THE Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters will hold its first public hearing on matters relating to Section 44 of Australia’s Constitution tomorrow.

Committee Chair Senator Linda Reynolds said the hearing will provide the Committee with the opportunity to consider the complexities surrounding Section 44 of the Constitution and the types of possible action that can lead to greater stability in our Parliamentary system.

“Australians need to be assured all members of parliament are constitutionally eligible to serve and they must also have confidence in the processes leading to parliamentarians’ election,” Senator Reynolds said.

The Terms of Reference are available on the Committee’s website.

Submissions are now open and will close on 9 February 2018.  

The Committee will hear evidence from the Australian Electoral Commission, the Attorney General’s Department, and professors Anne Twomey, Graeme Orr and George Williams AO.

Public hearing details: 9.00 a.m., Friday, 8 December 2017, Committee Room 2R1, Parliament House, Canberra

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

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THE Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit has tabled its report on the Commonwealth Performance Framework.

Committee Chair Senator Dean Smith said that improving the Commonwealth performance framework, to improve line of sight between the use of public resources and the outcomes achieved by Commonwealth entities, has been a long-term focus of the Committee.

“To build on momentum in the implementation of the Commonwealth performance framework, the Committee has recommended that the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 be amended to enable mandatory annual audits of performance statements by the Auditor-General, with Commonwealth entities to be consulted on the implementation timeframe,” Senator Smith said.

“The Parliament and the Australian public would then receive the same assurance on non-financial performance reporting as on financial reporting, where an independent audit is mandatory.”

The Committee has also recommended that:

• the Australian National Audit Office considers conducting an audit of one complete Commonwealth performance reporting cycle;
• the Australian Government amends the PGPA Rule and guidance to clarify the functions and charter of Commonwealth entity audit committees to reflect their role in assurance of the appropriateness of performance reporting;
• the four audited Commonwealth entities from Audit Report No. 54 on 2016-17 Corporate Planning report back on how their senior management teams are working to further embed the corporate planning requirements in future cycles;
• the Department of Finance undertakes a more comprehensive monitoring and evaluation program for the ongoing implementation of the Commonwealth performance framework;
• the Australian Public Service Commission conducts a review on whether non-financial performance reporting and evaluation requires strengthening as a training and research discipline in consultation with other relevant agencies, and Finance reports back on progress in developing capacity training in this area; and
• Finance reports back on Commonwealth entity progress in implementing a more mature approach to risk management and ‘joined up’ government.

The Commonwealth performance framework, established under the PGPA Act, requires Commonwealth agencies to produce corporate plans, Portfolio Budget Statements and annual reports, including annual performance statements.

The Committee’s inquiry was based on the following Audit Reports:

• No. 58 (2016-17), Implementation of the Annual Performance Statements Requirements
• No. 6 (2016-17), Corporate Planning in the Australian Public Sector
• No. 31 (2015-16), Administration of Higher Education Loan Program Debt and Repayments

Interested members of the public may wish to track the committee via the website. 

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WITH more online shopfronts opening in Australia all the time, the House of Representatives Industry, Innovation, Science and Resources Committee will today begin collecting evidence for its inquiry into the impacts on local Australian businesses from global internet-based competition.

The Committee will hear from representatives from the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science at a public hearing in Canberra.

The Inquiry examines how Australian businesses, particularly in the retail and small business sectors, have responded to growing competition from global online companies and what effect this change has already had and will continue to have. The Committee is still accepting submissions addressing the terms of reference and will hold further hearings early in 2018.

Committee Chair Michelle Landry MP said that the Committee is looking forward to hearing from the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science to start the inquiry.

“As business increasingly moves online, especially in the retail field, it is important that Australia has the right policy settings so that local businesses can continue to compete,” Ms Landry said.

Ms Landry also noted that the inquiry follows on from the Committee’s recent inquiry into the social issues relating to automated vehicles.

“Technology is changing the way we do things, from buying groceries to driving to work. But these changes do not happen in a vacuum, which is why it’s important that the Committee consider some of the consequences and ensures that the parliament and the government can respond to them.”

