THE Joint Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs has extended the submission deadline to Monday, June 1, for its inquiry into racism, hate and violence directed at Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The decision has been made by the committee due to significant community interest in the inquiry and requests from the community to have more time to make a submission.

The inquiry is examining the prevalence, impacts and drivers of racism, hate and violence, as well as existing responses and opportunities for reform. Evidence gathered during the hearings will inform the committee’s final report to Parliament.

Committee Chair, Mutthi Mutthi and Wamba Wamba woman, Senator Jana Stewart, said the level of engagement reflected the importance of the issue.

“This important inquiry has had significant community interest, and the committee want to make sure all people who want to have their say can do so," Sen. Stewart said.

“The committee has already received many powerful stories from around the country about racism, hate and violence experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. We encourage these voices to continue to be shared through this inquiry.”

Information on the inquiry, including the terms of reference and how to contribute, is available on the committee’s website.

Note: The committee and secretariat are unable to provide counselling, advice, or support for individuals. Help is available:

For First Nations people:

• 13YARN: 13 92 76
• Brother to Brother: 1800 435 799
• Yarning SafeNStrong: 1800 959 563

For all people:

• Lifeline: Call 13 11 14
• Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636
• MensLine Australia: 1300 789 978
• Kids Helpline: 1800 551 800
• Headspace: 1800 650 890
• Suicide Call Back Service:1300 659 467
• 1800 Respect: 1800 737 732

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THE Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit (JCPAA) will be holding a hearing on Friday, May 15, for its inquiry into the administration of the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Committee Chair Josh Burns MP said, "The effective administration of the NDIS is central to compliance with the NDIS claim requirements and to its financial sustainability. It is of great interest to the committee whether the scheme is working as it should.

"This inquiry provides a valuable mechanism for this Committee to further scrutinise issues with the administration of the NDIS.’

Date:               Friday, 15 May 2026

Time:              10am – 1.45pm National Disability Insurance Scheme

Venue:            Committee Room 1R4, Parliament House

Witnesses:    

• Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
• Professionals Australia
• National Disability Services
• Villamanta Disability Rights Legal Service
• Intrepidus Law
• Alliance20

The hearings will be broadcast live and will be accessible from the Parliament House website at https://www.aph.gov.au/live.

Details on the inquiry into the administration of the National Disability Insurance Scheme — including terms of references and submissions — are available on the committee’s website.

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THE House of Representatives Standing Committee on Employment, Workplace Relations, Skills and Training will hold a public hearing in Canberra on Friday, May 15, as part of its inquiry into the operation and adequacy of the National Employment Standards (NES).

The inquiry was referred to the Committee on November 27, 2025, by the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Amanda Rishworth MP.

At its public hearing the committee will hear from a broad range of stakeholders about their experiences with the NES, building on evidence already heard from the government, unions and the business sector.

The hearing will enable the committee to gather further perspectives on key issues, including reproductive health leave, cultural, kinship and carer’s leave, compassionate leave for bereaved parents, the costs and administrative impacts of the NES on small businesses, and employment conditions for young workers.

Committee Chair, Dr Carina Garland MP, said the hearing would allow the committee to develop a more comprehensive understanding of how the NES operates in practice.

"As the nature of work continues to evolve, it is important that the National Employment Standards (NES) remain clear, fair and fit for purpose," Dr Garland said..

"The committee is seeking to understand how the NES supports key worker groups — including First Nations employees, carers and women — while balancing these protections with the operational and financial realities faced by employers." 

The committee will hear evidence from:

• Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman
• Council of Small Business Organisations Australia
• The Compassionate Friends Australia
• Maurice Blackburn Lawyers
• Families Australia
• National Tertiary Education
• Australian Education Union
• Community and Public Sector Union
• Health Services Union
• Finance Sector Union
• Australian Youth Affairs Coalition.

Further information is available on the committee’s website.

Public hearing details

Date: Friday 15 May 2026
Time: 9am to 2.15pm
Location: Committee Room 1R3, Parliament House, Canberra ACT/Videoconference

The hearing will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live.

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THE Foreign Affairs and Aid Subcommittee of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade will hold a public hearing as part of its Inquiry into the role of Australia’s international development program in preventing conflict.

The subcommittee will continue its examination of how Australia’s development cooperation contributes to conflict prevention and stability, particularly in fragile and conflict-affected settings across the Indo-Pacific region.

