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Audit committee commences inquiries into Defence Major Projects and Annual Performance Statements

THE Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit (JCPAA) has commenced two inquiries into important areas of public sector accountability as part of its examination of Auditor-General’s reports.

The Auditor-General's reports on Defence Major Projects and on Audits of the Annual Performance Statements of Australian Government Entities are critical accountability mechanisms for the expenditure of public funds and operation of Government Departments.

Committee Chair, Julian Hill MP said the performance statements audits were a new function of the Australian National Audit Office intended to drive improvements in the transparency, reliability and quality of performance reporting across government. The inquiry into the Audit of Annual Performance Statements for 2021-22 (Auditor-General Report No. 13 of 2022-23) is a chance for the JCPAA to examine the performance and annual reporting of six Government Departments and to consider the Auditor-General’s findings in the first year of the performance statement audit process.

The inquiry into the Major Projects Reports (Auditor-General Report No. 13 of 2021-22 and Auditor-General Report No. 12 of 2022–23) will also allow the JCPAA to review the cost, progress and technical attributes of major Defence acquisitions over recent years.

"This is the is the first opportunity that the committee has had since the 2022 Federal Election to consider the Major Projects Reports, so there are two years’ worth of reports to be examined in this inquiry,” Mr Hill said. “We will also be specifically considering the scope and guidelines for Defence Major Project Reports to ensure that they are fit for purpose into the future.”

The committee has invited submissions addressing the terms of reference of these inquiries by Friday, April 21, 2023. Details of the inquiries – including the terms of reference and upcoming public hearings – will be made available on the Committee website.

 

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Workforce Australia Committee turns its focus to the employment services system

HAVING TABLED its interim report into ParentsNext, the Select Committee on Workforce Australia Employment Services will turn its attention to the broader employment services system during a public hearing in Melbourne on Tuesday, March 14, 2023.

The Committee will hear from a range of witnesses including academic experts, peak and advocacy bodies, think tanks, and providers of Workforce Australia and government and non-government programs.

Committee Chair, Julian Hill MP said, "I want to reiterate that this will be a comprehensive, first-principles review. Nothing is off the table.

"There is strong evidence that employment services have failed to invest in jobseekers and to support them into sustainable employment. The committee has also heard that the system has caused harm to many of those it is intended to support and has neglected the needs of employers during a period of increased workforce demand."

"Over the coming months, the committee will conduct public hearings and site visits to explore employment service and alternative programs. We want to ensure we hear from as diverse a range of stakeholders as possible so that we can make sensible, evidence-based recommendations to optimise employment services in the future."

Submissions are requested by March 17, 2023.

Community consultation sessions

Members of the committee will be participating in community consultation sessions facilitated by the Brotherhood of St. Laurence on Monday, April 3, 2023. The sessions — which will be in-person in the Melbourne CBD and online for anyone to attend nationally — are an opportunity for people with lived experience of employment services to share their stories and make suggestions for reform. Thos people who want to participate in one of these sessions can register interest at the link below.

Community consultation sessions: register your interest.

Further information about the inquiry, including Terms of Reference, future public hearings, published submissions and hearing transcripts, are available on the inquiry website.

Public hearing details

Date             14 March 2023Time             9am – 5pm AEDTLocation       Room G.6, Victorian Parliament House, Springer Street, East MelbourneWitnesses    Professor Jeff Borland                      Professor Mark Considine                      Associate Professor Siobhan O’Sullivan                      Professor Gaby Ramia                      Dr Michael McGann                      Brotherhood of St Laurence                      Centre for Policy Development                      Per Capita                      National Employment Services Association                      Jobs Australia                      Jobs Victoria                      APM Employment                      IntoWork Australia                      Jobfind Centres Australia

The hearing will be live broadcast via the Parliament’s Watch, Read, Listen website.

 

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ACNC confirms it is investigating Hillsong

AUSTRALIA’s national charity regulator, the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) has confirmed it is investigating concerns raised about Hillsong Church. 

ACNC Commissioner Sue Woodward said it was extremely rare that the ACNC commented on matters under investigation, however she has used her discretion to correct the record following statements in the Australian Parliament on Friday. 

“Although it was stated in Parliament that the ACNC has not acted, I can confirm that we are investigating concerns raised about Hillsong Church charities. Hillsong has stated publicly that it is fully cooperating with regulatory authorities,” Ms Woodward said.  

