THE Joint Standing Committee on Treaties (JSCOT) has tabled a report recommending binding treaty action be taken on four treaties.

• Agreement between the Government of Australia and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Support and Procurement Organisation (NSPO) on Acquisition and Support Cooperation;
• Agreement between the Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Government of Australia relating to Air Services;
• Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of Kiribati relating to Air Services;
• Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the Republic of Nauru relating to Air Services.

The NSPO Agreement will enable Australia to engage with NSPO services and programmes. It includes provisions for the NSPO’s legal status in Australia, certain privileges and immunities, and other related matters necessary for the creation of future implementing agreements and the growth of the Australia-NSPO relationship.

The Air Services Agreements will provide a solid legal foundation for scheduled international air services to be operated between Australia and three partners: Cambodia, Kiribati and Naoero. The Air Services Agreements are based on a template model agreement and have substantially similar provisions to others recently considered by the committee.

The report can be found on the Committee website, along with further information on the inquiry.

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THE Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit has today tabled its report for the inquiry into Commonwealth Financial Statements 2023-24 and 2024-25, together with its Annual Report for 2025-26.

Commonwealth Financial Statements 2023-24 and 2024-25: The committee's report examines the findings from the Australian National Audit Office's audits of the Commonwealth Financial Statements for 2023-24 and 2024-25.

Committee Chair Josh Burns MP said, "The IT control environment continues to account for the largest proportion of audit findings. It is clear to the committee that IT governance and controls remain a persistent challenge for government entities."

Mr Burns said the committee also considered legislative non-compliance, including breaches of the Australian Constitution, which had increased across the two audit periods.

"While entities are taking active steps towards remediation, the committee remains concerned by the number of breaches that persist across multiple audit cycles," Mr Burns said.

The growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies across the public sector was also of interest to the committee.

Mr Burns said, "While the committee did not investigate the use of AI across the public sector in depth, it will continue to monitor whether governance frameworks are keeping pace with the rate of adoption and the range of emerging use cases."

Annual Report 2025-26: Under the Public Accounts and Audit Committee Act 1951, the committee is required to report annually to the Parliament on the work it has undertaken. The report covers the committee’s activities in 2025–26, including non-inquiry activities in line with its legislative responsibilities.

The reports can be downloaded on the Committee’s website.

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THE Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works has recently commenced two new inquiries into proposed works by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) under the Public Works Committee Act 1969.

The ATO is proposing to fit-out approximately 22,000 square metres of office accommodation at its existing premises at 747 Collins Street, Docklands, Victoria. The ATO currently leases 38,375sqm at the site, which it intends to reduce by 16,000 sqm in a renegotiated lease with the building’s landlord, commencing in May 2027.

The reduced Net Lettable Area will result in an occupational density of around 7-8sqm to allow the office to fall within the government’s occupational density target of 14sqm per occupied work point. The proposed fit-out works are intended to provide a fit-for-purpose flexible workspace that meets the ATO’s current and future needs in a cost-effective manner, while accommodating for workforce fluctuations and changing attendance patterns. The total estimated cost of the proposed project is $94.74 million (excluding GST).

DFAT is seeking Parliamentary approval to commence works on the Australian High Commission in Suva, Republic of Fiji. The proposed works would extend the High Commission’s chancery, deliver a mid-life upgrade to the base building, and undertake a tenant fit-out refurbishment of the premises.

The proposed extension has been funded as part of the Pacific Infrastructure Programme New Policy Proposal 'Enhancing Pacific Infrastructure and Engagement' which was approved in the 2024-25 Federal Budget. The total estimated cost of the proposed works is $80.3 million (excluding GST).

The committee has invited interested individuals and organisations to make submissions by Thursday, October 22 this year. More information is available on the Committee’s website.

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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FOLLOWING a referral by Treasurer, Dr Jim Chalmers MP, the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Economics will open an inquiry into the use of technology to assist in improving Australian productivity.

Like many advanced economies, Australia has sought for decades to find the best way to boost productivity.

The development and application of new technology is often offered up as a pathway to improved productivity.

Despite extraordinary advances in digital technology, artificial intelligence, robotics, advanced manufacturing and communications, productivity growth across many advanced economies has stubbornly remained below expectations.

Committee Chair Ed Husic MP said, "Lifting Australia’s productivity is critical to growing the economy and improving Australian living standards well into the future.

"While we proudly point to our own tech trail-blazers or the “first-mover” eagerness of Australians to adopt and use new technology, that hasn’t always translated into stronger productivity,” he said.

“We want this inquiry to move beyond the “tech can improve productivity” mantra, to explore the specifics of how we can do that best.

“We’ll examine how we can better develop and improve uptake of productive technologies across different economic sectors.

"This inquiry’s focus is to look at a broad scope of technologies that could boost productivity in Australia, from robotics to biotechnology, quantum technologies to advanced manufacturing or information and communication technologies.”

Mr Husic said the inquiry was not simply about inventing new technologies but ensuring Australia benefits from them.

"We also need to think carefully about Australia's sovereign capability. The nations that develop, commercialise and deploy critical technologies will be the nations that capture the greatest residual economic and productive value from them."

Committee Deputy Chair Simon Kennedy said, “Australia cannot afford to sit on the sidelines of the AI and robotics revolution.

"These technologies have the potential to help solve the anaemic growth and productivity problems that have plagued our economy for years. We must grow these industries in Australia and ensure government policy enables innovation rather than inhibits it.”

In the inquiry, the committee will examine matters related to:

• harnessing technological innovation in priority technology fields identified as vital to Australia’s economic success;
• improving productivity through technology adoption and diffusion in different economic sectors, including market and non-market sectors;
• opportunities to facilitate uptake of, and promote investment in, productive technologies;
• barriers to technological innovation and the use of technologies to improve productivity in Australia;
• workforce and skills requirements to enable effective and productive use of new technologies; and
• international trends and experiences of major technology-driven productivity improvements.

The committee will release a discussion paper and open for submissions in the coming weeks. Those interested in contributing to the inquiry are encouraged to monitor the committee’swebsite for further information.

The committee is due to present its report to the House of Representatives by September 10, 2027.

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