Subcommittee Chair, Tim Watts MP, said the subcommittee hoped to gain valuable perspectives from two organisations working at the intersection of humanitarian response, delivery of development assistance, and conflict prevention – the World Food Programme and the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue.

"Witnesses from these organisations can offer important insights into how food security, mediation, and dialogue can help address the drivers of conflict and build more stable and resilient communities across our region," Mr Watts said.

The subcommittee expects to hold further public hearings in June.

Further information, including the full terms of reference, is available on the inquiry webpage.

Public Hearing Details

Thursday 14 May 2026
Time: 8am - 9am (AEST)
Venue: Committee Room 1R3, Parliament House, Canberra

The hearings will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live.

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ABORIGINAL and Torres Strait Islander people have been invited to share their experiences of engaging with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) as part of a national review underway.

Tax Ombudsman, Ruth Owen, the independent watchdog of the ATO and tax system, has released her terms of reference outlining the scope and significance of this review – the first of its kind.

The Tax Ombudsman met with Aboriginal community organisations and peak bodies to inform the review terms of reference and heard first-hand the challenges First Nations people are encountering when trying to engage with the tax system.

“We heard that a lack of targeted and appropriately designed education and engagement has meant the tax system can often feel alien, confusing and at times frightening for First Nations people,” Ms Owen said.

Ms Owen said it was vital that all taxpayers understood how the tax system operates, what is required of them and how they can benefit from it.

“I am keen to hear directly from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander taxpayers around the country to help inform my review. People can contribute by attending a community yarning session in the coming months, completing an online survey or making a submission.”

As one of the largest Commonwealth government departments, Ms Owen also said the ATO was expected to adapt its operations to meet the needs of all Australians, including First Nations people. This is set out in the Closing the Gap National Agreement Priority Reform 3 – transforming government organisations.

“We want to know what’s working and what’s not, and more importantly, we want to explore the practical improvements we can recommend to the ATO to better support First Nations taxpayers, businesses and the people who represent them,”
Ms Owen said.

To support the consultation process, the Tax Ombudsman has engaged Jindawayni, a 100% Aboriginal-owned business managed by Kokatha woman Amy Rust.

“The reality is the tax system wasn’t designed with our people’s cultures or lived realities in mind. On top of that, there are very real practical barriers, particularly in remote communities,” Ms Rust said.

“There are benefits in tools like MyGov, but that assumes individual access. If you’re sharing a phone with family, the system just doesn’t fit how people actually live.”

Community yarning sessions will be held across metropolitan, regional and remote locations over the next three months.

“We’ve made a real effort to get out to places that don’t always get visited. From Ceduna on Wirangu Country to Geraldton on Yamatji Country to Lismore on Bundjalung Country, I reckon we’ve got a pretty good spread. And if there’s not one in your town, or you don’t have time, we’d still love to hear from people through the online survey,” Ms Rust said.

“All Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander taxpayers and businesses are welcome to have their say.”

Aboriginal businessman and founder and director of We Create Print Deliver, Pat Caruso, whose organisation includes a business incubator supporting start-ups, said he hoped the review also considered how the tax system supports emerging Aboriginal businesses.

“In many ways, we’re looking at the first generation of Aboriginal businesses," Mr Caruso said.

"The potential is enormous, but for many, this is new territory as they find their footing. I’d welcome stronger conversations around how we can create genuine economic opportunities within our communities,” Mr Caruso said.

To access the Review terms of reference, a full list of yarning sessions and the survey, visit: Review: ATO engagement with First Nations taxpayers - Tax Ombudsman

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TOMORROW, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works (the committee) will conduct a site inspection at National Research Cyclotron Facility (NRCF) at Camperdown, Sydney, and shortly after question officials from the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation about the proposed works at the site.

The proposed works will deliver the decommissioning and demolition of the NRCF after 30 years of operation on land leased from the Sydney Local Health District near the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.

Established in 1991, the NRCF housed a cyclotron which produced radioisotopes which were principally used for medical imaging research purposes. The facility was permanently closed down in 2021. The decommissioning aligns with ANSTO’s strategic shift towards researching new radiopharmaceuticals and producing nuclear medicines at their site in Lucas Heights.

The proposed works have a total estimated cost of $17 million (excluding GST).

Interested members of the public can listen in to the public hearing via the APH website or attend the hearing in person at the location listed below.