Further, Ms Woodward said the ACNC has not received a whistleblower disclosure, despite a claim made under Parliamentary privilege that it had.  

“If a whistleblower of a charity wants protection, or is concerned about possible harm as a result of making a disclosure, they must raise concerns with an agency deemed to be an eligible recipient," she said. "The ACNC is not an eligible recipient and we are not able to provide protection.

“Anyone can raise a concern about a charity with the ACNC. No matter where a concern originates, we use a standard independent process to review its details and, if necessary, we conduct an investigation. Any investigation we undertake must be thorough, comprehensive and consistent with our approach to all investigations. They can be complex and take time to complete.” 

The ACNC provides Whistleblower Protection guidance that outlines the procedures that a whistleblower can follow. 

The ACNC regulates 60,000 registered charities, listed on the Charity Register.

 

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Qantas engineering academy addresses just one part of black hole in aviation skills and manufacturing - ETU

THE Electrical Trades Union (ETU) has welcomed Qantas’s announcement today of a new engineering academy to combat skills shortages and train aviation engineers for highly skilled roles.

However, the ETU said the move "should be part of a larger national plan to reignite onshore manufacturing in the aviation and defence industries".

“We need a national and holistic approach to the capability gaps in the aviation industry, especially one that includes avionics manufacturing," ETU acting national secretary Michael Wright said.

"There are enormous opportunities to grasp in aviation, space and defence, but we need a high skill base underpinned by secure careers. As a country, we need to be self-reliant, and the Engineering Academy is a big first step in attaining this.”

Qantas, and the broader industry, must also guarantee secure well-paid careers to boost the workforce, Mr Wright said.

He said it was "the perfect opportunity for Qantas to invest in developing skilled workers and commit to retaining its highly skilled workforce by creating secure, well-paid positions".

Mr Wright said secure employment was "the bedrock of skills development" and the Qantas Group had the chance to directly employ the trainee engineers and ensure the Engineering Academy provided the best possible training for new entrants.

The ETU spokesperson said the new Academy was a step in the right direction to address the looming capability gap in Australian aviation, space, and defence industries, particularly in avionics manufacturing.

"The ETU will work productively with Qantas to fix these gaps and develop strategies to encourage avionic components manufacturing here in Australia," Mr Wright said.

 

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Australia-India qualifications recognition mechanism welcomed by the Independent Tertiary Education sector

A NEW agreement that establishes a clear and efficient recognition process for Australian and Indian qualifications has been welcomed by the Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia (ITECA), the peak body representing independent providers in the skills training, higher education, and international education sectors.

The new 'Mechanism for the Mutual Recognition of Qualifications' agreement was signed in Delhi by the Australian Minister for Education, Jason Clare MP, and the Indian Minister of Education, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Dharmendra Pradhan. This new agreement aims to minimise barriers to the recognition of qualifications in a timely manner, leading to better outcomes for Australian and Indian students, graduates, academics, researchers and education and training institutions.

“This is a significant agreement for Australian independent skills training and higher education providers looking to support students wishing to study in Australia.  It’s also great news for those providers wishing to deliver programs in India,” ITECA chief executive, Troy Williams said.

Mr Williams was part of a small delegation of higher education leaders who accompanied Minister Clare to Delhi for a series of bilateral meetings with their Indian counterparts, including one in which the Ministers signed the agreement.

Government data referenced in the ITECA State of The Sector Report showed that India was the single largest overseas market for Australia’s independent tertiary education providers.

“Recognition of Australian qualifications by the Indian Government will support transnational education, allowing students with Indian qualifications to pursue further education in Australia and vice versa. Significantly, these students will not have to undergo a complex and time-consuming process of getting their qualifications recognised by training providers or employers,” Mr Williams said.

The agreement, the most broad-ranging of its kind signed by the Indian Government, will strengthen the reputation for quality that independent skills training providers have in India.

“Recognition of Australian qualifications by the Indian Government will enhance the employment standing of Indian students who have completed their education in Australia, thereby increasing their employability and future career prospects,” Mr Williams said.

ITECA also notes that the agreement is significant in a broader trade context.

“This agreement strengthens the bilateral relations between Australia and India. It will encourage the cooperation between the two countries in the field of education and facilitate the exchange of ideas, knowledge, and expertise across areas critical to both nation’s economies,” Mr Williams said.

