THE House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs will hold a public hearing on Friday, October 11, to further inform its inquiry into family violence orders (FVOs).

Chair of the Committee, Susan Templeman MP, said, “The committee will seek evidence from the Attorney-General’s Department and the Department of Social Services about current measures and opportunities to better protect and support victim-survivors of family violence as they navigate the family law system.

“The risk of aggressive and violent behaviours of perpetrators of family violence towards partners and children escalates during and after relationship breakdown, including during family court proceedings. Areas for improvement that have been identified by the Attorney-General’s Department include inconsistencies in FVO frameworks across jurisdictions and addressing cultural barriers and biases in the police and justice systems about family violence, including awareness and recognition of coercive control," Ms Templeman said.

“The hearing will also provide the opportunity for the committee to examine the unique features and limitations of the Western Australian family law system, including the capacity of the Family Court of Western Australia to make enforceable family violence orders,” Ms Templeman said.

Public hearings details

Date: Friday, 11 October 2024
Time: 12:50pm to 3:00pm AEDT
Location: Committee Room 1R2, Parliament House, Canberra and via videoconference

Appearing: Western Australian Government (12:50pm – 1:30pm); Attorney-General’s Department and the Department of Social Services (1:30pm – 3pm).

The hearing will be live streamed on the APH website: www.aph.gov.au/live.

Further details about the inquiry, including published submissions and transcripts of previous hearings, are available on the inquiry webpage at www.aph.gov.au/familyviolenceorders.

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THE Joint Standing Committee on Migration today released the Migration, Pathway to Nation Building report, signifying the end of an almost two-year long inquiry on Australia’s migration system by the committee.

Committee Chair, Maria Vamvakinou MP, said, "The committee has conducted a comprehensive inquiry that has looked at virtually every aspect of the migration system with a view to complement the government’s ongoing reform agenda to improve migration outcomes.

"Of central concern, the committee believes that migration policy must once again become a key lever for Australia’s nation building efforts, as it has been in the past," Ms Vamvakinou said.

The report makes 73 recommendations.

"Of priority," Ms Vamvakinou said, "the committee has recommended that a Department of Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs be re-established as a stand-alone department solely focused on delivering a migration system of world-class standard and ensuring that Australia remains a preferred destination for the world’s most talented migrants.

"The committee has also recommended that an independent national research institute for migration policy studies be established to provide migration policy a basis in impartial and scholarly evidence going forward. Such research capacity within government has been sorely missed in recent years and will provide migration policy a solid foundation as we move into the decades to come.

"To ensure that new arrivals are fully integrated into Australian society and are empowered to maximise their and their families’ contributions to the nation, the committee has recommended that settlement services be provided to all classes of migrant, irrespective of visa category, on the basis of need.

"As a matter of the utmost importance, the committee gave detailed consideration to the issues surrounding regional migration. Ensuring that our regional, rural and remote areas share in the benefits that migration affords is vital for the ongoing prosperity of those areas," Ms Vamvakinou said.

"While the committee has made 16 recommendations on improving the migration outcomes for Australia’s regions, it also concluded that a further dedicated inquiry on a specific regional migration priority topic was needed."

The report provides recommendations on a wide array of matters, including improving the visa application system; attracting and retaining skilled migration; better accounting for the skills and experience of secondary applicants; more effective recognition of migrants’ qualifications; improving outcomes for refugees and their families; and regional migration.

The read the full Migration, Pathway to Nation Building report, visit the committee’s website.

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THE Joint Standing Committee on Treaties (JSCOT) has tabled a report recommending the ratification of the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement).

The BBNJ Agreement is also referred to as the High Seas Treaty. It addresses gaps in marine biodiversity conservation in areas beyond national jurisdiction through a variety of mechanisms, including area-based management tools and environmental impact assessments. By enhancing coordination between its signatories and the sharing of benefits relating to marine genetic resources, the agreement reinforces a global effort to improve ocean health.

Committee Chair, Lisa Chesters MP, said, "This agreement will enhance domestic environmental action, improve scientific endeavours, strengthen international rules-based order and support Australia’s foreign policy objectives.

"Australia has been a long-time advocate for this agreement and has played an influential role in its negotiation. Being an early ratifier will ensure that Australia can continue to influence decisions relating to the agreement’s implementation and will subsequently enhance global environmental action.

"The good health of the ocean and its biodiversity provides Australia with cultural, social and economic benefits and is complementary to the government’s nature-positive agendas," Ms Chesters said.

The report can be found on the Committee website, along with further information on the inquiries.

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THE National Health Services Union has strongly endorsed an open letter from Aged Care Minister Anika Wells to residential aged care providers, which calls out the sector's lack of accountability.

National Secretary Lloyd Williams praised Minister Wells’ initiative: "This open letter is a crucial step towards addressing the longstanding issues in our aged care system. It's precisely why we've been advocating for a legislated 'workers voice' in the Aged Care Act – a provision that was regrettably removed at the insistence of the Liberal Party."

The Minister’s letter notes that from today, average care funding will be around 58 percent higher than it was in September 2022. A significant part of this increase has been to fund providers to increase their care minutes to an average of 215 minutes per resident per day.

Mr Williams highlighted key concerns raised by the Minister:

1. The disproportionately low compliance rates in metropolitan areas, despite greater workforce constraints in regional, rural, and remote locations.

2. The significantly lower compliance rates among for-profit aged care providers compared to their not-for-profit counterparts.

“Never forget, it was workers who blew the whistle on the appalling operating conditions in aged care that led to residents being fed jelly and frankfurts and having sanitary pads rationed,” Mr Williams said.

“Providers need accountability. We cannot allow profit motives to compromise the quality of care for our elderly citizens."

The Health Services Union is committed to working alongside the government and responsible providers  to improve conditions in the aged care sector.

"We stand ready to support any initiatives that enhance transparency, accountability, and most importantly, the quality of care for our seniors," Mr Williams said.

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