THE Joint Standing Committee on Treaties will hold a public hearing today for its inquiry into the Convention between Australia and the Portuguese Republic for the Elimination of Double Taxation with respect to Taxes on Income and the Prevention of Tax Evasion and Avoidance.

The convention adds to Australia’s existing tax treaty network and is the first of its kind to be agreed to by Australia and Portugal. The convention promotes closer economic cooperation between the two countries through the reduction of taxation barriers, for example the double taxation of income derived by the residents of either country.

The convention also improves the tax system through providing a framework for cooperation on tax administration which prevents tax avoidance and evasion. 

Committee Chair, Lisa Chesters MP, said, "The committee will investigate if this agreement strengthens the relationship between Australia and Portugal and contributes towards stronger ties, particularly in commercial trade and investment.

"The committee will explore if the convention encourages increased cross-border trade and investment through the reduction in tax barriers that hinder investment. The committee will also examine if the Convention will provide tax certainty for Australian businesses that are looking to expand their operations into Portugal," Ms Chesters said.

The committee will hear evidence from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Australian Taxation Office, and the Department of the Treasury at the public hearing.

Public hearing details

Date: Monday 10 February 2025
Time: 11.30am-1pm (approximately)
Location: Committee Room 2R1, Parliament House, Canberra

More information about the Committee and its inquiry can be found on the Committee’s website.

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

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RECOMMENDATIONS for strengthened and standardised civics education for Australian students have been made by the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters in its report, From Classroom to Community: Civics education and political participation in Australia.

Committee Chair, Senator Carol Brown said, "Australia’s system of compulsory voting means that all Australians need to be informed to participate in our democracy and elections. This is particularly important at a time where democracies around the world, including Australia, are facing rising disengagement, distrust, and misinformation and disinformation in a complex online information environment.

"The committee heard clear evidence that the quality of formal civics education varies considerably between the states and territories, and even individual schools – which means that many young people are not getting the information they need to be informed and responsible citizens. It is clear that Australia needs a strengthened and standardised approach to civics and citizenship education."

The report makes 23 recommendations, informed by the people most affected by the topics considered. Key recommendations include:

• nationally aligned and mandated civics and citizenship content in the Australian Curriculum and better support for teachers through high-quality professional development;
• resourcing to allow more students to visit Canberra or access digital learning experiences;
• strengthening access to civics education for adults, including working with trusted grassroots community organisations and community leaders to provide culturally appropriate voter education opportunities and materials;
• creating meaningful opportunities for diverse young people to have their say on formal policies and processes;
• prioritising media and digital literacy in the Australian Curriculum and working with community organisations to deliver media and digital literacy training for vulnerable populations;
• resourcing for factual, translated resources to counteract disinformation;
• advancing research on media consumption patterns and recommender systems on social media.

Further information about the inquiry, including submissions and public hearing transcripts, is available on the inquiry webpage.

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THE Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) has presented its annual review of the administration and expenditure of six Australian intelligence agencies for the 2022-23 financial year.

The review found that amidst a changing strategic environment, Australia’s intelligence agencies continue to work effectively and responsibly to protect Australia’s national security.

"The committee is satisfied that the agencies are administering outcomes and outputs effectively, and managing expenditure appropriately to achieve value-for-money outcomes for the Australian taxpayer," Committee Chair, Senator Raff Ciccone said.

The committee reported on a number of focus areas in its 2022-23 review including artificial intelligence and machine learning, staff recruitment and support, and the use of external contractors.

Senator Ciccone said, "The agencies provided detailed and useful information in relation to artificial intelligence and machine learning, reassuring the committee that they are carefully thinking about and planning for the appropriate use of these complex technological tools."

"The committee is pleased with the level of use of contractors by the intelligence agencies and encourages agencies to continue their endeavours and their transparency in this regard. The committee supported efforts by some agencies to review and rationalise their use of external consultants."

The committee’s review covers the administration and expenditure in the 2022-23 financial year of six of the 10 agencies that form Australia’s National Intelligence Community: the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS), the Australian Geospatial-Intelligence Organisation (AGO), the Defence Intelligence Organisation (DIO), the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) and the Office of National Intelligence (ONI).

The committee’s report can be found on its webpage here: Review of Administration and Expenditure No. 22 (2022–23) – Australian Intelligence Agencies – Parliament of Australia.

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THE Joint Standing Committee on Treaties will hold a public hearing today for its inquiries into the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between Australia and the United Arab Emirates and the Agreement between the United Arab Emirates and Australia on the Promotion and Protection of Investments.

The proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) would be Australia’s first trade agreement with the Middle East and would eliminate tariffs on over 99 per cent of Australian goods exports to the UAE.

Committee Chair, Lisa Chesters MP, said, "The committee will examine the impact of the CEPA on Australian industry, trade and economy.

"The committee will also explore the inclusion of a chapter that highlights First Nations trade and investment – the first of this kind in any of Australia’s free trade agreements. This chapter, along with chapters including commitments on labour standards, women’s economic empowerment and environmental protection, ensure that this agreement results in inclusive and sustainable trade.

"The committee will hear from a range of stakeholders, including witnesses from the agriculture industry, business advocates, unions and civil society, as well as a government panel."

The full program and further information on the inquiries can be found on the committee’s website.

Public hearing details

Date: Thursday 30 January 2025
Time: 12.30pm to 3.30pm
Location: Committee Room 2R1, Parliament House, Canberra

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THE Speaker of the House of Representatives, Milton Dick MP received letters of resignation from  Keith Pitt as the Federal Member for Hinkler and Bill Shorten as the Federal Member for Maribyrnong -- by no by-elections are to be conducted.

