Environment and Communications References Committee
Scope
The References Committee inquires into and reports upon various general matters referred to it by the Senate. Portfolios allocated to the committee since 2010 include communications, the arts, environment and energy.
Environment and Communications Committee members with the Member for Franklin at Wilkins Aerodrome, Antarctica, 13 December 2012. L-R: Senators Lisa Singh, Catryna Bilyk, Doug Cameron, Bridget McKenzie and Julie Collins MP. Photograph by Anthony Fleming, Australian Antarctic Division.
L-R: Member for Franklin Julie Collins MP, Environment Minister the Hon. Tony Burke and Environment and Communications Committee members Senators Lisa Singh and Catryna Bilyk at Wilkins Aerodrome, Antarctica, 13 December 2012. Photograph by Anthony Fleming, Australian Antarctic Division.
Reports
Date tabled
Title
Read report
References of the 42nd Parliament (re-adoption of the inquiry into: Government's Green Loans Program; Sustainable Management by the Commonwealth of Water Resources; The adequacy of protections for the privacy of Australians online)
Sustainable management by the Commonwealth of water resources (presented out of session on 7 October 2010)
Parliamentary paper number 200/2010
Green Loans Program
Parliamentary paper number 204/2010
The adequacy of protections for the privacy of Australians online (presented out of session on 7 April 2011)
Parliamentary paper number 80/2011
Interim report: The status, health and sustainability of the koala population (presented out of session on 13 May 2011)
The koala-saving our national icon
Parliamentary paper number 221/2011
Recent ABC programming decisions
Parliamentary paper number 266/2011
The capacity of communication networks and emergency warning systems to deal with emergencies and natural disasters
Parliamentary paper number 419/2011
Operation of the South Australian and Northern Territory container deposit schemes
Parliamentary paper number 444/2012
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation's commitment to reflecting and representing regional diversity
Parliamentary paper number 74/2013
The feasibility of a prohibition on charging fees for an unlisted number service (Correction tabled on 16 May 2013)
Parliamentary paper number 113/2013
Interim report: The effectiveness of current regulatory arrangements in dealing with the simultaneous transmission of radio programs using the broadcasting services bands and the Internet ('simulcast') (presented out of session on 31 May 2013)
Interim report: Effectiveness of threatened species and ecological communities' protection in Australia (presented out of session on 4 July 2013)
Interim report: Recent trends in and preparedness for extreme weather events (presented out of session on 10 July 2013)
Effectiveness of current regulatory arrangements in dealing with radio simulcasts (presented out of session on 12 July 2013)
Parliamentary paper number 263/2013
Impacts of imposing a certain carrier licence condition on Telstra Corporation Limited (presented out of session on 19 July 2013)
Parliamentary paper number 266/2013
Second interim report: Effectiveness of threatened species and ecological communities' protection in Australia (presented out of session on 23 July 2013)
Second interim report: Recent trends in and preparedness for extreme weather events (presented out of session on 23 July 2013)
Third interim report: Effectiveness of threatened species and ecological communities' protection in Australia (presented out of session on 31 July 2013)
Effectiveness of threatened species and ecological communities' protection in Australia (presented out of session on 7 August 2013)
Parliamentary paper number 259/2013
Recent trends in and preparedness for extreme weather events (presented out of session on 7 August 2013)
Parliamentary paper number 261/2013
Direct Action: Paying polluters to halt global warming? (Corrigendum tabled 27 March 2014)
Parliamentary paper number 52/2014
Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area
Parliamentary paper number 122/2014
Environmental offsets
Parliamentary paper number 136/2014
Management of the Great Barrier Reef
Parliamentary paper number 174/2014
National Landcare Program
Parliamentary paper number 79/2015
Interim report: Performance and management of electricity network companies (presented out of session on 20 April 2015)
Parliamentary paper number 105/2015
Second interim report: Performance and management of electricity network companies (presented out of session on 5 May 2015)
Environmental biosecurity
Parliamentary paper number 102/2015
Final report: Performance and management of electricity network companies (presented out of session on 5 June 2015)
Parliamentary paper number 195/2015
