3rd Dec 2020, 10:49 AM – Senate Australia's Foreign Relations (State and Territory Arrangements) Bill 2020 and another - in Committee - Refer to committee

The majority voted in favour of an amendment to the motion "That the report be adopted," which South Australian Senator Penny Wong (Labor) introduced.

Senator Wong explained that this amendment:

...simply relates to ensuring that the annual report, which we have previously inserted into the legislation, will be referred to the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee for inquiry and report.

Amendment text

At the end of the motion add:

"and that, in relation to amendment (1) on sheet 1112:

(a) each annual report tabled by the Minister for Foreign Affairs pursuant to section 53A of the Australia's Foreign Relations (State and Territory Arrangements) Act 2020 ('the Act'),stand referred to the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee for inquiry and report in accordance with standing order 25(20);

(b) should the committee, as part of its inquiry into each annual report, request and receive information from the Minister related to the exercise of the Minister's decision-making powers under the Act that is information of the kind referred to in subsection 53(3) of the Act, the committee is to examine that information in confidence, including hearing any evidence in relation to such material in camera; and

(c) this order is of continuing effect.