Committees

COMMITTEE POSITIONS

Helen is a member of four committees. Her position and committee memberships are as follows:

· Chair of the Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee

· Deputy-Chair of the Finance and Public Administration References Committee

· Committee Member of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Law Enforcement.

· Joint Committee on Electoral Matters

COMMITTEE UPDATE

Finance and Public Administration - Legislation Committee

The Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee recently held two hearings in Melbourne - one concerning the inquiry into the Citizen Initiated Referenda Bill 2013 and the other the inquiry into the Therapeutic Goods Amendment (Pharmaceutical Transparently) Bill 2013.

A link to the hearing concerning the inquiry into the Citizen Initiated Referenda Bill 2013 is available here: 

http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate_Committees?url=fapa_ctte/citizen_initiated_ref_bill_2013/hearings/index.htm

A link to the hearing concerning the inquiry into the Therapeutic Goods Amendment (Pharmaceutical Transparently) Bill 2013 is available here:

http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate_Committees?url=fapa_ctte/therap_goods_amend_bill_2013/hearings/index.htm

 
Finance and Public Administration – References Committee

Current Inquiry:

Inquiry into the progress in the implementation of the recommendations of the 1999 Joint Expert Technical Advisory Committee on Antibiotic Resistance.

Available here -

http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate_Committees?url=fapa_ctte/inquiries.htm

Now Completed Inquiries

Inquiry into the implementation of the National Health Reform Agreement.  Available here

http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate_Committees?url=fapa_ctte/completed_inquiries/2010-13/public_hospital_funding/index.htm

Parliamentary Joint Committee on Law Enforcement

Current Inquiry

Inquiry into the gathering and use of criminal intelligence. Available here - http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate_Committees?url=le_ctte/criminal_intelligence/index.htm

Now Completed Inquiries

Inquiry into the Regulatory Powers (Standard Provisions) Bill 2012.  Available here -

http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate_Committees?url=le_ctte/completed_inquiries/2010-13/regulatory_powers/index.htm

Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters

Recently Completed Inquiries

Electoral and Referendum Amendment (Improving Electoral Administration) Bill 2012 –

Available here -

http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House_of_Representatives_Committees?url=em/improvingelectoraladmin/report.htm

Finance & Public Administration – Legislation Committee 

Completed Inquiries 

Public Service Amendment (Payments in Special Circumstances) Bill 2011 

The lack of proper compensation scheme for claimants who have been disadvantaged as a result of administrative errors by Government agencies not included under the Scheme for Compensation for Detriment caused by Defective Administration (CDDA) 

The recommendations of the Commonwealth Ombudsman in the Ombudsman's Report No 4 of 2010 in relation to discretionary payments of compensation 

The committee recommended that standardisation of payments between the Public Service Amendment (Payments in Special Circumstances) Bill 2011 and Parliamentary Services Act 1999 to $250,000 

National Health Reform Amendment (Independent Hospital Pricing Authority) Bill 2011 

This Bill will establish the Independent Hospital Pricing Authority – the lynchpin of the Government's health reforms and will operate alongside the Quality and Safety Commission and the National Performance Authority. 

• Relationship of the IHPA with the Safety and Quality Commission
• Relationship of the IHPA with the National Performance Authority
• Impact of the IHPA on the nation's hospitals. 

The committee recommends that the National Health Reform Amendment (Independent Hospital Pricing Authority) Bill 2011 be passed. 

Government Advertising (Accountability) Bill 2011 

The bill sought  to amend the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 (FMA Act) by repealing the existing section 14, and inserting a new section 14, so that the use of taxpayers' money by the government to fund advertising of a policy not yet enacted in legislation, would be in breach of the FMA Act. 

The Committee was of the view that the Bill, as drafted, did not provide adequate flexibility for the Government to advertise campaigns in the public interest e.e. health and well-being. 

Exposure Drafts of Australian Privacy Amendment Legislation 

The government aimed to consolidate  different legislation relating to: 

• Privacy Principles
• Credit reporting
• Sharing Health Information
• Strengthen Privacy Commissioner role and associated policies into one piece of legislation 

Committee reviewed and supported the first two components.  The Government changed the process of management for the remaining two parts. 

Members of Parliament (Life Gold Pass) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2012 

The Bill seeks to amend the Members of Parliament (Life Gold Pass) Act 2002, the Parliamentary Contributory Superannuation Act 1948 and the Remuneration Tribunal Act 1973  

Changes arrangements for Life Gold Pass and Superannuation for Retired Parliamentarians 

Committee supported the changes 

Finance & Public Administration – Legislation Committee 

Current Inquiries 

Health Insurance (Dental Services) Bill 2012 [No. 2]

On 22 March 2012 the Senate referred the Health Insurance (Dental Services) Bill 2012 [No. 2] for inquiry and report.