Australia's environment
Parliamentary paper number 187/2015
Regulation of the fin-fish aquaculture industry in Tasmania (presented out of session on 21 August 2015)
Parliamentary paper number 236/2015
Stormwater management in Australia
Parliamentary paper number 476/2015
Interim report: Environmental, social and economic impacts of large-capacity fishing vessels commonly known as 'Supertrawlers' operating in Australia's marine jurisdiction (presented out of session on 31 March 2016)
Interim report: Threat of marine plastic pollution in Australia (presented out of session on 31 March 2016)
Second interim report: Threat of marine plastic pollution in Australia (presented out of session on 12 April 2016)
Toxic tide: the threat of marine plastic pollution in Australia (presented out of session on 20 April 2016)
Parliamentary paper number 156/2016
Game on: more than playing around - The future of Australia's video game development industry (presented out of session on 29 April 2016)
Parliamentary paper number 155/2016
Factory freezer trawlers in the Commonwealth Small Pelagic Fishery
Parliamentary paper number 448/2016
Harm being done to Australian children through access to pornography on the Internet
Parliamentary paper number 449/2016
Interim report: Retirement of coal fired power stations
Parliamentary paper number 446/2016
Responses to, and lessons learnt from, the January and February 2016 bushfires in remote Tasmanian wilderness (presented out of session on 8 December 2016)
Parliamentary paper number 468/2017
Continuation of construction of the Perth Freight Link in the face of significant environmental breaches (presented out of session on 6 March 2017)
Parliamentary paper number 43/2017
Final report: Retirement of coal fired power stations
Parliamentary paper number 77/2017
Oil or gas production in the Great Australian Bight
Parliamentary paper number 145/2017
Risks and opportunities associated with the use of the bumblebee population in Tasmania for commercial pollination purposes
Parliamentary paper number 167/2017
Participation of Australians in online poker
Parliamentary paper number 340/2017
In hot water: the impacts of climate change on marine fisheries and biodiversity
Parliamentary paper number 562/2017
Shark mitigation and deterrent measures (presented out of session on 12 December 2017)
Parliamentary paper number 593/2018
Audio [duration 7:10] - 'Senate committee debates shark cull after fatal attack in WA, ABC Radio National Breakfast, 21 April 2017.
Protection of Aboriginal rock art of the Burrup Peninsula
Parliamentary paper number 69/2018
Progress report: Waste and recycling industry in Australia (presented out of session on 12 June 2018)
Never waste a crisis: the waste and recycling industry in Australia
Parliamentary paper number 211/2018
Audio [duration 8:16] - 'Senate Committee recommends phasing out single use plastics', ABC Radio National Breakfast, 27 June 2018.
Current and future impacts of climate change on housing, buildings and infrastructure
Parliamentary paper number 246/2018
Adequacy of the regulatory framework governing water use by the extractive industry
Parliamentary paper number 381/2018
Gaming micro-transactions for chance-based items
Parliamentary paper number 558/2018
Progress report: Rehabilitation of mining and resources projects as it relates to Commonwealth responsibilities
Great Barrier Reef 2050 Partnership Program
Parliamentary paper number 63/2019
Rehabilitation of mining and resources projects and power station ash dams as it relates to Commonwealth responsibilities (presented out of session on 20 March 2019)
Parliamentary paper number 123/2019
Environment and Communications References Committee inspecting pit operations at Savage River Mine, Tasmania, 11 October 2017. L-R: Senator Janet Rice; Grange Resources employee; Senators Anne Urquhart, Anthony Chisholm and Jonathon Duniam; Grange Resources employee and Ben Maynard, [General Manager Operations, Grange Resources Tasmania].
Environment and Communications References Committee members Senator Janet Rice and Anthony Chisholm with community members at Borroloola, NT, 1 November 2017.
Environment and Communications References Committee hearing at Borroloola, NT, to hear perspectives on the nearby McArthur River Mine, 31 October 2017.
Senators Anthony Chisholm and Janet Rice and committee secretary Dr Sean Turner at the Environment and Communications References Committee hearing at Borroloola, NT, 31 October 2017. When broadcasting equipment stopped working the hearing had to be recorded using smartphones placed strategically around the room.
R-L: Mangoola Coal Mine Operations Manager Tony Israel, Senators Janet Rice and Anthony Chisholm and Glencore staff, 14 March 2018.
