THE Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security will conduct two public hearings this week for its reviews of national security bills before the Parliament.
The first hearing will consider the Home Affairs and Integrity Agencies Legislation Amendment Bill 2017, which gives effect to the allocation of certain ministerial powers following establishment of the Home Affairs portfolio and includes measures to clarify the Attorney-General’s ongoing responsibilities.
THE House Standing Committee on Agriculture and Water Resources has begun an inquiry into regulatory reforms undertaken by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA).
The audit found that the implementation of a range of legislative reforms, designed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the APVMA’s regulatory activities, had been ‘mixed’: “While key legislative reforms were implemented by the legislated timeframe of July 2014, the full scope of the reform program is yet to be implemented more than four years since the legislative amendments were developed”.
Committee Chair Rick Wilson MP said that the Committee will focus its inquiry on the APVMA’s progress since the audit took place.
“The ANAO made four recommendations in June last year,” Mr Wilson said, “and given the importance of these reforms to Australia’s agricultural sector, it is vital that the APVMA acts quickly on those recommendations.”
The Committee will be accepting submissions to the inquiry until 28 February 2018 and will hold public hearings to receive evidence.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., www.aph.gov.au/agriculture
Interested members of the public may wish to track the committee via the website.
THE Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security has extended its public consultation period for its review of two important bills targeting espionage and foreign interference:
the National Security Legislation Amendment (Espionage and Foreign Interference) Bill 2017, which amends existing criminal laws for secrecy and espionage offences, and introduces new foreign interference and sabotage offences, and
the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Bill 2017, which establishes a scheme that requires registration by persons who undertake certain activities within Australia on behalf of foreign interests.
The Chair of the Committee, Andrew Hastie MP, said, “The Committee’s public hearings held this past week have demonstrated the necessity of the two Bills, however, a short extension has been granted to give members of the public the continuing opportunity to comment on the proposals.
“The Committee has elected to extend the period for public consultation on the two Bills and will reschedule its reporting date to facilitate this. The Committee seeks additional submissions by Thursday 15 February 2018”.
To facilitate extended consultation, the Committee will now report on both bills by 23 March 2018.
Interested members of the public may wish to track the committee via the website.
AN INCREASE to the minimum wage as suggested by Labor yesterday would be a devastating blow to small business operators across Australia, said the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman today.
“Let’s be quite clear that this proposal is a war on small business, not big business,” Ombudsman KateCarnell said.
“The greatest impact would be on businesses that use awards, and that is small to medium businesses, which make up more than 97 percent of businesses in Australia.
“Nearly half of our small business owners already earn less than the minimum wage and for these people, an increase in awards will mean job losses, limited employment opportunities and businesses closing.”
Ms Carnell said the consequences of hiking the minimum wage need to be thoroughly investigated; particularly the impact it will have on small businesses.
“A reality check on this issue is certainly required.
“The sentiment coming through this morning from small business is that they are already doing it tough.
“They are saying they would like to pay themselves and their employees more, but are literally struggling to pay their ever increasing business bills.
“When 97 percent of Australian businesses cannot afford to employ more people, the spark of confidence and potential for economic growth we are seeing will be extinguished.”
THE FEDERAL Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters is holding three days of public hearings focussing on political donations and Section 44 of the Constitution.
Committee Chair Senator Linda Reynolds said the Committee would be hearing from subject matter experts in relation to these matters referred to the Committee for review.
The public hearings relate to three of the Committee’s inquiries:
Inquiry into the 2016 federal election (review of political donations);
Inquiry into matters relating to Section 44 of the Constitution; and
Inquiry into the Electoral Legislation Amendment (Electoral Funding and Disclosure Reform) Bill 2017.
Public hearing programs are available on the respective websites for each inquiry via https://www.aph.gov.au/em/.
Public hearing details:
Canberra Wednesday 31 January, from 9:30am to 4:40pm in room 2S3
Melbourne Thursday 1 February, from 9:00am to 4:30pm in room G6, 55 St Andrews Place
Sydney Friday 2 February, from 8:40am to 1:10pm in the Jubilee Room, Parliament of NSW
A live broadcast will be available at aph.gov.au/live.
Interested members of the public may wish to track the committee via the website.
Debtset – Bailiff-Sheriff Aust MEMBER Login
How to resolve AdBlock issue?