THE Australian Parliament’s Northern Australia Committee has tabled the report of its inquiry: The engagement of traditional owners in the economic development of northern Australia.

The report found that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples were keen to participate in the economic development of northern Australia, both for their own communities and for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Committee Chair Warren Entsch MP said, "The challenge for traditional owners is to leverage the rights provided by native title and land rights for the economic and social advancement of their communities.

The bodies representing traditional owners have a very large burden of responsibilities and expectations placed upon them, but government funding and capacity-building support for them is insufficient. Secure, long-term funding is essential," Mr Entsch said.

"There are important new opportunities for traditional owners in emerging sectors of the economy. These include environmental protection initiatives such as savanna burning, land management, carbon abatement and renewable energy.

Opportunities like these have the special strengths of using traditional knowledge of country. They also support efforts to stay connected with country and to fulfill traditional obligations of custodianship."

Further information, including a copy of the report, can be obtained from the Inquiry website.

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THE Indigenous Affairs Committee inquiry into fostering better engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander consumers will hear from the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA) at a public hearing this Thursday.

Committee Chair Julian Leeser MP said, "NAAJA had expertise on many of the issues currently faced by Indigenous consumers and the gaps that continue to exist in the corporate sector’s understanding of meaningful Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander engagement.

"The committee looks forward to NAAJA’s insights and to having a productive discussion," Mr Leeser said.

Public hearing details

Date: Thursday, 10 February 2022 (AEDT)
11.35am    North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency

A live audio stream of the hearing will be accessible at https://www.aph.gov.au/Watch_Read_Listen.

For more information about this inquiry, including its terms of reference, details of upcoming public hearings, and instructions on making a submission, please visit the Inquiry webpage. 

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THE House Economics Committee will be holding a public hearing via videoconference on February 10, focusing on the impact of recent amendments made to the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993.

This public hearing is part of the committee’s ongoing Review of the Four Major Banks and other Financial Institutions, with the committee to hear from Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA), Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), Treasury, and Professor Scott Donald.

Committee Chair Jason Falinski MP said, Amendments to Section 56 of the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1996 were made as part of the government’s response to the Hayne Royal Commission to protect the funds of members by preventing trustees from using these funds to pay for fines incurred by their own actions. However, there have been wide reports of superannuation funds seeking judicial opinions to contravene this provision.

"The committee deserves an explanation from APRA, ASIC and Treasury as to how they are interpreting these new provisions, and what actions they will take to ensure that the decisions made by Parliament are not easily and carelessly overturned. The committee would like to know how superannuation trustees could fund their penalties, and ways to do so that do not put member’s funds at risk or increase their fees."

The committee will also hear from UNSW Associate Professor Scott Donald, who specialises in governance within the superannuation sector.

Mr Falinski said, "Throughout this inquiry, the committee has remained concerned about consumers’ best financial interests. While the regulators will be an important focus of the committee at this hearing, we also look forward to hearing from Professor Donald and his perspective on recent events."

For more information about the hearings, or to read transcripts from previous hearings, visit the committee’s website.

Public hearing details

Date: Thursday 10 February 2022
Time: 9.15am to 11.30am
Witnesses: Professor Scott Donald, APRA, ASIC and Treasury

The hearing will be webcast at aph.gov.au/live.\

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THE Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) has endorsed the use of the Telecommunications Sector Security Reforms (TSSR), making six recommendations to improve its continued operation and address industry concerns. 

The TSSR reforms were enacted in September 2018 to help manage the national security risks of espionage, sabotage and foreign interference in Australia’s telecommunications networks and facilities.

The committee commenced a review in late 2020 to ensure the operation, effectiveness and implications of the reforms were being achieved in line with the original intention of the government and the PJCIS when legislated in 2018.

The committee today presented its recommendations which address industry concerns on the operation of the existing framework, as well as to complement the continued evolution of the government’s cybersecurity and critical infrastructure reform agenda.

The six recommendations cover:

• ensuring that reforms and regulation are informed by the latest global network trends and threats;
• ensuring that the aim of increased security and cyber-resilience is a central object of the Telecommunications Act 1997; and
• increasing government and industry collaboration and information sharing in a collaborative working environment to ensure that threat-sharing is efficient, and that any further reforms are co-designed between industry and government to avoid regulatory duplication.

Chair of the committee, Senator James Paterson said the lives and livelihoods of Australians depended on safe and secure telecommunication networks and facilities.

"When our economy and way of life is so heavily reliant on telecommunication networks, this is an area of vulnerability that can be exploited by both state and non-state actors who may seek to cause us harm," Senator Paterson said.

"That’s why we need appropriate safeguards that empower both service providers and the government to protect our networks from national security risks.

"The Committee’s recommendations aim to refine the current operation of the reforms to help secure the telecommunications sector, to protect our economy and national security," Senator Paterson said.

Further information on the inquiry as well as a copy of the report can be obtained from the inquiry website.

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