Economic and cultural value of Australian content on broadcast, radio and streaming services (presented out of session on 26 March 2019)
Parliamentary paper number 122/2019
Progress report: Allegations of political interference in the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (presented out of session on 28 March 2019)
Allegations of political interference in the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (presented out of session on 1 April 2019) (correction tabled 2 July 2019)
Parliamentary paper number 121/2019
Interim report: Australia’s faunal extinction crisis
Parliamentary paper number 163/2019
Interim report: Australia’s faunal extinction crisis: Environmental protections for native grasslands, and the conduct of Ministers
Parliamentary paper number 530/2019
Progress report: Press freedom (presented out of session on 16 March 2020)
Progress report: Impact of feral deer, pigs and goats in Australia (presented out of session on 26 February 2021)
Second progress report: Press freedom (presented out of session on 26 February 2021)
Progress report: Australia Post (presented out of session on 16 April 2021)
Second progress report: Impact of feral deer, pigs and goats in Australia (presented out of session on 28 April 2021)
Third progress report: Press freedom (presented out of session on 28 April 2021)
Making waves: the impact of seismic testing on fisheries and the marine environment (presented out of session on 10 June 2021)
Parliamentary paper number 158/2021
Freedom of the press (presented out of session on 19 May 2021)
Parliamentary paper number 129/2021
Impact of feral deer, pigs and goats in Australia (presented out of session on 19 May 2021)
Parliamentary paper number 128/2021
Progress report: Impact of seismic testing on fisheries and the marine environment (presented out of session on 21 May 2021)
Second progress report: Australia Post (presented out of session on 24 May 2021)
Australia Post (presented out of session on 26 May 2021)
Parliamentary paper number 145/2021
Interim report: Oil and gas exploration and production in the Beetaloo Basin
Parliamentary paper number 527/2021
Progress report: Media diversity in Australia (presented out of session on 29 October 2021)
Media diversity in Australia (presented out of session on 9 December 2021) (correction tabled 8 February 2022)
Parliamentary paper number 579/2022
Second interim report: Oil and gas exploration and production in the Beetaloo Basin (presented out of session on 28 March 2022)
Progress report: Oil and gas exploration and production in the Beetaloo Basin (presented out of session on 21 April 2022)
Second progress report: Oil and gas exploration and production in the Beetaloo Basin (presented out of session on 28 April 2022)
Progress report: Australia's faunal extinction crisis (presented out of session on 10 May 2022)
Progress Report: Climate-related marine invasive species (Presented out of Session on 20 February 2023)
Oil and gas exploration and production in the Beetaloo Basin (presented out of session on 19 April 2023)
Progress report: Oil and gas exploration in the Beetaloo Basin (presented out of session on 13 April 2023)
Progress report: Impacts and management of feral horses in the Australian Alps (presented out of session on 23 May 2023)
Impacts and management of feral horses in the Australian Alps (presented out of session on 13 October 2023)
Progress report: Impacts and management of feral horses in the Australian Alps (presented out of session on 4 October 2023)
Progress report: Impacts and management of feral horses in the Australian Alps (presented out of session on 28 September 2023)
Win-win under our oceans: Climate-related marine invasive species
Progress report: Glencore's proposed carbon capture and storage project (presented out of session on 4 April 2024)
Australian Antarctic Division funding (presented out of session on 9 May 2024) (additional information tabled on 4 February 2025)
Interim report: National Cultural Policy (presented out of session on 9 May 2024)
Progress report: Optus Network Outage (presented out of session on 8 May 2024)
Progress report: Australian Antarctic Division funding (presented out of session on 8 May 2024)
Progress report: Middle Arm Industrial Precinct (presented out of session on 4 April 2024)
Progress report: National cultural policy (presented out of session on 20 June 2024)
Interim report: Australia's extinction crisis (presented out of session on 23 May 2024)
Glencore's proposed carbon capture and storage project (presented out of session on 11 July 2024)
Middle Arm Industrial Precinct (additional information tabled on 4 February 2025)
Optus network outage (presented out of session on 27 September 2024) (additional information tabled on 19 November 2024)
Progress report: Optus network outage (presented out of session on 25 September 2024)
Progress report: Waste reduction and recycling policies (presented out of session on 14 March 2025)
Progress report: Waste reduction and recycling policies (presented out of session on 28 February 2025)
Progress report: Offshore wind industry consultation process (presented out of session on 5 March 2025)
Offshore wind industry consultation process (presented out of session on 5 June 2025)
Progress report: Offshore wind industry consultation process (presented out of session on 24 April 2025)
No time to waste: Waste reduction and recycling policies (presented out of session on 24 April 2025)
Progress report: Waste reduction and recycling policies (presented out of session on 14 April 2025)
Progress report: Internet Search Engine Services Online Safety Code (presented out of session on 11 September 2025)
Algal blooms in South Australia (presented out of session on 11 November 2025)
Progress report: Climate risk assessment (presented out of session on 18 November 2025)
