The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT ( Senator Whish-Wilson ) (16:22): On behalf of the President, and in accordance with the usual practice, I table a report of parliamentary committee reports to which the government has not responded within the prescribed period. The report has been circulated to honourable senators. With the concurrence of the Senate, the report will be incorporated in Hansard. The document read as follows— PRESIDENT ' S REPORT TO THE SENATE ON GOVERNMENT RESPONSES OUTSTANDING TO PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE REPORTS AS AT 12 DECEMBER 2013 PREFACE This document continues the practice of presenting to the Senate twice each year a list of government responses to Senate and joint committee reports as well as responses which remain outstanding. The practice of presenting this list to the Senate is in accordance with the resolution of the Senate of 14 March 1973 and the undertaking by successive governments to respond to parliamentary committee reports in timely fashion. On 26 May 1978 the Minister for Administrative Services (Senator Withers) informed the Senate that within six months of the tabling of a committee report, the responsible minister would make a statement in the Parliament outlining the action the government proposed to take in relation to the report. The period for responses was reduced from six months to three months in 1983 by the incoming government. The Leader of the Government in the Senate announced this change on 24 August 1983. The method of response continued to be by way of statement. Subsequently, on 16 October 1991 [tabled 5 Nov 1991] the government advised that responses to committee reports would be made by letter to a committee chair, with the letter being tabled in the Senate at the earliest opportunity. The government affirmed this commitment in June 1996 to respond to relevant parliamentary committee reports within three months of presentation. On 29 September 2010, the House agreed to a resolution which places a six month response time on House and joint committee reports tabled in the House1. The Senate has not agreed to a similar resolution. Therefore, this list is prepared on the basis of retaining the three month reporting undertaking for Senate and joint committee reports tabled in the Senate. This list does not usually include reports of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works, the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights or the following Senate Standing Committees: Appropriations and Staffing, Privileges, Procedure, Publications, Regulations and Ordinances, Scrutiny of Bills, Selection of Bills and Senators' Interests. However, such reports will be included if they require a response. Government responses to reports of the Public Works Committee are normally reflected in motions in the House of Representatives for the approval of works after the relevant report has been presented and considered. Reports of the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit (JCPAA) primarily make administrative recommendations but may make policy recommendations. A government response is required in respect of such policy recommendations made by the committee. However, responses to administrative recommendations are made in the form of an executive minute provided to, and subsequently tabled by, the committee. Agencies responding to administrative recommendations are required to provide an executive minute within six months of the tabling of a report. The committee monitors the provision of such responses. An entry on this list for a report of the JCPAA containing only administrative recommendations is annotated to indicate that the response is to be provided in the form of an executive minute. Consequently, any other government response is not required. However, any reports containing policy recommendations are included in this report as requiring a government response. Senate committees report on bills and the provisions of bills. Only those reports in this category that make recommendations which cannot readily be addressed during the consideration of the bill, and therefore require a response, are listed. The list also does not include reports by committees on estimates or scrutiny of annual reports, unless recommendations are made that require a response. A guide to the legend used in the ' Date response presented/made to the Senate ' column * See document tabled in the Senate on 11 December 2013, entitled Government Response to Parliamentary Committee Reports–Response to the schedule tabled by the President of the Senate on 27 June 2013 for Government interim/final response. ** Report contains administrative recommendations – any response to those recommendations is to be provided to the JCPAA committee in the form of an executive minute. ______________ 1 See House of Representatives Votes and Proceedings, 29 September 2010, p44 Committee and title of report Date report tabled Date response presented/made to the Senate Response made within specified period (3 months) A Certain Maritime Incident (Senate Select) Report on a Certain Maritime Incident 23.10.02 *(interim) No Australia's Food Processing Sector (Senate Select) Inquiry into Australia's food processing sector 16.8.12 *(interim) No Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity (Joint Statutory) Integrity of overseas Commonwealth law enforcement operations 27.6.13 (tabled HoR 24.6.13) - No Broadcasting Legislation (Joint Select) Three broadcasting reform proposals 24.6.13 *(interim) No Community Affairs Legislation Annual reports (No. 2 of 2012) 12.9.12 *(interim) No National Disability Insurance Scheme Bill 2012 [Provisions] 13.3.13 *(final) No Community Affairs References The effectiveness of special arrangements for the supply of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) medicines to remote area Aboriginal Health Services 11.10.11 *(interim) No The role of the Therapeutic Goods Administration regarding medical devices, particularly Poly Implant Prothese (PIP) breast implants 18.6.12 (presented 31.5.12) 12.11.13 (presented 31.7.13) No The factors affecting the supply of health services and medical professionals in rural areas 22.8.12 *(interim) No Palliative care in Australia 10.10.12 *(interim) No Australia's domestic response to the World Health Organization's (WHO) Commission on Social Determinants of Health report "Closing the gap within a generationˮ 20.3.13 *(interim) No Supply of chemotherapy drugs such as Docetaxel 14.5.13 (presented 10.5.13) *(interim) No Involuntary or coerced sterilisation of people with disabilities in Australia 12.11.13 (presented 17.7.13) - Time not expired Impacts on health of air quality in Australia 12.11.13 (presented 16.8.13) - Time not expired Involuntary or coerced sterilisation of intersex people in Australia 12.11.13 (presented 25.10.13) - Time not expired Constitutional Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples (Joint Select) Progress report 27.6.13 Not required - Constitutional Recognition of Local Government (Joint Select) Preliminary report on the majority finding of the Expert Panel on Constitutional Recognition of Local Government: the proposal, timing and likely success of a referendum to amend Section 96 of the Australian Constitution to effect financial recognition of local government 5.2.13 (presented 24.1.13) *(interim) No Final report on the majority finding of the Expert Panel on Constitutional Recognition of Local Government: the case for financial recognition, the likelihood of success and lessons from the history of constitutional referenda 12.3.12 (presented 7.3.12) *(interim) No Corporations and Financial Services (Joint Statutory) Inquiry into aspects of agribusiness managed investment schemes 8.9.09 (tabled HoR 7.9.09) *(final) No Statutory oversight of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission 22.6.10 (tabled HoR 21.6.10) *(final) No Access for small and medium business to finance 16.6.11 (tabled HoR 23.5.11) *(interim) No Report on the 2010-11 annual reports of bodies established under the ASIC Act 13.3.12 *(final) No Inquiry into the Personal Liability for Corporate Fault Reform Bill 2012 29.10.12 *(interim) No Superannuation Legislation Amendment (Service Providers and Other Governance Measures) Bill 2012 5.2.13 *(final) No Family business in Australia―different and significant: why they shouldn't be overlooked 20.3.13 (tabled HoR 21.3.13) *(interim) No Corporations and Financial Sector Legislation Amendment Bill 2013 15.5.13 *(final) No Corporations Amendment (Simple Corporate Bonds and Other Measures) Bill 2013 15.5.13 *(final) No Regulatory framework for tax (financial) advice services (previously Tax Laws Amendment (2013 Measures No. 2) Bill 2013, Schedules 3 and 4) 17.6.13 *(final) No Financial sector reform in China: the role of, and opportunities for, the Australian financial services sector―Report of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services: Delegation to China 28.6.13 - No Statutory oversight of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission: the role of gatekeepers in Australia's financial services system 12.11.13 (presented 29.7.13) Not required - Cyber-Safety (Joint Select) Second interim report―Cyber safety for seniors―A worthwhile journey 14.5.13 (presented 16.4.13) *(interim) No Cyber Safety (Senate Select) Options for addressing the issue of sexting