With a general election pending, the Speaker has decided that writs will not be issued, and by-elections will not be held for the federal divisions of Hinkler and Maribyrnong.

The Speaker said this would avoid the necessity for the electors of Hinkler and Maribyrnong to participate in two elections within a short period of time.

The electors of Hinkler and Maribyrnong will be given the opportunity to fill the vacancies at the general election, Mr Dick said.

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LEGISLATION to mitigate threats to maritime and aviation security will be examined by the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) as it starts a review today of the Transport Security Amendment (Security of Australia’s Transport Sector) Bill 2024.

The Bill seeks amendments to the Aviation Transport Security Act 2004 (ATSA) and the Maritime Transport and Offshore Facilities Security Act 2003 (MTOFSA).

Committee Chair, Senator Raff Ciccone, said these laws were introduced when terrorism was the biggest danger to Australia's transport critical infrastructure, "but it’s time to also consider managing other threats".

"The COVID-19 pandemic exposed vulnerabilities with supply chains," Senator Ciccione said. "Malicious cyber activity can bring airports to a halt.

"This inquiry is an important opportunity to make sure any changes to ATSA and MTOFSA help government and industry keep our seas and skies safe, secure, and resilient," Senator Ciccone said.

"The committee looks forward to hearing from a range of stakeholders to better understand the implications of the Bill’s proposed amendments, before reporting to Parliament with our views and recommendations on this important legislation."

Submissions to the inquiry are invited by February 13, 2025.

For further information or to make a submission, visit aph.gov.au/pjcis

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THE Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) is urging the Federal Government to take stronger action "to support people on low incomes and address the hardship facing communities across the country", warning the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) offers a dismal outlook for those struggling the most. 

“People are scared. They’re anxious about losing their jobs, losing their homes, and whether they’ll be able to keep their homes cool and stay safe as we face worsening heatwaves,” ACOSS acting CEO Edwina MacDonald said.

“Too many people without paid work already face impossible choices between food, rent, and buying essential medicine.

“We welcome the further investment in vital care and community services such as NDIS, early childhood education and care, tackling gender-based violence, social housing energy upgrades, First Nations clean energy, as well as local jobs programs. 

“As we look ahead to a possible March budget and the next federal election, we need a Federal Government that will take bold action to tackle the serious problems the community faces.

“The government talks about ‘unavoidable spending’ as a negative while the Opposition calls for spending cuts. The reality is public investment in essential services is the only thing keeping jobs and incomes growing right now. It would be irresponsible to slash public spending and leave people to fend for themselves, including waiting months for their income support claim to come through," Ms MacDonald said.

“The latest Tax Expenditures Statement shows how the next government can properly fund essential services and income supports: by closing tax shelters that favour people with the highest incomes and companies avoiding tax. 

“This year the government is foregoing $30 billion in tax from the highest 10 percent of taxpayers from just three tax breaks - $19 billion from their share of the Capital Gains Tax discount, $10 billion from tax breaks for super fund income, and $1 billion from negative gearing. 

“This MYEFO reflects a hesitant approach to budgeting that does not match the scale of the challenges we face. We need our political leaders to have a clear, bold and credible plan to ensure people have the support and opportunities they need and aren’t being pushed to the brink," she said.

“With long-term unemployment rising, we need to ensure we have the support in place to help those worst affected by the current economic conditions.

“We need to fix our employment services system so that it supports people to build their skills and connect them with the right job, and we must urgently raise the rate of JobSeeker, Youth Allowance and related payments to be in line with the Age Pension at $82 a day.

“We also need a substantial investment in social housing to meet needs and stop more people being pushed into homelessness.”

ACOSS has urged the Federal Government to:

• Increase income support payments, such as JobSeeker, Youth Allowance and Parenting Payment, to at least $82 a day.

• Fix the employment services system so that it supports people to build their skills and connects them with the right job.

• Increase revenue to fund essential services to ensure they are available for all people and meet soaring demand.

• Make housing more affordable by reducing the tax breaks for housing investors that drive up house prices and rents and increasing the supply of social housing.

• Build on their critical investment into home energy upgrades for social housing to upgrade all social housing, and ensure people in private rentals and low-income homeowners can benefit from home energy upgrades to reduce energy bills and improve health outcomes.

www.acoss.org.au

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THE Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit has published its report into the 2022-23 Major Projects Report.

Committee Chair, Linda Burney MP said, "Now in its 16th year, the Major Projects Report (MPR) continues to be an important tool for Defence accountability and transparency. In 2022-23, the 20 projects contained in the MPR constitute around 31 percent ($58.6 billion) of Defence’s total acquisition budget."

The committee examined a wide range of issues this year, including the reasons for the Auditor-General’s qualified conclusion and emphasis of matter.

The committee made four recommendations, which when implemented, will result in important corrections and introduce evolutions to the MPR process to improve its transparency and Defence’s accountability to the Parliament and the Australian public for what are large amounts of public expenditure.

Broadly, these recommendations deal with the reinstatement of lessons to PDSSs; reporting on improved governance and assurance processes; assessments of the full project costs of each project, including fundamental inputs to capability; and more clearly identifying scope, schedule and budget changes, both in-year and life-to-date for each project.

The report can be downloaded from the inquiry website.

The committee has also published its 2023-24 Annual Report, which can be downloaded from the Committee website.

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