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36 <strong>SENATE</strong> Thursday, 13 October 2016 Canavan, MJ Culleton, RN Fawcett, DJ Fifield, MP Hume, J Macdonald, ID McKenzie, B O'Sullivan, B Payne, MA Roberts, M Ryan, SM Sinodinos, A NOES Cash, MC Duniam, J Fierravanti-Wells, C Hinch, D Leyonhjelm, DE McGrath, J Nash, F Paterson, J Reynolds, L Ruston, A Scullion, NG Williams, JR Brown, CL Carr, KJ Singh, LM Sterle, G Waters, LJ Wong, P PAIRS Seselja, Z Cormann, M Bernardi, C Day, RJ Smith, D Brandis, GH Question agreed to. COMMITTEES Membership Senator McGRATH (Queensland—Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) (12:38): by leave—I move: That senators be discharged from and appointed to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee as follows: Appointed— Substitute member: Senator Hanson-Young to replace Senator Ludlam for the committee's inquiry into the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement Participating member: Senator Ludlam. Question agreed to. Joint Standing Committee on Northern Australia Membership Message received from the House of Representatives notifying the Senate of the appointment of Ms King to the Joint Standing Committee on Northern Australia in place of Dr Freelander. BILLS Fair Work Amendment (Respect for Emergency Services Volunteers) Bill 2016 Assent Message from the Governor-General reported informing the Senate of assent to the Fair Work Amendment (Respect for Emergency Services Volunteers) Bill 2016. NOTICES Presentation Senator WILLIAMS (New South Wales—Nationals Whip in the Senate) (12:40): by leave—I give notice on behalf of the Senate Standing Committee on Regulations and Ordinances that 15 sitting days after today I shall move that the following instrument be disallowed: the Commonwealth Electoral (Logo Requirements) Determination 2016. I also give notice on behalf of the committee that 15 sitting days after today I shall move that the following instrument be disallowed: Migration Act 1958—Specification of Class of Persons Defined as Fast Track Applicants. CHAMBER
Thursday, 13 October 2016 <strong>SENATE</strong> 37 BILLS National Cancer Screening Register Bill 2016 National Cancer Screening Register (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2016 Second Reading Consideration resumed of the motion: That these bills be now read a second time. to which the following amendment was moved: At the end of the motion, add: ", but the Senate condemns the Government for outsourcing Australians' most sensitive health information to Telstra before the Parliament even saw the necessary legislation.". Senator GRIFF (South Australia) (12:42): This is not my first speech. I rise to speak very briefly on this package of reforms and to indicate the Nick Xenophon Team's in-principle support for this package. Establishing a national register should go a long way towards reducing duplication and unnecessary red tape across jurisdictions and, more importantly, assisting with the management of bowel and cervical cancer screening programs. These bills, the National Cancer Screening Register Bill 2016 and the National Cancer Screening Register (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2016, certainly have not been without criticism, but this is less to do with the underlying policy objectives and more to do with the contentious nature of the tender process that preceded them. The fact that the government chose to enter into a $220 million contract with Telstra Health prior to the passage of the enabling legislation demonstrates a complete disregard for the important role of this place in the legislative process and in ensuring transparency and accountability. Given the nature of the data that will be maintained in the national register, there are a multitude of privacy considerations that ought to have been considered before the awarding of the tender, particularly when the tenderer is a non-government entity. These criticisms, amongst others, have to a large extent formed the basis of the inquiry by the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee. That committee process has certainly been worthwhile in fleshing out these concerns. At the very least, we now have a redacted contract that we can also refer to for further consideration and clarification. In terms of amendments, the opposition has indicated it intends to proceed with its proposal to restrict the operation of the register to a government agency or not-for-profit organisation. It claims Telstra Health does not have the requisite expertise to adequately manage the sort of sensitive data that would be kept on the register. I indicate for the record that the Nick Xenophon Team will not be supporting that proposal. However, I indicate that my colleague Senator Xenophon will also be moving a second reading amendment aimed at addressing at least some of the concerns around the tender process. That amendment will not prevent the passage or implementation of the bill but it will request that the Auditor-General undertake a review that looks at issues of value for money and efficiency in the contract. It is important to point out that the amendment does not require the minister to direct the Auditor-General—and the advice I have is that it is quite appropriate for the parliament to refer matters— The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT (Senator Reynolds): Senator Griff, it being 12:45, we will now move to government business, and you will be in continuation. International Tax Agreements Amendment Bill 2016 First Reading Bill received from the House of Representatives. Senator RYAN (Victoria—Special Minister of State and Minister Assisting the Cabinet Secretary) (12:45): I move: That this bill may proceed without formalities and be now read a first time. Question agreed to. Bill read a first time. Senator RYAN: by leave—I move: That the provisions of paragraphs (5) to (8) of standing order 111 not apply to the bill, allowing it to be considered during this period of sittings. I table a statement of reasons justifying the need for this bill to be considered during these sittings and seek leave to have the statement incorporated into Hansard. Leave granted. CHAMBER
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