by minors 12.11.13 (presented 30.8.13) Not required - Economics Legislation Food Standards Amendment (Truth in Labelling Laws) Bill 2009 26.11.09 *(interim) No Annual reports (No. 2 of 2010) 17.11.10 *(interim) No Annual reports (No. 1 of 2012) 15.3.12 *(final) No Clean Energy Amendment (International Emissions Trading and Other Measures) Bill 2012 [Provisions] and related bills 29.10.12 *(interim) No Tax Laws Amendment (Countering Tax Avoidance and Multinational Profit Shifting) Bill 2013 [Provisions] 14.5.13 *(final) No Minerals Resource Rent Tax Repeal and Other Measures Bill 2013 [Provisions] 2.12.13 - No Economics References Consenting adults deficits and household debt—Links between Australia's current account deficit, the demand for imported goods and household debt 13.10.05 *(final) No Access of small business to finance 28.9.10 (presented 30.6.10) *(final) No Competition within the Australian banking sector 10.5.11 (presented 6.5.11) *(final) No The post-GFC banking sector 28.11.12 *(final) No Review of changes to car fringe benefits arrangements 27.2.13 *(final) No Development and operation of the Minerals Resource Rent Tax 14.5.13 (presented 6.5.13) *(final) No Education and Employment Legislation Committee Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment Bill 2013 [Provisions] 2.12.13 - Time not expired Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Legislation Fair Work Amendment (Small Business―Penalty Rates Exemption) Bill 2012 12.3.13 *(final) No Protecting Local Jobs (Regulating Enterprise Migration Agreements) Bill 2012 [Provisions] 12.3.13 *(interim) No Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency Bill 2013 [Provisions] 14.5.13 *(final) No Social Security Amendment (Supporting More Australians into Work) Bill 2013 [Provisions] 17.6.13 *(final) No Education, Employment and Workplace Relations References Provision of childcare 23.11.09 *(interim) No Higher education and skill training to support agriculture and agribusiness in Australia 21.6.12 *(interim) No The shortage of engineering and related employment skills 14.8.12 (presented 12.7.12) *(interim) No The adequacy of the allowance payment system as a support into work and the impact of the changing nature of the labour market 29.11.12 *(interim) No Teaching and learning – maximising our investment in Australian schools 14.5.13 *(interim) No Effectiveness of the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy―Interim report 27.6.13 Not required - Electoral Matters (Joint Standing) Implications of the Parliamentary Electorates and Elections Amendment (Automatic Enrolment) Act 2009 (NSW) for the conduct of Commonwealth elections 25.2.10 *(interim) No Report on the funding of political parties and election campaigns 7.2.12 (presented 9.12.11, tabled HoR 13.2.12) *(interim) No Review of the AEC analysis of the FWA report on the HSU 20.9.12 *(interim) No Advisory report on the Electoral and Referendum Amendment (Improving Electoral Administration) Bill 2012 27.2.13 (tabled HoR 12.3.13) *(final) No Environment and Communications Legislation Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Retaining Federal Approval Powers) Bill 2012 12.3.13 *(final) No Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Convergence Review and Other Measures) Bill 2013 [Provisions] and related bills 20.3.13 *(final) No Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment Bill 2013 [Provisions] 14.5.13 (presented 13.5.13) *(final) No Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Great Barrier Reef) Bill 2013 17.6.13 (presented 13.6.13) *(final) No Environment and Communications References The koala—saving our national icon 22.9.11 *(interim) No The Australian Broadcasting Corporation's commitment to reflecting and representing regional diversity 20.3.13 *(interim) No The feasibility of a prohibition on charging fees for an unlisted number service 15.5.13 *(interim) No Effectiveness of current regulatory arrangements in dealing with radio simulcasts 12.11.13 (presented 12.7.13) - Time not expired Impacts of imposing a certain carrier licence condition on Telstra Corporation Limited 12.11.13 (presented 19.7.13) Not required - Effectiveness of threatened species and ecological communities' protection in Australia 12.11.13 (presented 7.8.13) - Time not expired Recent trends in and preparedness for extreme weather events 12.11.13 (presented 7.8.13) - Time not expired Environment, Communications and the Arts References The impacts of mining in the Murray-Darling Basin 2.2.10 (presented 4.12.09) *(interim) No Finance and Public Administration Legislation Plebiscite for an Australian Republic Bill 2008 15.6.09 *(interim) No The performance of the Department of Parliamentary