Agreements of this kind are essential to the independent tertiary education sector, he said. Government data referenced in the ITECA State of The Sector Report shows that independent skills training and higher education providers support around 54 percent of all international student visa holders in Australia.

 

About ITECA

Established in 1992, the Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia (ITECA) is the peak body representing independent providers in the skills training, higher education, and international education sectors.  Indepenent tertiary education providers support around 54 percent of international student visa holders in Australia. About 17.5 percent of all international student enrolments in higher education are with independent providers. About 96.5 percent of all international student enrolments in skills training are with independent Registered Training Organisations (RTOs).

 

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Qantas's new Engineering Academy 'a turning point on the future of Australian technical jobs' says AWU

THE Australian Workers' Union (AWU) has welcomed Qantas's decision to establish a new Engineering Academy as part of a major recruitment drive, describing it as a potential turning point for Australian technical jobs.

The Qantas Group Engineering Academy will have the capacity to train up 300 engineers a year. It will provide aviation engineers for the Qantas Group as well as the broader aviation industry, including defence contractors and general aviation.

AWU national secretary Daniel Walton said the announcement represented an extremely welcome shift.

"For years our union has been crying out for investment in the skills of tomorrow, but good news on that front has been sparse in recent times. Today's announcement represents a very welcome turning point," Mr Walton said.

"It takes a long time to train aviation engineers, so today's investment creates a long pipeline that will result in good quality Australian jobs for many years to come.

"I've been fortunate enough to work with aviation engineers for a good chunk of my working life as a unionist and I understand the passion these men and women have for the vital work they do. I think it's fair to say their morale has taken a beating in recent years, so today's announcement I hope will brighten the horizon.

"Australian aircraft should be serviced and maintained by well-trained Australian engineers. I welcome Qantas's strong commitment to the future of Australian engineering jobs and look forward to working with the airline to ensure the best possible opportunities are provided to Australians keen to learn."

 

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"I call on other major Australian employers to take this as a sign of turning tide and to start making their own plans to invest strongly in Australian apprenticeships and Australian skills."

Audit committee public hearings to examine grants and procurement administration

THE Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit will hold public hearings on Friday, March 3, for its inquiries into Commonwealth grants administration and Commonwealth procurement.

The grants inquiry is considering ways to strengthen the integrity and improve the administration of Commonwealth grants. The inquiry follows recent audits by the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) which have uncovered some issues with the management of certain programs.

The hearing will focus on Commuter Car Parks projects within the Urban Congestion Fund, the Building Better Regions Fund, and the Safer Communities Program.

Committee Chair Julian Hill MP noted concerns raised in these audit reports about the effectiveness and fairness of grants administration.

"The committee will look into how grants were being awarded, what changes agencies are making to address the problems uncovered by the audit office, and what else needs to be done," Mr Hill said.

The procurement inquiry will hear from the ANAO about its recent information report on trends in Australian government procurement reporting on the AusTender website.

Details for the public hearings are:

Friday 3 March 2023Time: 8.30am – 4.15pmVenue: Committee Room 2R1, Parliament House, CanberraInquiry into Commonwealth ProcurementInquiry into Commonwealth Grants Administration

Further information about the inquiries is available on the Committee website.

 

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Audit committee public hearings to examine grants and procurement administration

THE Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit will hold public hearings on Friday, March 3, for its inquiries into Commonwealth grants administration and Commonwealth procurement.

The grants inquiry is considering ways to strengthen the integrity and improve the administration of Commonwealth grants. The inquiry follows recent audits by the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) which have uncovered some issues with the management of certain programs.

The hearing will focus on Commuter Car Parks projects within the Urban Congestion Fund, the Building Better Regions Fund, and the Safer Communities Program.

Committee Chair Julian Hill MP noted concerns raised in these audit reports about the effectiveness and fairness of grants administration.

"The committee will look into how grants were being awarded, what changes agencies are making to address the problems uncovered by the audit office, and what else needs to be done," Mr Hill said.

The procurement inquiry will hear from the ANAO about its recent information report on trends in Australian government procurement reporting on the AusTender website.

Details for the public hearings are:

Friday 3 March, 2023Time: 8.30am – 4.15pmVenue: Committee Room 2R1, Parliament House, CanberraInquiry into Commonwealth ProcurementInquiry into Commonwealth Grants Administration

Further information about the inquiries is available on the Committee website.