The Health Insurance (Dental Services) Bill 2012 [No. 2] was referred to ensure the Bill addresses the wide concerns of the dental profession regarding the actions of Medicare.

Submissions should be received by 12 April 2012, Hearing Date 1 May, 2012.  The reporting date is 08 May 2012.

National Health Reform Amendment (Administrator and National Health Funding Body) Bill 2012

22 March 2012 the Senate referred the National Health Reform Amendment (Administrator and National Health Funding Body) Bill 2012 for inquiry and report.

Submissions should be received by 12 April 2012, Hearing Date 1 may, 2012. The reporting date is 09 May 2012.

Terms of Reference

Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:

• The role of the Funding Body and the Administrator
• Justification for the establishment of additional bureaucracy
• Administrative requirements for the Commonwealth, States and other parties
• Transparency and efficiency of processes in administering funding
• Fiscal implications for the Commonwealth

The performance of the Department of Parliamentary Services (DPS)

On 23 June 2011 the Senate referred the following matter to the Senate Finance and Public Administration Committees for inquiry and report.

Inquiry into the performance of the Department of Parliamentary Services (DPS)

The Committee has extended the date for the receipt of submissions.

Submissions should be received by 31 August 2011. The reporting date is 29 November 2011. On 8 November 2011,the Senate granted an extension of time for reporting until 28 June 2012.

Terms of Reference

The performance of the Department of Parliamentary Services (DPS), with particular reference to:

• matters raised at the Budget estimates hearing of the committee on 23 May 2011 and in answers to questions taken on notice;
• policies and practices followed by DPS for the management of the heritage values of Parliament House and its contents;
• asset management and disposal policies and practices
• resource agreements and/or memoranda of understanding for the provision of services within and by DPS;
• an assessment of the efficiencies achieved following the amalgamation of the three former joint parliamentary service departments and any impact on the level and quality of service delivery;
• the efficient use, management and delivery of information technology services and equipment;

• any related matter.

The performance of the Department of Parliamentary Services (DPS) 

The Terms of Reference cover a broad range of performance issues for the Department 

 Finance & Public Administration – References Committee 

Completed Inquiries 

Superannuation claims of former and current Commonwealth Public Service employees 

The effect on the superannuation claims of former and current Commonwealth Public Service employees employed on a full-time, part-time or temporary basis prior to the introduction of compulsory superannuation in 1992, who were either not aware or correctly advised of their eligibility for Commonwealth superannuation 

The Committee recommended steps to ensure anyone effected was aware of the available processes open to them to have any concerns considered. 

The Government’s administration of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) 

To review the performance of the Government in relation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS 

The Coalition members considered the Government should reverse steps put in place to manage the scheme. 

The Government members' alternate report did not support the coalition view and concluded the steps put in place by Minister Roxon  in the interests of all Australians. 

The operation of the Lobbying Code of Conduct and the Lobbyist Register  

The Code of Conduct had been in place since 2008.  The review to consider.

• the adequacy of coverage of lobbyists
• procedural fairness;
• regulatory burdens;
• whether the coverage of parliamentarians is adequate
• post-employment prohibitions 

 The Committee concluded the current Code of Conduct maintained an appropriate balance between the need for accountability and the need for lobbyists to maintain some privacy. 

 Parliamentary Joint Committee on Law Enforcement 

Current Inquiries 

Inquiry into Commonwealth unexplained wealth legislation and arrangements 

To examine trends and changes in criminal activities, practices and methods and report to both Houses of the Parliament any change which the Committee thinks desirable to the functions, structure, powers and procedures of the ACC or the AFP; 

The committee will examine law enforcement legislation and administrative arrangements that target unexplained wealth in connection with serious and organized crime, through bodies including the AFP, ACC and the Assets Confiscation Taskforce. 

Report Tabled  20 March 2012 

Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters 

Current Inquiries 

Inquiry into the Electoral and Referendum Amendment (Maintaining Address) Bill 2011 (current)  

Amends the: Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 to: allow the Electoral Commissioner to update an elector’s enrolled address following receipt and analysis of reliable and current data sources from outside the Electoral Commission. 

Inquiry into the Electoral and Referendum Amendment (Protecting Elector Participation) Bill 2012 (current)  

Amends the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 and Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984 to: allow the Electoral Commissioner to directly enrol a person if the Electoral Commissioner is satisfied that the person has met certain criteria; require the person to be notified of the Electoral Commissioner’s intention to enrol them and give the elector the opportunity to object to the enrolment; allow the Electoral Commissioner to admit certain declaration votes to further scrutiny; allow the Electoral Commissioner to enrol certain persons who have cast declaration votes and who have been removed from the roll; and make technical amendments.

Report Tabled 19 March 2012