Services―Interim report 27.6.12 12.11.13 (presented 2.8.13), Presiding Officers' response,7.2.13 No The performance of the Department of Parliamentary Services―Final report 28.11.12 12.11.13 (presented 2.8.13), Presiding Officers' response, 7.2.13 No Finance and Public Administration References Staff employed under Members of Parliament (Staff) Act 1984 16.10.03 *(interim) No Implementation of the National Health Reform Agreement 12.3.13 (presented 7.3.13) *(interim) No Progress in the implementation of the recommendations of the 1999 Joint Expert Technical Advisory Committee on Antibiotic Resistance 17.6.13 (presented 7.6.13) *(interim) No Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade (Joint Standing) Australia's trade and investment relationship with Japan and the Republic of Korea 17.6.13 (tabled HoR 3.6.13) *(interim) No Care of ADF personnel wounded and injured on operations 24.6.13 *(interim) No Trading lives: Modern day human trafficking 24.6.13 *(interim) No Review of the Defence annual report 2011-2012 27.6.13 - No Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Autonomous Sanctions Bill 2010 [Provisions] 3.3.11 *(final) No International Organisations (Privileges and Immunities) Amendment Bill 2013 17.6.13 (presented 4.6.13) *(final) No Export Finance and Insurance Corporation Amendment (New Mandate and Other Measures) Bill 2013 [Provisions] 17.6.13 (presented 13.6.13) *(final) No Export Market Development Grants Amendment Bill 2013 17.6.13 *(final) No Implementation of the Defence Trade Controls Act 2012 ―Progress report no. 1 27.6.13 - No Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Australia's overseas development programs in Afghanistan 16.5.13 *(interim) No The importance of the Indian Ocean rim for Australia's foreign, trade and defence policy 17.6.13 (presented 14.6.13) *(interim) No Report of the DLA Piper review and the government's response 27.6.13 - No Gambling Reform (Joint Select) Fifth report―The advertising and promotion of gambling services in sport―Broadcasting Services Amendment (Advertising for Sports Betting) Bill 2013 17.6.13 (presented 7.6.13) *(interim) No Intelligence and Security (Joint Statutory) Report of the inquiry into potential reforms of Australia's national security legislation 24.6.13 *(interim) No Law Enforcement (Joint Statutory) Inquiry into the gathering and use of criminal intelligence 16.5.13 (tabled HoR 15.5.13) *(interim) No Examination of the Australian Crime Commission annual report 2011-12 16.5.13 (tabled HoR 15.5.13) *(interim) No Spectrum for public safety mobile broadband 12.11.13 (presented 23.7.13) - No Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Migration Amendment (Health Care for Asylum Seekers) Bill 2012 5.2.13 (presented 7.12.12) *(interim) No Exposure draft of the Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Bill 2012 25.2.13 (presented 21.2.13) *(final) No Migration and Security Legislation Amendment (Review of Security Assessments) Bill 2012 14.5.13 (presented 30.4.13) *(final) No Public Interest Disclosure Bill 2013 [Provisions] 17.6.13 (presented 13.6.13) *(interim) No Sex Discrimination Amendment (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Intersex Status) Bill 2013 [Provisions] 17.6.13 (presented 14.6.13) *(final) No Legal and Constitutional Affairs References The road to a republic 16.11.04 (presented 31.8.04) *(interim) No Impact of federal court fee increases since 2010 on access to justice in Australia 17.6.13 *(interim) No Value of a justice reinvestment approach to criminal justice in Australia 20.6.13 *(interim) No Framework and operation of subclass 457 visas, Enterprise Migration Agreements and Regional Migration Agreements 27.6.13 - No Migration (Joint Standing) Immigration detention in Australia—A new beginning—Criteria for release from detention—First report of the inquiry into immigration detention 2.12.08 (tabled HoR 1.12.08) *(interim) No Immigration detention in Australia—Community-based alternatives to detention—Second report of the inquiry into immigration detention 15.6.09 (tabled HoR 25.5.09) *(interim) No Immigration detention in Australia—Facilities, services and transparency—Third report of the inquiry into immigration detention 18.8.09 *(interim) No Inquiry into migration and multiculturalism in Australia 19.3.13 (tabled HoR 18.3.13) *(interim) No National Broadband Network (Joint Standing) Review of the rollout of the National Broadband Network―Fifth report 17.6.13 12.11.13 (presented 2.8.13) Yes National Broadband Network (Senate Select) Another fork in the road to national broadband—Second interim report 12.5.09 12.11.13 (presented 2.8.13) No Third report 26.11.09 12.11.13 (presented 2.8.13) No Fourth interim