Public hearing details

Date: Thursday, 7 May 2026
Time: 1:30pm–2:10pm
Location: Brown Street Community Hall, 8-10 Brown Street, Newtown NSW 2042

The hearing will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live

Editor's note: the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works is not involved in the tendering process, awarding of contracts or details of the proposed works. Enquiries on these matters should be directed to the relevant Commonwealth entities.

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THE House of Representatives Standing Committee on Regional Development, Infrastructure and Transport will hold hearings with more than 20 councils in Wodonga, Wagga Wagga and Taree this week as part of its inquiry into local government funding.

The committee said it wanted to better understand the funding challenges faced by local government across regional and rural Australia and its workers who provide infrastructure and deliver services to vast areas of Victoria and NSW.

Committee Chair, Fiona Phillips MP, said, “The committee is looking forward to learning more about the fiscal sustainability of local government in both northern Victoria and regional NSW and potential solutions to current challenges for fast growing regional cities and geographically larger shires with fewer rate payers.”

Hearings will begin in Wodonga on Wednesday May 6, where the committee will hear from shire councils and regional city councils such as Wodonga and Wangaratta. The committee will explore a range of issues including grant distribution processes, bushfire and flood recovery, workforce issues, and labour market conditions in regional Victoria and across the border in the Riverina.

The committee will then travel to Wagga Wagga for hearings on Thursday May 7 to hear from city councils and shire councils in southern NSW and representatives of Regional Capitals Australia, NSW Country Mayors and NSW Farmers.

The committee travels north to Taree on Friday May 8 to hear from a local government representative body from the Hunter and a range of shire and city councils along the mid-north coast and inland up to the Tweed River. Discussions will cover financial sustainability, insurance and risk, workforce challenges, and broader pressures facing local government across New South Wales, especially for those councils contending with recovery from natural disasters.

Programs for each public hearing are available on the inquiry webpage.

Further information on the inquiry, including the terms of reference and how to contribute, is available on the committee’s website.

Public hearing details

Date: Wednesday, 6 May 2026
Time: 9am – 3.30pm
Location: The Huon Room, Huon Hill Hotel, 48 Reid Street, Wodonga, Victoria

Date: Thursday, 7 May 2026
Time: 9am – 2.50pm
Location: Premier room, Mercure Wagga Wagga, 1 Morgan Street, Wagga Wagga, NSW

Date: Friday, 8 May 2026
Time: 9.15am – 4pm
Location: Melaleuca room, Club Taree, 121 Wingham Road, Taree, NSW

Public hearings are broadcast live on the Australian Parliament House Streaming Portal.

Details for upcoming public hearings and more information about the inquiry, including the terms of reference, submissions and transcripts of previous hearings, is available on the inquiry webpage.

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THE Housing Industry Association (HIA) has called on the Federal Government to make the Instant Asset Write-Off permanent in this year’s Federal Budget, saying the measure is important in supporting business investment in tools, technology and people.

HIA said, in its 2026/27 Pre-Budget Submission, that permanent write‑off would provide long‑term certainty for businesses across the residential building sector, most of which are small and medium‑sized enterprises, enabling them to invest with confidence.

“The Federal Budget is the right opportunity to lock in the Instant Asset Write‑Off on a permanent basis,” HIA chief executive for industry and policy, Simon Croft said.

“Certainty matters. Businesses need confidence that tax settings won’t change year‑to‑year if they are going to invest in equipment, new technology and their workforce.

“Repeated temporary extensions of the measure have limited its effectiveness and created unnecessary uncertainty for businesses making long‑term investment decisions.

“Helping businesses to invest will additionally help to achieve productivity goals as outlined in the recent Productivity Commission report, Housing construction productivity, Can we fix it?.

“For builders and trades, investment isn’t just about machinery and tools—it’s also about training and safety systems. Making the Instant Asset Write-Off permanent would directly support business growth and workforce capability," Mr Croft said.

The association said the measure would help businesses manage cost pressures while continuing to take on apprentices and upskill workers at a time of ongoing labour shortages.

“If the government is serious about improving productivity and increasing housing supply, it must support the businesses delivering that work," Mr Croft said.

“A permanent Instant Asset Write‑Off as part of this year’s Federal Budget would be a practical, business‑focused reform that delivers immediate benefits, supporting investment and strengthening the industry’s capacity to deliver new homes."

www.hia.com.au

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