THE Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit (JCPAA) will hear from Government entities and private sector organisations on Wednesday, December 4, for its inquiries into government contract management frameworks and the use of artificial intelligence systems by public sector entities.

JCPAA Chair, Linda Burney MP, said, "The committee looks forward to continuing to explore best practices in contract management, including discussions with the Department of Finance which administers the Australian Government Contract Management Guide."

Ms Burney said in relation to the public sector AI inquiry that "further discussions with government entities, that have specific and relevant oversight functions in addition to non-government stakeholders, will provide valuable additional insights to the committee on how this rapidly developing technology should be managed."

Program

Wednesday December 4, 2024

Committee Room 2R1

Parliament House

Inquiry into the contract management frameworks operated by Commonwealth entities

10.30am         ACTA (Australian Council of TESOL [Teaching English to speakers of other languages] Associations)  

11am         Department of Finance

Inquiry into the use and governance of artificial intelligence systems by public sector entities

12.30pm         National Archives of Australia

1:10pm           Australian Human Rights Commission

2pm           Community and Public Sector Union

2:30pm           Workday

Further details of the inquiries – including the submissions received and public hearings – are available on the inquiry websites (contract management; artificial intelligence).

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THE Joint Standing Committee on Treaties yesterday tabled the report on its inquiry into the Agreement among the Government of Australia, the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the Government of the United States of America for Cooperation Related to Naval Nuclear Propulsion (AUKUS agreement).

The report makes eight recommendations, including a recommendation that supports the agreement and recommends that the Australian Government take binding treaty action. The report was agreed to by all committee members.

The AUKUS agreement creates a framework to facilitate the communication and exchange of naval nuclear propulsion information between Australia, the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States of America (US). The agreement also enables the transfer of nuclear material and equipment from the UK and the US to Australia for conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines.

Committee Chair, Lisa Chesters MP, said, "The committee has heard a wide range of evidence throughout the inquiry and has determined the agreement to be in the national interest. Australia’s acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines provides our nation with not only a strategic advantage, but also an opportunity to grow Australian jobs, education and infrastructure.

"The successful implementation of AUKUS will require upskilling the Australian workforce. This is an opportunity for our education sector and will create jobs that last for the life of the agreement and beyond. The 20,000 jobs added by the AUKUS program will diversify Australia’s workforce and will provide high-paying jobs for trades and tertiary educated workers alike.

"In addition to recommending binding treaty action, the committee has made recommendations that seek to ensure that the Australian people are continuously engaged and informed throughout the implementation of the agreement and resulting AUKUS program. These recommendations include expanding and enhancing community education activities to inform the community on how AUKUS will benefit Australia, and help to dispel a number of emerging AUKUS myths," Ms Chesters said.

The committee’s report also includes recommendations concerning infrastructure funding for local communities, enhanced engagement with First Nations peoples and local environmental groups, and parliamentary scrutiny of instruments resulting from the AUKUS agreement.

The report can be accessed online and further information about the inquiry is available on the Committee website.  

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THE Australian Parliament’s Agriculture Committee has made 13 recommendations following an inquiry into the role of Australian agriculture in Southeast Asian markets.

The inquiry examined ways to deepen engagement with Southeast Asia in food and agriculture with reference to Invested: Australia’s Southeast Economic Strategy to 2040 (the Moore report).

Committee Chair, Meryl Swanson, said, "The Moore report emphasised the significance of Australia’s relationship with Southeast Asia at an economic level, but urged us to look beyond trade to a broader and more closely integrated relationship with the region.

"Australia has an important role to play in the food security of Southeast Asia through food exports and by building agriculture and food production capability in the region. Australian technology and production systems also have much to offer the region. Long-term investment in regional relationships will be vital to progressing both trade and regional collaboration," Ms Swanson said.

In addition to supporting the recommendations of the Moore report, the committee has recommended:

• resourcing agencies to implement trade agreements and address non-tariff barriers;
• making a long-term commitment to the Southeast Asia Business Exchange program;
• maintaining and enhancing the Agriculture Counsellor network;
• reinstating and resourcing the Agri-Business Expansion Initiative and the Agriculture Trade and Market Access Cooperation program;
• increasing the resources available for regional collaboration on biosecurity; and
• providing additional funding to ACIAR for its work in Southeast Asia.

The committee further supports the establishment of the Australian Agricultural Partnership and the extension of the PALM scheme to Southeast Asia.

Over the course of the inquiry, the Committee held seven public hearings and received 28 written submissions from industry, government and other interested stakeholders. 

The committee’s full report can be found on the inquiry webpage.

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THE Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) today presented its Annual Report of Committee Activities 2023-2024.

During the reporting period, the committee continued with a busy program of work. It was largely occupied with reviewing a range of prospective and existing national security legislation, in addition to its ongoing oversight activities.

Over the review period the Committee presented 14 reports, held 50 meetings and briefings, including eight public hearings, and worked on a total of 21 inquiries. These included annual reviews of the administration and expenditure of intelligence agencies, examination of bills before Parliament, statutory reviews of existing legislation and reviews of the listing and re-listing of terrorist organisations.

Legislative changes which took effect in August 2023 saw the committee’s membership increase from 11 to 13, and the appointment of two new members.

Committee Chair, Senator Raff Ciccone, said, "This annual report shows that the committee continues to manage a high workload in a diligent and bipartisan manner to fulfil its important oversight and inquiry functions, and to ensure that national security laws remain appropriate and effective.

"The committee thanks all who made contributions to the various inquiries and reviews undertaken during the 2023-2024 financial year," Senator Ciccone said.

Further information on the functions and role of the committee, a copy of the annual report and all the reports presented by the committee during the review period, can be obtained from the Committee’s website.

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