, LP)	14.05.09
Senator Helen Polley (TAS, ALP)	14.05.09
Senator Louise Pratt (WA, ALP)	14.05.09
Senator the Hon Michael Ronaldson (VIC, LP)	14.05.09
Senator Scott Ryan (VIC, LP)	14.05.09
Senator the Hon Nigel Scullion (NT, CLP)	14.05.09
Senator Rachel Siewert (WA, AG)	14.05.09
Senator Glenn Sterle (WA, ALP)	14.05.09
Senator the Hon Judith Troeth (VIC, LP)	14.05.09
Senator John Williams (NSW, NATS)	14.05.09
Senator Dana Wortley (SA, ALP)	14.05.09
Senator Nick Xenophon (SA, IND)	14.05.09

Inquiries

As at 1 July 2009

• Access to justice (referred 19 March 2009)
• Australia’s judicial system and the role of judges (referred 19 March 2009)

Current inquiries

As at 31 December 2009

• Nil

New references

1 July 2009–31 December 2009

• Nil

Public hearings

1 July 2009–31 December 2009

• Access to justice—13 July 2009, Perth; 15 July 2009, Melbourne; 11 September 2009, Sydney; 27 October 2009, Canberra
• Australia's judicial system and the role of judges—13 July 2009, Perth; 17 November 2009, Canberra

Reports tabled

1 July 2009–31 December 2009

• A possible contempt in relation to a witness to the committee's inquiry into access to justice (tabled 8 September 2009)
• Australia's Judicial System and the Role of Judges; and Access to Justice—Interim report (tabled 26 November 2009)
• Australia's Judicial System and the Role of Judges—Final report (presented out of session 7 December 2009)
• Access to justice—Final report (presented out of session 8 December 2009)

Government responses

1 July 2009–31 December 2009

• Nil

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