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Business News Releases

New inquiry into cyber security for small-to-medium-sized businesses and organisations

THE Select Committee on Cyber Security for Small to Medium Sized Businesses and Organisations has commenced work on its inquiry. 

The committee was established by the House of Representatives to inquire and report on the cyber security preparedness of small-to-medium-sized business (SMB).

Committee Chair, Sally Sitou MP, said, “Small businesses are on the frontline of cyber risk but too often they’re expected to defend themselves without the time, tools or resources they need.

“This is the first federal inquiry to take a close look at the cyber security challenges facing small-and-medium-sized businesses.”

“We want to work directly with them to understand the threats they’re up against and how we can better protect them," Ms Sitou said.

“We’re particularly keen to hear from smaller businesses - especially those with fewer than 200 employees - as well as experts across the tech sector.”

The inquiry will consider:

  1. the cyber maturity of Australian small-to-medium-sized businesses and organisations, including not-for-profit organisations;
  2. the adequacy, appropriateness and accessibility of guidance provided to small-to-medium-sized businesses and organisations by government in relation to cyber security;
  3. whether there are appropriate standards for small-to-medium-sized businesses and organisations in relation to cyber security;
  4. the ease for small-to-medium-sized businesses and organisations to procure appropriate cyber security services in Australia;
  5. the importance of training for employees on good cyber security practices to the overall cyber security of small-to-medium-sized businesses and organisations;
  6. the impact of cyber security maturity on the feasibility for small-to-medium-sized businesses and organisations to participate in Government and large corporate supply chains; and
  7. any other related matters;

The committee has invited written submissions responding to the inquiry’s terms of reference by August 28 this year.

Further information is available on the inquiry webpage.

 

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Public Works Committee to visit Melbourne to examine AFP, CSIRO and ATO

NEXT WEEK, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works (the committee) will visit Melbourne to conduct a series of site inspections and public hearings into three of its current inquiries:

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) is proposing to fit-out its new leased premises at 949 Ann Street with office space and technical and specialist areas to replace its Northern Command Headquarters in Newstead (Qld) and Fortitude Valley (Qld). The estimated cost of the proposed works is $89.3 million (excluding GST).

The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) is proposing to upgrade and fit-out Building 302 at its site in Clayton (Vic) to deliver purpose-built laboratory facilities for staff relocating from its Aspendale site (Vic) The proposed works intend to support capacity for vital atmospheric and climate science at an estimated cost of $18.27 million (excluding GST).

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) is proposing to fit out its new leased premises at Festival Tower 2, King William Road, Adelaide (SA) to replace its current site in the Adelaide CBD (SA). This new fit-out is intended to support continued ATO operations in Adelaide at an estimated cost of $73.4 million (excluding GST).

The committee will conduct site inspections of the CSIRO Aspendale site and AFP Southern Command (Melbourne CBD), receive a private briefing from the ATO, and conduct public hearings to examine officials from the CSIRO, AFP and ATO regarding their proposed works. The committee will also speak with members of the public who have raised concerns regarding the proposed ATO works.

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

Date: Wednesday, 8 July 2026
Location: Bourke Room, Mantra on Russell, 222 Russell Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Time:

  • 9am – 10:15am (AEST) – ATO
  • 11am – 11:45am (AEST) – CSIRO
  • 1:20pm – 2:05pm (AEST) – AFP

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

 

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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Committee to review international production order scheme for sharing electronic information

THE Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) has commenced a review of provisions in the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979 (TIA Act) relating to international production orders for electronic information.

Schedule 1 to the TIA Act, which was added to the Act in July 2021, established a scheme to enhance law enforcement cooperation between Australia and a foreign country with which it has made a designated international agreement, in relation to electronic information held or controlled by communications providers.

The scheme is intended to assist Australia combat serious crimes such as terrorism, child sexual abuse and cybercrime, by enabling a pathway for law enforcement and intelligence agencies to request access to electronic data held by service providers in foreign jurisdictions and subject to foreign laws. The legislation places various conditions and requirements on the use of international production orders.

To date, one agreement has been made to facilitate international production orders – the Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the United States of America on Access to Electronic Data for the Purpose of Countering Serious Crime, also known as the Australia-US CLOUD Act Agreement, which entered into force on January 31, 2024.

The PJCIS is required by law to review the operation, effectiveness and implications of the international production orders provisions, five years after their commencement.

Additional information on the committee’s review may be found here.

The committee requests submissions to this review by Thursday, September 24. Submissions should be prepared solely for this inquiry and should not be published prior to being accepted by the committee.

Further information about making a submission can be found at this link.

 

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Submissions open for inquiry into Australia-Vanuatu Nakamal Agreement

THE Joint Standing Committee on Treaties (JSCOT) has commenced an inquiry into the Vanuatu-Australia Nakamal Agreement.

The Nakamal Agreement proposes to develop Australia and Vanuatu’s security relationship by creating new obligations and commitments for both parties.

These proposed obligations include Vanuatu committing to prevent its territory being used for foreign military bases and Australia increasing policing, development and disaster response assistance. The committee will investigate whether the Nakamal Agreement furthers Australia’s security interests in the Pacific.

Further information about the inquiry, including the full treaty text and National Interest Analysis, is available on the inquiry website.

The committee has invited interested individuals and organisations to make submissions addressing the Nakamal Agreement and its implications. Submissions to this inquiry are open until Wednesday, July 29, and can be lodged online via the Committee website. The Committee website also has detailed guidance on preparing and submitting submissions.

 

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Submissions Open for five treaty inquiries into customs, space and air services agreements

THE Joint Standing Committee on Treaties (JSCOT) has commenced inquiries into five treaty actions covering customs cooperation, space cooperation and international air services.

The committee will examine the Agreement between Australia and Canada on Cooperation and Mutual Administrative Assistance in Customs Matters, which seeks to establish arrangements for cooperation and mutual assistance between Australia and Canada’s customs authorities.

The inquiry will consider whether the agreement strengthens the Australian Border Force’s ability to manage offshore threats and risks.

The committee will also inquire into the Framework Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the United States of America on Cooperation in Aeronautics and the Exploration and Use of Airspace and Outer Space for Peaceful Purposes. 

The agreement aims to provide an overarching framework for governing cooperation between Australia and the United States on space activities. The committee will assess whether the agreement furthers Australia’s growing interests in the space sector.

Inquiries have also commenced into three separate Air Services Agreements (ASAs) between Australia and the following nations:

The three ASAs establish new and updated frameworks for the operation of air services between Australia and its treaty partners. The committee will examine whether the Agreements benefit Australian travellers and businesses.

Further information about each inquiry, including the full treaty text and accompanying National Interest Analysis, is available on the relevant inquiry webpages.

The committee has also invited interested individuals and organisations to make submissions addressing the treaties and their implications. Submissions to all five inquiries close on Wednesday, July 22, and can be lodged online via the Committee website. Guidance on preparing and lodging submissions is also available on the website.

 

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