THE House of Representatives Standing Committee on Indigenous Affairs has launched an inquiry today into pathways and participation opportunities for Indigenous Australians in employment and business.

Committee chair Julian Leeser MP said Indigenous Australians often face tougher barriers when seeking employment or starting their own business.

"It is vital that we address this to ensure a more prosperous future for First Nations peoples," Mr Leeser said.

The committee will consult with a wide a range of stakeholders on proposals that will create better economic opportunities for Indigenous people.

"We will aim to speak with a range of stakeholders including First Nations people, Indigenous-owned enterprises, relevant peak organisations, as well as State and Federal policymakers and other people involved in employment services and small business lending," Mr Leeser said.

For more information about the inquiry, including its terms of reference and instructions on making a submission, visit the committee’s webpage.

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AS PART of a Federal Parliament inquiry into economic engagement with Traditional Owners, Members of Parliament are travelling to Cairns, Hope Vale and the Torres Strait.

The Northern Australia Committee is holding public hearings in Far North Queensland this week, and will hear evidence from Land Councils, Native Title holders, local councils and other stakeholders.

In its submission, the Cape York Land Council highlighted the importance of land to the economic and cultural wellbeing of Indigenous Australians and the economic development of Northern Australia. It noted that "the economic development potential of Aboriginal freehold land is yet to be fully realised because of significant constraints on utilising the rights inherent in this tenure".

It also emphasised that the "reform strategy to enhance the use of Aboriginal freehold land must maintain the communal and inalienable character of Aboriginal land ownership".

Meanwhile, the Gur A Baradharaw Kod (GBK) Sea and Land Council, representing Traditional Owners in the Torres Strait, urged the transfer of funding and administrative responsibility to Traditional Owners. It believed that "many, if not all government functions in the Torres Strait should be transferred to the Traditional Owner bodies", including Registered Native Title Bodies Corporate, Land Trusts and GBK itself.

Committee Chair Warren Entsch said it is important to engage Traditional Owners in the economic development of Northern Australia.

"The key is finding ways to use land rights and native title to create economic opportunities which benefit everyone, generating wealth without undermining land rights or native title," he said.

"The evidence presented to the committee has already suggested some useful ideas and we expect to get more as we travel to meet with Traditional Owners."

The committee will hold public hearings in Cairns, Hope Vale and on Thursday Island. Programs are available on the committee’s website.

Public hearing details

Date: Tuesday, 29 October 2019
Time: 9am to 4:30pm
Location: Council Chambers, 119-145 Spence St, Cairns
Witnesses include:

• Cairns Institute
• Cape York Land Council
• Cape York Partnership
• Balkanu
• Mandingalbay Yidinji Aboriginal Corporation MYAC RNTBC
• Gunggandji-Mandingalbay Yidinji People PBC Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC
• North Queensland Land Council
• Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council
• Torres Cape Indigenous Council Alliance
• Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC
• Western Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC
• Olkola Aboriginal Corporation

Date: Wednesday, 30 October 2019
Time: 10am to 12:30pm
Location: Council Meeting Rooms, Hope Vale
Witnesses include:

• Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire Counci
• Walmbaar Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC
• Dhubbi Warra Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC
• Hopevale Congress Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC
• Ms Dora Gibson

Date: Thursday, 31 October 2019
Time: 9:30am to 12:00pm
Location: Function Room, Grand Hotel, Victoria Parade, Thursday Island
Witnesses include:

• Torres Shire Council
• Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council
• Gur A Baradharaw Kod (GBK) Sea and Land Council
• Ugar Ged Kem Le Zeuber Er Kep Le (Torres Strait Islanders) Corporation RNTBC
• Kaurareg Native Title Aboriginal Corporation (RNTBC)

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

A PARLIAMENTARY report into the Identity-matching Services Bill 2019 and the Australian Passports Amendment (Identity-matching Services) Bill 2019 has recommended both bills be strengthened to provide protections for Australian citizens. 

Chair of the Intelligence and Security Committee, Mr Andrew Hastie MP, said the report agrees with the objectives of both bills, but supports concerns from submitters that protections for individual’s rights should be more explicitly incorporated.

"The bills have strong intentions and will become important tools, particularly in fighting identity crime," Mr Hastie said.

"Together, the bills aim to make identity-matching easier for prescribed entities whose responsibility it is to safeguard citizens and to reduce identity theft."

The report recommends that the Bills be re-drafted according to principles relating to privacy, transparency, governance, and user obligations.

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THE Queensland Resources Council (QRC) welcomes new laws passed by the Queensland Government to deter people from using dangerous devices that deliberately increase the risk of injury to themselves, emergency services workers and members of the public.

QRC chief executive Ian Macfarlane said the Summary Offences and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2019, passed last night in parliament, was the right step forward in ensuring the rights of all Queenslanders were upheld.

“Everyone has the right to protest but everyone also has the right to commute to work safely, operate trains without fearing they will injure or kill someone and for ambulance drivers not to be impeded by protestors connecting themselves to  concrete drums on the road,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“QRC had urged the Parliament to consider both the Government legislation and the LNP’s private members bill to address illegal trespass.

“We welcome the Parliament’s commitment to this important issue that affects every Queenslander.

“The new laws make it an offence to use attachment devices to block transport corridors and I applaud the Palaszczuk Government for acting before someone is seriously injured. We’ve seen too much illegal and unsafe behaviour with activists deploying dangerous devices on rail lines and at ports.

“Our  sector prioritises safety and these laws send a clear message to activists who use extreme actions," Mr Macfarlane said.

“The laws passed the Parliament with an overwhelming majority, including both the Government and the LNP.

“QRC welcomes this cross-Parliament commitment to uphold the safety for all Queenslanders, and especially those who work on railways, at ports or at other infrastructure projects.”

Mr Macfarlane urged all Parliamentarians to ensure the laws were operationally sufficient for the Queensland Police Service, particularly if protestors amend devices to avoid the offences the Parliament has just passed.

www.qrc.org.au

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