THE Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) has commenced a review of the listing of Hizballah and The Base as terrorist organisations under the Criminal Code Act 1995 (the Criminal Code).

Hizballah is a Lebanese organisation with political, social and military components. The Australian Government had listed Hizballah’s External Security Organisation (ESO), an entity within Hizballah responsible for various terrorist activities, as a terrorist organisation since 2003 but has recently decided to list the whole organisation of Hizballah as a terrorist organisation, following a unanimous bipartisan recommendation of the PJCIS in June.

Founded in the United States, The Base is a nationalist and racist violent extremist movement founded in 2018. Its members believe in an accelerationist ideology of preparing for a ‘race war’ and inevitable social collapse which can be expedited through terrorist attacks. This group has been proscribed as a terrorist organisation by the governments of the United Kingdom and Canada.

Under section 102.1A of the Criminal Code, the committee may review listings of terrorist organisations and report its findings to each house of the Parliament within the 15 sitting day disallowance period. 

Members of the public are welcome to make submissions to this review. Submissions should be provided no later than 5pm Tuesday, February 1, 2022.

Further information on the inquiry can be obtained from the Committee’s website.

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SAFETY CONCERNS, poor access to food and limited accommodation for fly-in-fly-out (FIFO) miners are the sad reality behind the Carmichael mine’s rush to produce the first coal for export according to the Mining and Energy Union.

Workers on the ground have reported the first exported coal had come at the expense of food for famished shift workers, proper sleeping facilities for those flying off rotation and serious safety issues involving equipment damage and injured workers.

Members at Carmichael are concerned the operator is trying to avoid bargaining even though 70 percent of the workforce have voted to demand discussions and tabled it with the Fair Work Commission (FWC).

“It’s been a long time since someone told me access to food on a project was a problem, but that’s what I’m hearing from the Carmichael mine,” Mining and Energy Union Queensland District vice-president Shane Brunker said.

“When the mine operator and its principal contractor, MacKeller, is underreporting injuries and equipment damage alarm bells start ringing for me.

“The first thing for a mine operator to get right is the health and safety of their workforce, not headline grabbing production targets,” he said.

“The workers are 100 percent behind the Carmichael project but we are not seeing the same commitment to our members which frankly we would have expected.

“Issues include no consultation with workers on changes to rosters or health and safety matters, refused information on how their salaries are developed and no consultation on the working of Christmas or Boxing days as required in the Black Coal Industry Award.

“If you match the individual contracts against the Black Coal Award you will see serious deficiencies and members want that fixed up as a priority.

“What we’re seeing is all Bollywood-style show business and no fair dinkum commitment to the workers," Mr Brunker said.

“Our union has always said we support the Carmichael project but our priority would be to organise the workforce and make sure they are getting fair deal that meets the standards in the Queensland coal industry.

“Now the mine is up and running, Bravus and its principal contractor need to meet with their workforce and nut out an ongoing arrangement which will ensure they export form Queensland for many years to come,” Mr Brunker said.

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AUSTRALIA's regional news services will be the focus of a new Parliamentary inquiry. The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Communications and the Arts will hear evidence on newspaper services in rural, regional and remote areas.

Committee Chair, Anne Webster MP, said, "Local news is a vital component to an interconnected community, and a thriving democracy, particularly in smaller markets, having a choice in where to access your news coverage is not always possible."

A recent survey found that Australians living in regional communities were far more likely to go to their local news or newspaper website for information than other accessible online sources like search engines, social media sites or local council websites.

Dr Webster said, "At a time when many regional and remote newspaper services are shutting down or moving online, it is vital that we understand the needs of regional communities, and how heavily they rely on their local newspapers to stay connected."

As part of the inquiry the committee will examine the impact of decisions by large publishers to suspend publication of print editions; entry into these or other markets by new operators, particularly small businesses; impact of the News Media Bargaining Code for regional and remote newspapers; and the economic recovery in regional and remote markets from the impacts of COVID, and whether this has led to advertising revenue improving.

The terms of reference are available from the inquiry webpage. Submissions can also be made through the webpage, or by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. until January 28, 2022.

Information is on the committee’s webpage.

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THE Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson is encouraging small and family businesses to welcome applications from all ages when hiring staff this busy festive season.

With many small and family businesses struggling amid nation-wide staff shortages, Mr Billson says mature age employees could help ease the workload.

“Small and family businesses are eager to make the most of the festive season and Summer months of trade, but finding staff is now their biggest issue,” Mr Billson said.

“Vacancies are at an all-time-high in the hospitality industry with more than 100,000 positions open across the country, particularly in tourism hotspots.

“That’s why I am encouraging small and family businesses to be age-inclusive when they advertise for people and really consider the many benefits that a mature worker can bring to the business," he said.

“Age diversity is good for business. Older workers can elevate an entire workplace, with their knowledge, experience and transferrable skills forged over many years.

“I am delighted to see this happening already in places like Cobargo Hotel on NSW’s south coast, which is hiring mature-aged workers and seeing the benefits first-hand.

“Small businesses looking for staff should ensure their advertising is welcoming of all ages and that they are looking for a positive attitude and willingness to learn the skills that can be taught on the job," Mr Billson said.

“Offer flexible working arrangements if possible to give workers at various life stages a chance to manage their work-life balance.

“This labour force shortage is a one-in-100-year problem for a range of industries and we know Australian small and family businesses are ready to lead the nation’s economic recovery.

“Above all we want small and family businesses to survive and thrive into the new year and that may mean casting the net a little bit wider to ensure you have a great team going forward.”

www.asbfeo.gov.au

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