THE House of Representatives Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Disability has today presented and published its final report for its inquiry into the health impacts of alcohol and other drugs in Australia.

Committee Chair, Dr Mike Freelander MP, said, "The true cost of addiction to alcohol and other drugs in Australia is almost impossible to calculate but is measured in the tens of billions of dollars. We have a responsibility as public policymakers to look at how we are addressing this and whether our current frameworks are fit for purpose."

Dr Freelander said, "Our report makes 30 recommendations to the Australian Government which reflects the complexity of the issues that arose in the evidence to the inquiry. The committee believes strongly that these changes will have a significant impact in reducing alcohol-related harms to Australian individuals, families and communities."

The committee’s recommendations include:

• a new mandatory alcohol advertising and marketing framework;
• modelling of the alcohol taxation system to determine whether it remains fit for purpose;
• national standards for the online sale and delivery of alcohol;
• capability building for primary and antenatal care services for alcohol screening and interventions, including for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD);
• a national early warning system for illicit drugs;
• increasing the awareness of, and access to, the Take Home Naloxone Program;
• mandatory alcohol and drug education programs in secondary schools;
• mandated alcohol and other drug training in medical colleges and across sectors;
• scaling of digital models of care and increased funding for integrated models of care;
• improving the retention of the alcohol and other drug workforce, including peer workers;
• improved and targeted services for regional areas, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and other vulnerable Australians.

The report can be accessed and downloaded here.

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

ends

THE Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit has commenced an inquiry into Snowy Hydro Limited’s management of the Snowy 2.0 project following a major project reset in August 2023.

Snowy 2.0 is the largest committed renewable energy project in Australia. The project reset doubled the estimated project cost from $6 billion to $12 billion and extended the expected completion dates. A further cost reassessment was announced in October 2025 but is yet to be released.

Committee Chair Josh Burns MP said, "Snowy 2.0 is vital for Australia’s energy future but the project has seen delays, growing costs and performance issues. The committee wants to understand Snowy Hydro Limited’s management of these issues and the lessons for other major public infrastructure projects.

"The financial risks of massive public projects like Snowy 2.0 rest with Australian taxpayers. The Parliament needs to ensure there are strong governance, risk management, forecasting and oversight arrangements in place to see this project completed."

The inquiry’s terms of reference include examining Snowy Hydro Limited’s management of Snowy 2.0, particularly the project reset and cost forecasting, schedule and risk management, and contractor oversight. The inquiry will further consider the findings in Auditor-General Report No. 39 2025–26, Delivery of Snowy 2.0.

Submissions to the inquiry addressing the terms of reference have been invited by Friday, October 9.

Further details of this inquiry – including its terms of reference, submissions received and public hearing schedules – can be accessed on the inquiry website.

ends

THE Business Council of Australia’s latest warning on declining productivity should be a catalyst for governments to move from analysis to action, Housing Industry Association (HIA) managing director Jocelyn Martin said today.

“The Productivity Commission has identified the challenges. The Business Council has reinforced them. The Senate Cost of Living Inquiry highlighted them. The Senate Housing Productivity Inquiry highlighted them," Ms Martin said.

“The evidence is now overwhelming. The challenge is no longer identifying the problem. The challenge is whether governments are prepared to act.”

Ms Martin said housing was one of the clearest examples of how declining productivity, excessive regulation and poor policy settings were undermining economic growth and living standards.

“HIA forecasts continue to show Australia will fall well short of the 1.2 million homes target," Ms Martin said.

“The barriers are not a mystery. They include planning delays, workforce shortages, infrastructure constraints, excessive regulation and declining project feasibility.

“You cannot regulate or tax your way to higher housing supply.”

Ms Martin said governments should respond with measurable productivity and red tape reduction targets.

“The Business Council’s proposal to reduce the cost of red tape by 25 per cent by 2030 deserves serious consideration," Ms Martin said.

“Governments set targets for housing delivery, emissions reduction and budget outcomes.

“They should also set targets for reducing regulatory burden and publicly report on their progress.”

HIA is calling for a practical productivity reform agenda that includes:

• A national red tape reduction target.

• A one-in, two-out approach for new regulation.

• A mandatory small business test for all new regulatory proposals.

• Greater accountability for regulators and rule-makers to consider productivity, investment, housing supply and economic growth impacts.

• Greater use of Artificial Intelligence to simplify regulation, improve transparency and accelerate approvals.

“AI presents a significant opportunity to improve the way government operates," Ms Martin said.

“We should be using technology to reduce bureaucracy, improve transparency and streamline approvals, not simply digitise inefficient processes.

“Builders should spend more time building homes and less time navigating unnecessary administrative complexity.”

Ms Martin said productivity reform ultimately comes down to making it easier for businesses to invest, employ people and grow.

“If Australia wants more homes, stronger economic growth and higher living standards, governments need to move beyond acknowledging the productivity challenge and start delivering reform.

“We don’t need more evidence.

“We need targets, accountability and action,” Ms Martin said.

www.hia.com.au

ends

THE Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) has commenced an inquiry into the nature and drivers of radicalisation in Australia, following a referral from the Minister for Home Affairs.

The inquiry will examine the nature and drivers of radicalisation as they relate to politically motivated violence, terrorism and violent extremism in Australia.

The inquiry will consider pathways to radicalisation, including key drivers and contributing factors, the role of technology and encrypted communications, the use of algorithms in amplifying extremist content, and the radicalisation and grooming of minors, including through gaming and gaming-adjacent platforms.

The committee will also examine the obligations of digital platforms, gaming and messaging providers in detecting, reporting and responding to extremist content, as well as relevant international responses and lessons for Australia.

Chair of the PJCIS, Senator Raff Ciccone, said the inquiry provides an important opportunity to better understand the evolving nature of radicalisation and its implications for Australia's security:

"Violent extremism and politically motivated violence continue to present complex challenges for governments, communities and law enforcement agencies.

"This inquiry will examine the factors that contribute to radicalisation, including the impact of emerging technologies and online environments, and consider whether existing responses remain fit for purpose," he said.

"The committee is seeking evidence from experts, industry, government agencies, community organisations and members of the public to help inform its work."

The committee has invited submissions to the inquiry by close of business Friday, October 30. 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 on the Parliament of Australia website.

Further details on the inquiry are available on the committee’s website.

ends