5th Dec 2023, 9:20 PM – Senate Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee Bill 2023 - In Committee - Committee appointment, contents of report & publication of disclosure of interests

The majority voted against Australian Greens amendments, which means they failed.

Amendment text

SHEET 2162

(1) Clause 4, page 3 (after line 5), after the definition of Committee , insert:

Community Affairs References Committee means the Senate Community Affairs References Committee, or such other committee constituted under a resolution of the Senate.

(2) Clause 11, page 8 (after line 11), after subclause (1), insert:

(1A) Before the Minister appoints the Chair and other members of the Committee:

(a) the Minister must have referred the proposed appointment to the Community Affairs References Committee under section 26A; and

(b) one of the following must have occurred:

(i) the Community Affairs References Committee was taken to have approved the proposed appointment under subsection (4) of that section;

(ii) the Community Affairs References Committee has notified the Minister that it has decided to approve the proposed appointment.

(3) Page 14 (after line 13), after clause 26, insert:

26A Community Affairs References Committee—approval or rejection of proposed appointment

(1) The Community Affairs References Committee must approve or reject a proposed appointment for the Chair and other members of the Committee referred to the Community Affairs References Committee by the Minister.

(2) The Community Affairs References Committee must make the decision on a proposed appointment within :

(a) 14 days after the referral; or

(b) if, within the first 14 days after the referral, the Community Affairs References Committee notifies the Minister that it requires additional time to consider the referral—44 days after the referral.

(3) As soon as practicable after making the decision, the Community Affairs References Committee must:

(a) give the Minister written notice of the decision; and

(b) report the decision to the Senate.

(4) The Community Affairs References Committee is taken to have approved the proposed appointment if the Community Affairs References Committee does not give notice under subsection (3) within the period specified in paragraph (2)(a) or (b) as the case requires.

SHEET 2165

(1) Clause 8, page 5 (lines 19 and 20), omit "including options to boost economic inclusion and tackle disadvantage", substitute "with a specific focus on the reduction of poverty".

(2) Clause 8, page 6 (after line 5), after subclause (2), insert:

(2B) Without limiting subsection (2), the report must include, in relation to the period since the last Commonwealth Government budget was delivered in the House of Representatives, the following information about access and eligibility for income support payments:

(a) data and analysis on the suspension and cancellation of income support payments resulting from a recipient's failure to meet mutual obligation requirements;

(b) for each kind of income support payment:

(i) the number of debts raised; and

(ii) the number of debts repealed;

(c) data and analysis on key points of disengagement from the social security system;

(d) the adequacy of income support payments, including whether income support payments ensure that recipients are above the poverty line.

(3) Clause 8, page 6 (line 5), at the end of subclause (2), add:

; (h) the eradication of poverty.

SHEET 2304

(1) Clause 17, page 11 (after line 14), at the end of the clause, add:

(5) The Chair must give written notice to the Joint Ministers setting out the interests that have been disclosed to the Committee under subsection (1) as soon as practicable after the end of the meeting in which the disclosure was made.

(2) Page 11 (after line 14), after clause 17, insert:

17A Minister must establish register of interests

(1) The Minister must establish and maintain a register of interests setting out:

(a) the interests that have been included in a written notice given to the Joint Ministers under section 16 or subsection 17(5); and

(b) any other information prescribed by the regulations.

(2) The Minister must cause the register of interests to be:

(a) published on the Department's website; and

(b) updated as soon as practicable following written notice being given to the Joint Ministers under section 16 or subsection 17(5).

(3) If a person ceases to be a member of the Committee the Minister must remove information about the person from the register as soon as practicable after the Minister becomes aware that the person is no longer a member.

(4) The regulations must make provision for, or in relation to:

(a) the correction of information that is included in the register, including how a person may seek the correction of information that is about the person; and

(b) any other matter relating to the administration or operation of the register.