THE Joint Standing Committee on Migration will hear evidence from the Attorney General’s Department at a public hearing for its inquiry into review processes associated with visa cancellations made on criminal grounds in Canberra on Wednesday 17 October.

The inquiry is examining issues including the efficiency of existing review processes as they relate to decisions made under section 501 of the Migration Act; present levels of duplication associated with the merits review process; and the scope of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal’s jurisdiction to review ministerial decisions.

The full terms of reference are available on the Committee’s website.

Public hearing details: 10.10am, Wednesday 17 October 2018, Committee Room 1R4, Parliament House, Canberra

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

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BRISBANE Lord Mayor Graham Quirk has invited the city's ambitious early career professionals and researchers to apply for a share of $30,000 to help attract leading international conventions and conferences.

Opening the second round of the Lord Mayor’s Convention Trailblazer Grant, Cr Quirk said recipients would be funded to attend an international association conference in their field to help pave the way for Brisbane to host the conference in the future.

“The Lord Mayor’s Convention Trailblazer Grant was a recommendation of the Brisbane 2022 New World City Action Plan, which outlined our commitment to winning more conferences and business events,” Cr Quirk said.

“The benefits of this grant are two-fold. Recipients will be funded to attend a conference that will benefit them professionally while also advocating for Brisbane to host a future rotation of the conference.

“Every convention that flows into Brisbane builds on our appeal as a business and research destination and delivers economic benefits for tourism and hospitality businesses, including hotels, restaurants and retailers.”

The Lord Mayor’s Convention Trailblazer Grant is run by the Brisbane Convention Bureau, which is within the city’s economic development board Brisbane Marketing.

Convention Bureau general manager Juliet Alabaster said the grant was one way Brisbane could grow its reputation as a global conventions city while developing the city’s emerging talent.

“Conventions and business events generated more than $257 million for Brisbane’s economy in 2016/17. We want to build on that by hosting more conferences that attract the world’s leading minds to our city,” Ms Alabaster said.

“We’re looking for applicants who demonstrate passion and leadership in their field, and who can shine a spotlight on Brisbane’s expertise and make valuable connections to help our city secure conferences for the future.”

Applications close on January 30, 2019.

To view the criteria or to apply, visit https://choosebrisbane.com.au/trailblazer

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“FIRST Home Buyer participation in Australia’s mortgage market is now at its healthiest since 2012,” said Shane Garrett, chief economist for Master Builders Australia. 

During the three months to August 2018, ABS data indicate that the portion of owner occupier mortgages accounted for by First Home Buyers (FHBs) reached 18 percent. 

“The strength of First Home Buyer engagement with the mortgage market is good news for Australia’s home building industry,” Mr Garrett said. 

“FHBs are now a much bigger pillar of demand for new house and apartment building across Australia. As well as boosting building activity over the short term, having more home owners will be favourable from the point of renovations demand over coming decades,” he said. 

“Along with the introduction of enhanced FHB incentives in NSW and Victoria, the strong pace of job creation is helping more and more Australians to become homeowners for the first time.

“This is another important benefit of our growing economy,” Mr Garrett said.

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AUSTRALIA POST has announced that the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) has signed an agreement to support critical investment in Australia Post's Bank@Post service. 

This is a landmark agreement in the history of Australia Post and will help ensure all Australians can continue to use Post Offices across the nation to access important financial services, and Australia Post spokesperson said.

The five-year commitment includes CBA contributing a new annual Community Representation Fee of $22 million and revised transaction fees.  This partnership enables Australia Post to invest in the Post Office network in order to help provide safe, reliable banking services, ensure itsLicensed Post Office partners will be paid appropriately and support the future prosperity of many communities.

Australia Post's group chief executive officer and managing director Christine Holgate said, "I am extremely appreciative that the nation's largest bank has taken a lead position in supporting Australia Post.  This investment will not only help save a critical service in Post Offices serving the communities of Australia, it saves jobs and supports the financial viability of our local Post Office partners.

"The agreement ensures customers will be able to access withdrawal, deposit, balance enquiries and passbook services at more than 3500 Post Offices across the country. Approximately 30,000 CBA customers use Bank@Post every day."

There are 1550 communities across Australia, predominantly in rural and regional Australia, who today have no bank branch. The citizens and small businesses of these communities depend on Australia Post to provide access to financial services through the Bank@Post service in their local Post Office.  

Without this service these communities face significant economic and social challenges. Recent research by Deloitte Access Economics highlighted the important role Post Offices play in local communities. In fact, with every role Australia Post employs in rural and regional Australia, two more jobs are created in the economy.

Today Australia Post loses money operating the service and does not have the funds to subsidise this service further or make the critical investment needed.  Many of Australia Post's local Post Offices are operated by Licensed Post Office partners, who as small businesses, do not have the capital investment needed. 

Without support, Australia Post risked either suspending the service or closing some community Post Offices, which would have hurt communities and cost jobs.

"Matt Comyn and the CBA team have shown strong leadership on this issue and a real commitment to ensuring the prosperity of communities that rely on our Post Offices," Ms Holgate said.

"I would also like to thank both the Treasurer, Josh Frydenberg MP for his support and acknowledgment that all Australians should have ongoing access to banking services, and Mark Korda from Korda Mentha who has supported our discussions," Ms Holgate said.

"Importantly, this agreement will allow Australia Post to increase Bank@Post base transaction payments to our hardworking Post Office licensees by approximately 50 percent from January 1, 2019, as well as investing in infrastructure including technology and security upgrades, and local marketing. Additionally, we will increase the annual minimum payment to licensees by 25 percent.

"We continue to have positive and productive discussions with the other three major banks to seek their support for this service. I am very grateful for all the work their teams are doing as we work through these discussions together. Australia Post has proposed that they each commit to a Community Representation Fee of $22 million and revised transaction fees.

"If they also agree to a five-year commitment, this could deliver up to $500 million of additional investment over this period, the largest ever for Australia Post Offices, securing their future and helping protect the prosperity of all communities across Australia."

For more information on Bank@Post visit www.auspost.com.au/bankatpost

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