THE House Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs today released an interim report on its inquiry into homelessness in Australia, focusing on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on housing and homelessness issues.

Chair of the Committee, Andrew Wallace MP, said, "The COVID-19 pandemic arrived in Australia shortly after this inquiry commenced in February 2020. As the virus spread, the Committee quickly realised that it would have major implications for people at risk of or experiencing homelessness, and the governments and organisations who work with them."

In May 2020, the Committee called for evidence on the impact of COVID-19 on homelessness, encouraging community groups and others to share their experiences in responding to the pandemic.

By the beginning of October the Committee had received close to 200 submissions—most of which discuss the COVID-19 situation—and spoken to 40 governmental and non-government organisations at five public hearings.

Mr Wallace said, "This interim report summarises what the Committee has heard to date from a wide range of people and organisations about COVID-19 and homelessness in Australia.

"It explores the central themes of the evidence we have received including what the definition of homelessness should be, who is most at risk and the effectiveness of Government responses to homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The Committee heard from many organisations and peak bodies who gave detailed accounts of how service providers across Australia have adapted to the crisis and have continued to deliver support to the many people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness throughout Australia at this difficult time.

"We believe that it is important to report now, so this evidence can be considered by policymakers in a timely way, even as the impacts of the pandemic continue to unfold.

"The Committee encourages the Australian Government to take this report into account as it continues to formulate its immediate and long-term responses to the pandemic," Mr Wallace said.

The Committee’s inquiry into homelessness in Australia continues. The Committee will issue a final report, addressing the inquiry’s full terms of reference and including recommendations, at the conclusion of the inquiry.

Further information about the inquiry is available on the Committee’s website.

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A FEDERAL parliamentary committee today strongly supported the Australian Government’s actions to suspend Australia’s Extradition and Mutual Legal Assistance treaties with Hong Kong.

Report 190, released today by the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties follows an inquiry undertaken at the request of the Attorney-General, Christian Porter MP.

“The evidence gathered by the Committee establishes a strong public foundation for the actions for the Australian Government,” said Committee Chair Dave Sharma MP.

“The Committee heard the imposition by China of its National Security Law in Hong Kong has fundamentally altered Hong Kong’s status and raised serious concerns about the independence of the judiciary in Hong Kong and the continued application of the rule of law and other fundamental principles of justice. This constitutes a fundamental change of circumstances,” Mr Sharma said.

The bi-partisan committee unanimously endorsed the actions of the Australian Government to protect the integrity of its international law enforcement arrangements and uphold the rights of its citizens by suspending these two treaties.

The Committee will continue to take a close interest in political developments in Hong Kong.

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A FEDERAL parliamentary committee has recommended Australia commit to the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF’s) reform proposals to better combat the global economic impact of COVID-19.

Report 191, released today by the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties, supports three treaties that will give the IMF access to the funds it needs to support countries dealing with the severe economic downturn that has accompanied the pandemic.

Two of the treaties involve the direct transfer of a portion of Australia’s commitments from the third line of defence supporting IMF lending, called ‘bilateral loan agreements’, to the IMF’s second line of defence, called the ‘New Arrangements to Borrow’.

The third treaty is a commitment by Australia to the IMF’s Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust.  The Trust is already involved in supporting the COVID-19 response in lower income countries by providing the funds to purchase necessary medical equipment.

The treaties do not involve additional financial commitments by Australia.

“COVID-19 has had a massive global economic impact, and this is being felt in Australia. For Australia’s sake, we need to be doing all we can to support global economic recovery, and these reforms to the IMF will help do that,” Committee Chair Dave Sharma MP said.

In addition, the Report details the Committee’s support for a minor amendment to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade.

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THE Queensland Resources Council has welcomed the Queensland Government’s announcement today of an implementation agreement for the proposed CopperString 2.0 high voltage 1100 km transmission line to the North West Minerals Province.

QRC chief executive Ian Macfarlane said the progress of CopperString 2.0 was part of the Resources Industry Recovery Agenda presented to the Government by QRC-AMEC in June.

“The North West Minerals Province is a key area of development for Queensland’s resources sector and its development will help deliver the strongest possible recovery from COVID-19,” Mr Macfarlane said.

Mr Macfarlane said the Queensland Government’s announcement of an implementation agreement follows the Australian Government’s commitment in its Budget last night to provide funding to progress a final investment decision for the project.

“The QRC, as the peak representative for the state’s coal, metals and gas explorers, producers and suppliers, was involved in the development of the State Government’s Strategic Blueprint for Queensland's North West Minerals Province,” he said.

The Blueprint highlighted: “Common user infrastructure provides the opportunity to drive down development costs for individual projects, with multiple users contributing to the development of, and benefiting from key forms of infrastructure required for mining and other projects. This may include transport infrastructure such as road, port and rail, utilities such as electricity, gas and water, or other types of minerals processing infrastructure”.

“Energy costs for the existing mineral producers in the region are amongst the highest in Queensland,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“CopperString 2.0 also promises to unlock some of Queensland’s most prospective renewable energy generation sites.”

www.qrc.org.au

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