THE Joint Standing Committee on Treaties has today announced a number of public hearings on the Trans Pacific Partnership and the Paris Agreement on climate change.

The newly elected Committee Chair, Stuart Robert MP, announced the dates for the public hearings, and emphasised the importance of the two agreements for Australia.

“The Committee is using the evidence gathered by the Committee in the last Parliament, as well as these additional public hearings, to undertake a thorough and timely inquiry,” Mr Robert said.

Mr Robert said people interested in the Committee’s inquiries should visit the Treaties Committee’s website for further information.

Public hearings on the TPP:

26 September 2016         9.30 am      Commonwealth Parliamentary Offices, 1 Bligh St, Sydney
5 October 2016               9.30 am      Parliament House, Perth
7 October 2016               1.00 pm      Parliament House, Melbourne
17 October 2016             9.00 am       Parliament House, Canberra

Public hearings on the Paris Agreement:

27 September 2016         9.30 am        Commonwealth Parliamentary Offices, Bligh St, Sydney
28 September 2016         9.00 am        Parliament House, Canberra
6 October 2016              1.00 pm        Parliament House, Melbourne

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CONSTRUCTION Skills Queensland (CSQ) and the Queensland Major Contractors Association (QMCA) have released their 2016 Major Projects Report update which shows a better than expected outlook for the state’s construction industry over the next two years.

The new report, which provides an update on the CSQ/QMCA Major Project Report released in February, shows an improved forecast for 2016/17 and a significant increase for 2017/2018. It is expected the level of activity in 2017/2018 will not only exceed previous forecasts but also be 50% higher than 2016/2017.

According to the report, the rise in activity will be driven by accelerated or new projects such as the Ipswich Motorway Stage 1 and the North Coast Freight Rail Capacity. Higher forecasts for telecommunications (NBN) and electricity forecasts for telecommunications (NBN) and electricity (renewables) works.

CSQ CEO Brett Schimming said it was pleasing to see the industry returning to modest growth.

“During the last five years we have seen engineering construction activity returning to normal levels after reaching a historic high during the resources boom. This trend is expected to continue for the remainder of this year,” he said.

“However in 2017/2018 the industry will begin a slow recovery, with the value of engineering construction work set to rise.

“The recovery has come sooner than expected with progress being made on the Amrun and Dugald River projects.”

With many large projects on the horizon, Mr Schimming said it was vital for the industry to retain a skilled pool of workers.

“Civil construction occupations will continue to be important to help build and maintain infrastructure assets including railways, ports and harbours, roads, pipelines, energy and telecommunications,” he said.

“It is vital these skills are retained by the industry to meet the next cycle of construction work that will be shaped by private and public infrastructure along with resource investment decisions,” he said.

“CSQ is working closely with industry and government to ensure that these sectors have the right skills, in the right place and at the right time.

“A flexible and innovative construction workforce is more vital than ever to meet the skills demands of the future.”

The report highlights public investment as a key growth driver for major projects in the coming years.

“Historically low construction and capital costs represent an opportunity for State and Federal Governments to embrace productivity-enhancing public infrastructure investment,” he said.

“Commodity prices may fluctuate in the future which could place some major resource projects in jeopardy so it is important that we remain committed to infrastructure spending to help mitigate these risks. “

www.csq.org.au.

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THE Prime Minister of Australia, Malcolm Turnbull, is encouraging all Australians to take part in Diabetes Australia Walk to Work Day on October 7, as outlined in a letter of support received this week.

The Prime Minister noted that as diabetes is one of the most serious health challenges facing our country, there are “no more excuses” in taking steps to improve our health and reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, or to help manage the condition.

Diabetes Australia CEO, A/Professor Greg Johnson said there was extensive evidence highlighting the effectiveness of physical activity in reducing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

“Researchers have found that people with largely sedentary lifestyles are 30-50 percent more likely to develop type 2 diabetes compared with people who are moderately physically active every day,” he said.

“A daily dose of physical activity, such as walking to work, is a good way to reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.”

Walking regularly is the simplest and most practical way of increasing your daily exercise, and starting on the path to a healthier lifestyle.

A small change can make an enormous impact — just by getting off the bus, train, or tram a few stops earlier, or walking to your first appointment of the day instead of taking a taxi, you can make a real difference.

The Prime Minister paid tribute to Diabetes Australia for promoting ways of prevention, and encouraged all Australians to take part in Walk to Work Day and to make it just the first step in a lifelong journey to better wellbeing.

www.walk.com.au

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THE Council of Small Business of Australia (COSBOA) today expressed comprehensive support for the findings of the inquiry by the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO), Kate Carnell, which examined the effect on Australian small businesses of the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal’s Contractor Driver Minimum Payments Road Safety Remuneration Order 2016 - commonly referred to as the RSRT.

CEO of COSBOA, Peter Strong, says the Association and its members are also concerned that a tribunal of well-paid commissioners, such as the RSRT, could get things so wrong.

“A legal system that is funded by government and aims to improve safety on our roads must not fail. Yet this tribunal has helped destroy small transport businesses run by honest professionals and has created a toxic environment with dire mental health outcomes for self-employed individuals and families. There has been no improvement in road safety, and in fact, it may be argued the opposite has occurred,” says Mr Strong.

COSBOA notes a process called ‘vicarious liability’, where an employer can be held criminally responsible for an unsafe workplace – which includes where mental health is negatively affected.

The RSRT tribunal has failed the vicarious liability test, but is protected from any repercussions. COSBOA calls on the Australian Human Rights Commission to use its powers to investigate the behaviour of tribunal commissioners and the parties involved in the process because tribunals cannot be above the law.

Mr Strong continues, “There are individuals and families suffering the consequences of poor behaviour and carelessness from lack of due diligence. The process that was the RSRT must never be revisited. If nothing else, the RSRT showed that road safety will improve with industry involvement, not by regulating payments.

“This inquiry also shows the worth of the ASBFEO, without whom this failed process would be hidden from the public eye. This failure of legislation and regulation should be front page news,” concludes Mr Strong.

For the full report into RSRT by ASBFEO, please click here.

COSBOA is concerned to note that New South Wales is now considering a similar approach to the RSRT. Click here to read more.  

To view an article by Peter Strong on the issue, click here, COSBOA has written about RSRT before – see here for more.

Visit www.cosboa.org.au.

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