Public hearing details: 10.45am – 11.30am, Wednesday 6 December, Committee Room 1R1, Parliament House, Canberra

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

Interested members of the public may wish to track the committee via the website. 

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THE Australian Retailers Association (ARA) said the October trade figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) represent a cold start for Christmas trade, with a 1.82 percent total year-on-year growth.

ARA Executive Director, Russell Zimmerman said, these figures were extremely disheartening this close to the biggest trading period of the year, and urges the Government to alleviate some of the significant cost pressures affecting small and large retailers today.

“With Christmas just around the corner, these trade figures illustrate just how hard it is for small businesses to compete with rising costs, coupled with the increase in global competition and the 24-hour market place,” Mr Zimmerman said.

“As household prices begin to ease off, these October figures have been mostly affected by the significant drop in Household Goods, with this retail category receiving a -1.95 percent in year-on-year growth.”

Other retail categories showing a considerable drop in year-on-year growth include Hardware & Building (-4.92%), Newspapers & Books (-4.08%) and Other Recreational Goods (-2.43%).

The ARA believe Amazon’s entrance into Australia today presents a fantastic opportunity for retailers to increase their sales through their online platform.

“With over 300 million users already on the Amazon Marketplace, retailers will be able to optimise their sales and reach consumers all around the world,” Mr Zimmerman said.

“Clothing Footwear & Personal Accessories (1.61%) had a moderate year-on-year increase due to spring racing, however this growth is still lagging compared to the start of the year.”

Department Stores (2.78%) have begun to recover their year-on-year growth since July, after re-focussing their product and service offerings to compete with the impending launch of Amazon, and other global giants entering the Australian retail market.

“Cafes Restaurants & Takeaway Food (3.09%) and Food Retailing (2.95%) have seen the biggest growth year-on-year of the retail categories due to the change in season and warmer weather,” Mr Zimmerman said.

South Australia (4.09%), Victoria (3.36%), Tasmania (2.68%) and New South Wales (2.43%) showed the strongest year-on-year growth of all the states. While both the Australian Capital Territory (1.31%) and the Northern Territory (0.11%) remained quite low. Unfortunately, we saw Queensland (-0.17%) and Western Australia (-0.98%) receive negative figures, a scary sign for Christmas.

“With the Labor Party threatening small business, retailers will continue to struggle to open their doors on weekends, employing more staff and meeting targets,” Mr Zimmerman said.

“Consumers enjoy shopping on the weekend, and retailers across the country look forward to the Penalty Rates Decision continuing to alleviate cost pressures, enabling local retailers to open their stores for longer, and meet consumer demand.”

To view the ARA and Roy Morgan’s Annual Pre-Christmas Sales Predictions for 2017 click here.

MONTHLY RETAIL GROWTH (September 2017– October 2017 seasonally adjusted) 

Cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (1.68%), Clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (0.97%), Department stores (0.50%), Food retailing (0.32%), Other retailing (0.27%) and Household goods retailing (0.09%).

Northern Territory (1.68%), South Australia (1.20%), Victoria (0.99%), Australian Capital Territory (0.59%), Tasmania (0.54%), Western Australia (0.46%), New South Wales (0.26%) and Queensland (0.13%).

Total sales (0.53%).

YEAR-ON-YEAR RETAIL GROWTH (September 2016 – September 2017 seasonally adjusted)

Cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (3.09%), Food retailing (2.95%), Department stores (2.78%), Other retailing (1.81%), Clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (1.61%) and Household goods retailing (-1.95%). 

South Australia (4.09%), Victoria (3.36%), Tasmania (2.68%), New South Wales (2.43%), Australian Capital Territory (1.31%), Northern Territory (0.11%), Queensland (-0.17%) and Western Australia (-0.98%).

Total sales (1.82%).

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For interview opportunities with ARA Executive Director Russell Zimmerman call the ARA Media Line on 0439 612 556 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

About the Australian Retailers Association:

Founded in 1903, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) is the retail industry’s peak representative body representing Australia’s $310 billion sector, which employs more than 1.2 million people. The ARA works to ensure retail success by informing, protecting, advocating, educating and saving money for its 7,500 independent and national retail members throughout Australia. For more information, visit www.retail.org.au or call 1300 368 041.