 

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Report released on inquiry into community safety, support services and job opportunities in the Northern Territory

THE Joint Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs has today published a report on its inquiry into community safety, support services and job opportunities in the Northern Territory.

The report makes several recommendations to the Commonwealth and Northern Territory governments in the wake of the sunsetting of the Stronger Futures Act last year.

Committee Chair Senator Patrick Dodson said, "The committee believed investment in support services and programs is essential to improving socio‑economic outcomes, especially for people living in town camps, remote communities and homelands."

The committee called for locally-led, place-based initiatives to support community development.

"Governments need to listen and acting on what communities say will work best for them," Senator Dodson said.

For more information about this committee and its report, visit the inquiry webpage.

 

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Committee recommends abolition of ParentsNext

THE Select Committee on Workforce Australia Employment Services today tabled its interim report into ParentsNext, and recommended that the controversial program be abolished.

Committee Chair, Julian Hill MP, said, “It is clear that ParentsNext is not the flexible, compassionate, supportive service that is needed. It has become too damaged and should be replaced with a supportive service to help vulnerable parents.

“Governments have a responsibility to support parents to achieve full economic and social participation. This is a moral imperative and an economic priority.

“Parents have a right to choose to actively parent their babies and very young children, and this right should not be available only to wealthy parents. Caring for young children is work which used to be valued in its own right, and a mandatory focus on preparing parents of very young children for future employment is a very patriarchal view of caring and doesn’t take account of enormous diversity in the needs of families and children.

“The committee recommends sweeping changes to ParentsNext before it is abolished to allow a new pre-vocational service to be designed and put in place. These include the removal of Parenting Payment cancellations, full payment suspensions and onerous participation and reporting requirements.

“Major changes are also proposed to the way a future service is delivered, including reducing competition between providers and having a public sector agency — probably Services Australia — deliver the service in at least a few regions.

“We thank the inspiring parents and workers who spoke up for their time and, at times raw, honesty. Those conversations directly inform our report and will stay with us as we continue our work.”

The committee’s unanimous report makes 30 recommendations. Key recommendations include that ParentsNext be abolished at the end of its current contract and replaced with a pre-vocational service focused on building participants’ capacity and helping them realise their individual goals, and which truly values parenting. The service must be co-designed with people who will be most impacted by the new service.

Most of the committee’s other recommendations relate to design and implementation of the new service, including draft eligibility and participation requirements, compliance and enforcement; commissioning and service delivery; funding and resources; skills and training requirements; and supporting innovation, experimentation, and robust, data-driven evaluation.

To allow for the co-design and implementation of the new service, short contract extensions will be required. In the meantime, the committee has called for a transition plan to be released by the government by this July, outlining changes that can be implemented as soon as possible, to address serious concerns identified and provide ParentsNext participants with a more positive and supportive experience before the new service is in place.

Some of the themes and issues covered in this interim report, such as skills and training for frontline staff, and the role of government in service delivery, will also be examined as part of the committee’s broader in inquiry into Workforce Australia Employment Services.

Information about the inquiry, including the interim report, Terms of Reference, future public hearings, published submissions and hearing transcripts, is available on the inquiry website.

 

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Reinvigorating Australia’s tourism and international education sectors

On Tuesday, March 2, the Trade Subcommittee of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade will hold its first public hearing for its inquiry into Australia’s tourism and international education sectors.

Chair of the Trade Subcommittee, Senator Deborah O’Neill said, "Australia’s international education and tourism sectors have experienced many challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially when Australia’s borders closed."

The Subcommittee will hear evidence from higher education institutions, peak bodies, regulatory bodies, and international students to gain an understanding of the challenges and opportunities for growth in each sector.

"Noting that Australia has since opened its borders, the Subcommittee is interested to hear about how both sectors are recovering and rebuilding. The inquiry will assist the Subcommittee to understand different experiences and views and it is hoped it will provide greater insight into how the Australian Government can support these sectors as they recover from the effects of COVID-19 border closures," Senator O’Neill said.

Further information about the inquiry and the public hearings program are available on the inquiry webpage.

Public hearings details

SydneyDate: Thursday, 2 March 2023Venue: Room 3, Level 8, Building 8 (UTS Business School: 14 - 28 Ultimo Road, Ultimo, Sydney)Time: 8:40am – 2:30pm (AEDT)

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

 

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