THE Joint Standing Committee on National Capital and External Territories has today presented its report for its inquiry into the National Capital Plan (NCP) Amendment No.102 – Hume Circle Precinct.

Chair of the NCET Committee, Alicia Payne MP, said this report into Amendment 102 was one of the most significant planning proposals considered by the committee in recent years.

“The proposal has generated considerable public interest and prompted important discussions about the future of Canberra, the National Capital Plan, and the need to find the right balance between accommodating growth and renewal and preserving the characteristics that make the national capital unique,” Ms Payne said.

“The committee heard strong views about the future of the Hume Circle Precinct.

“After carefully considering the broad range of evidence from stakeholders including residents, community organisations, planning experts, the NCA, the ACT Government and the developer (JEGA), the committee has recommended that Staffordshire Terrace be removed from Amendment 102," she said.

“Further recommendations in this report are intended to strengthen future NCA consultation and planning processes, improve cooperation between the NCA and the ACT Government, and ensure that infrastructure, community needs and national capital considerations are appropriately addressed as planning for the precinct progresses.

“While there is broad recognition of the potential for renewal and additional housing, the community must be provided with sufficient information about the consultation processes, involved early and openly in major planning decisions, and have confidence in how decisions are made," Ms Payne said.

“The committee’s recommendations provide a practical pathway for improving trust and ensuring the community has an ongoing voice as detailed planning progresses.

“The committee would like to sincerely thank all stakeholders for their participation in the inquiry process and notes the challenges of maintaining and enhancing the Canberra landscape whilst respecting the intent of the Griffin Legacy.”

A full copy of the report, including recommendations and further information about the inquiry is available on the committee’s website.

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THE House Select Committee on Cyber Security for Small to Medium Sized Businesses and Organisations will hold its first public hearing for the inquiry into cyber security for small to medium sized businesses and organisations on Tuesday, October 6.

"Running a small business is demanding enough without having to worry about cyber criminals targeting your operations, customer data or finances," Committee Chair Sally Sitou MP said.

"We want to hear what's working, what's not, and what government, industry and cyber security experts can do to better support small businesses to deal with modern day cyber threats."

The committee has scheduled seven public hearings to hear from a wide range of groups, including small businesses and organisations, cyber security experts, government officials, and representatives from sector groups, among others.

Public hearings are scheduled on:

• Tuesday 6 October 2026
• Friday 16 October 2026
• Monday 19 October 2026
• Tuesday 20 October 2026
• Thursday 22 October 2026
• Monday 2 November 2026
• Wednesday 4 November 2026

Detailed programs for each hearing will become available on the committee's website, and hearings will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live.

The committee has also launched a short stakeholder survey to better understand the cyber security experiences of small to medium sized businesses and organisations.

The survey is designed to be quick and easy to complete and it will help inform the Committee's work examining the cyber security challenges and opportunities facing Australia's small to medium sized businesses and organisations.

The survey will be open until January 29 next year.

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THE Housing Industry Association (HIA) is marking National Safe Work Month by recognising the significant safety gains achieved across the residential building industry over the past two decades and highlighting how technology and innovation are helping create the smarter, and safer, building sites of the future.

HIA chief executive for industry and policy, Simon Croft, said today's residential building sites are safer, better managed and more safety-conscious than ever before.

"The residential building industry has made significant progress in workplace safety over the past two decades," Mr Croft said.

"That progress has been driven by builders, trades, workers and businesses embracing better training, stronger safety systems and a more proactive approach to managing workplace risks.

"Today's sites are safer than ever before because safety has become embedded in the way building businesses operate. From site inductions and toolbox talks to risk assessments and supervision, safety is now part of everyday business."

This year's National Safe Work Month theme throughout the month of October is, 'Safe Work is for Life', an important reminder that workplace safety is about more than preventing injuries today. It is also about protecting the long-term health, wellbeing and careers of workers across the industry.

"While the industry can be proud of the progress that has been made, there is always more work to do," Mr Croft said.

"Safety is not a destination. It is an ongoing commitment to continuous improvement, and every worker, subcontractor, supervisor and business owner has a role to play in creating safer workplaces."

Mr Croft said technology is playing an increasingly important role in improving safety outcomes across the residential building industry.

"Digital safety management systems, mobile site inspections, real-time reporting tools and online training are making it easier for businesses to identify hazards, manage safety obligations and respond to risks before incidents occur.

"Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, predictive analytics and smarter project management tools also have the potential to further improve safety outcomes by helping businesses identify patterns, assess risks earlier and make better-informed decisions."

Innovation in products, equipment and construction methods is also helping make sites safer.

"Advances in prefabrication, modular construction, mechanical lifting equipment and modern building systems are reducing manual handling risks and improving workplace safety for builders and tradespeople,” Mr Croft said.

"The next generation of safety improvements will be driven not only by culture and training, but also by the adoption of smarter technologies and innovative ways of building."

Mr Croft said strong safety performance delivers benefits for workers, businesses and clients alike.

"Good safety outcomes are also good business outcomes. Safe workplaces help retain skilled workers, reduce disruption, improve productivity and support successful project delivery.

"The strongest safety outcomes occur when businesses combine good leadership, practical safety systems, effective training and innovative solutions."

As part of National Safe Work Month, HIA is encouraging all businesses to take the opportunity to review their safety practices and continue building strong safety cultures across their workplaces.

"HIA remains committed to supporting the industry with practical tools, resources, advice and training to help continue the industry's strong safety performance and drive further improvements into the future," Mr Croft said.

More information on National Safe Work Month can be found here and HIA's dedicated safety resources are available through HIA's Safety Hub.

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THE Joint Standing Committee on Treaties (JSCOT) will hold a public hearing on Thursday, October 1, as part of its inquiries into the Ocean of Peace Alliance and Fiji-Australia Vuvale Union.

The treaties were both referred to the committee on August 11 this year and will be examined together due to their complementary defence, security and regional cooperation objectives.

The Ocean of Peace Alliance aims to establish a defence and security partnership between Australia and Fiji. The treaty will require both countries to cooperate to develop defence capacity, consult in the event of security-related developments, and act to meet the common danger where one faces an armed attack.

The Ocean of Peace Alliance may also be joined by other Pacific countries ‘in a position to further’ the Alliance.

The Fiji-Australia Vuvale Union aims to deepen Australia and Fiji’s bilateral cooperation across security, economic integration, people-to-people links, climate and regional cooperation.

Committee Chair, Lisa Chesters MP, said, "The inquiries into the Fiji defence and security treaties allow Parliament to investigate whether these treaties are in Australia’s strategic and economic interest.

"The committee is particularly interested in understanding the practical effects of these agreements and what they mean for Australia's relationship with Fiji and the broader Pacific region," Ms Chesters said.

The committee will hear evidence from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Department of Defence, the Department of Home Affairs, and the Australian Federal Police.

Further information about the inquiries, including the treaties’ text, national interest analyses and submissions received by the committee, are available on the inquiries’ webpages.

Public hearing details

Date: Thursday, 1 October 2026
Time: 2pm to 3pm AEST (approximately)
Location: Committee Room 2R1, Parliament House Canberra

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

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