report 15.6.10 (presented 18.5.10) 12.11.13 (presented 2.8.13) No Final report 17.6.10 12.11.13 (presented 2.8.13) No National Capital and External Territories (Joint Standing) Etched in stone? Inquiry into the administration of the National Memorials Ordinance 1928 25.11.11 (tabled HoR 23.11.11) *(interim) No National Capital and External Territories (Joint Standing) (continued) An estate for the future―The allocation of land to diplomatic missions in the ACT 14.5.13 (presented 28.3.13, tabled HoR 27.5.13) *(interim) No Report on the visit to Norfolk Island― 29-30 April 2013 17.6.13 (tabled HoR 5.6.13) *(interim) No Report on the visit to the Indian Ocean Territories―21-25 October 2012 28.6.13 - No Inquiry into the provisions of amenity within the Parliamentary Triangle 28.6.13 - No Public Accounts and Audit (Joint Statutory) Report 417— Review of Auditor-General's reports tabled between February and September 2009 24.6.10 (tabled HoR 22.6.10) **(recommendations 2, 6,7,8, 9, 10, 13, 15,16, and 17, tabled HoR 23.8.12) *(interim) No Report 423—Review of Auditor-General's reports Nos 39 2009-10 to 15 2010-11 5.7.11 (tabled HoR 4.7.11) **(recommendations 2, 3 and 4, tabled HoR 15.2.12) *(interim) No Report 434―Annual public hearing with the Commissioner of Taxation - 2012 28.11.12 (tabled HoR 26.11.12) **(27.6.13) (final) No Report 435—Review of Auditor-General's reports Nos 33 (2011-12) to 1 (2012-13) 5.2.13 (tabled HoR 29.11.12) ** (recommendations 8 and 9, 17.6.13, tabled HoR 29.5.13, recommendations 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 10, 27.6.13 ) (final) No Report 436―Review of the 2011-12 Defence Materiel Organisation major projects report 17.6.13 (tabled HoR 29.5.13) **(interim) No Report 437—Review of Auditor-General's reports Nos 2 to 10 (2012-13) 17.6.13 (tabled HoR 29.5.13) **(interim) No Report 438—Advisory report on the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Bill 2013 17.6.13 (tabled HoR 4.6.13) **(interim) No Report 439—Review of Auditor-General's reports Nos 11 to 31 (2012-13) 27.6.13 ** No Report 440―Annual report 2012-13 12.11.13 (presented 26.7.13) Not required - Public Works (Joint Statutory) Public works on Christmas Island 31.10.11 (tabled HoR 13.10.11) *(interim) No Regional and Remote Indigenous Communities (Senate Select) Final report 2010 28.9.10 (presented 24.9.10) *(interim) No Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority Amendment Bill 2013 12.3.13 *(interim) No Competition and Consumer Amendment (Australian Food Labelling) Bill 2012 (No. 2) 14.5.13 (presented 25.3.13) *(interim) No Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References The possible impacts and consequences for public health, trade and agriculture of the Government's decision to relax import restrictions on beef —First report 18.3.10 *(interim) No The possible impacts and consequences for public health, trade and agriculture of the Government's decision to relax import restrictions on beef —Final report 23.6.10 *(interim) No Management of the Murray Darling Basin—Interim report―The impact of mining coal seam gas on the management of the Murray-Darling Basin 7.2.12 (presented 30.11.11) *(interim) No Operational issues in export grain networks 10.5.12 (presented 16.4.12) *(interim) No Examination of the Foreign Investment Review Board national interest test―Interim report: Tax arrangements for foreign investment in agriculture and the limitations of the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975 28.11.12 *(final) No The management of the Murray-Darling Basin―Final report 13.3.13 *(interim) No Aviation accident investigations 17.6.13 (presented 23.5.13) *(interim) No Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References (continued) Auditor-General's reports on Tasmanian Forestry Grants Programs 19.6.13 *(interim) No Foreign investment and the national interest 26.6.13 *(interim) No First report―Beef imports 12.11.13 (presented 12.7.13) - No Practice of sports science in Australia 12.11.13 (presented 23.7.13) - No Interim report—Ownership arrangements of grain handling 12.11.13 (presented 30.8.13) - No Final report—Ownership arrangements of grain handling 4.12.13 Not required - Treaties (Joint Standing) Report 128—Inquiry into the Treaties Ratification Bill 2012 16.8.12 (tabled HoR 15.8.12) *(interim) No Report 130―Treaty tabled on 14 August 2012 31.10.12 *(interim) No Report 133―Treaties tabled on 1 November 2012 27.6.13 (tabled HoR 27.5.13) Not required - Report 134―Treaties tabled on 12 March and 14 May 2013 27.6.13 - No Report 135―Treaties tabled on 12 March and 14 May 2013 12.11.13 (presented 23.7.13) Not required - Report 136―Treaty tabled on 14 May 2013 12.11.13 (presented HoR 5.8.13) - No