ACCORDING to Master Builders Australia, it is unsurprising that the Skills Priority List, published this week, has doubled in 12 months, leading to around a third of all Australian occupations facing critical shortages.

“We identified in late 2021 that the pressure of material shortages in the building and construction industry was being taken over by skill shortages, with the pressure steadily increasing throughout 2022," Master Builders Australia CEO Denita Wawn said.

"Skill shortages result in delays in building activity which impacts capacity to occupy new homes, schools, and offices or use new roads and railways.  It also puts a massive handbrake on economic activity.

“Master Builders has been calling on the Federal Government to not only speed up skilled migration pathways but also expand the skills list and provide greater flexibility.  The new Skills Priority List reinforces our calls. We acknowledge that the Federal Government is working on migration solutions.

“Skill shortages can also be resolved through greater completion of apprenticeships.  The industry has appreciated ongoing government support to encourage more people into trade apprenticeships, but we now need an equal focus on completion rates.  The average current completion rate for trade apprentices, of just over 50 per cent, is not acceptable given the environment," Ms Wawn said..

Building and construction roles added to the list in 2022 include:
•    Building inspector
•    Construction estimator
•    Crane, hoist or lift operator
•    Rigger
•    Scaffolder
•    Steel Fixer 

Building and construction roles that continue to be on the list include:
•    Construction project manager
•    Surveyor 
•    Engineer
•    Bricklayer
•    Stonemason
•    Carpenter and joiners
•    Painting trade worker 
•    Tilers (roof, wall, floor)
•    Plumber
•    Electrician.

www.masterbuilders.com.au

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THE PROVISIONS of the National Anti-Corruption Commission Bill 2022 and the National Anti-Corruption Commission (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2022 will be the focus of an inquiry by the newly established National Anti-Corruption Commission Legislation Committee.

Committee Chair, Senator Linda White said, "The inquiry is a way for individuals, organisations and interest groups to share their views on the proposed National Anti-Corruption Commission."

The Committee is calling for submissions commenting on the provisions of the bills and encourages that submissions be concise. The preferred method of receiving submissions is by electronic format lodged online using a My Parliament account.

Submissions close on Friday October 14, 2022.

Public hearings are planned on October 18, 19, 20 and 21 in Canberra with an expected option for remote participation by witnesses.

The Deputy Chair, Dr Helen Haines MP said, "While public hearings will be held in Canberra, the Committee intends to hear from witnesses from around Australia."

Submitters should indicate in their submission if they wanted to give evidence at a public hearing. The Committee’s website will detail any updates or other details regarding general arrangements for public hearings.

The Committee is due to report on or before November 10, 2022.

Further information about the Committee, including membership and details on how to lodge a submission, are available at the Committee’s website:  www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Joint/National_Anti-Corruption_Commission_Legislation.

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A NEW Parliamentary inquiry will examine Commonwealth Procurement, focusing on five recent reviews of procurement practices at Commonwealth agencies.

The inquiry, to be conducted by the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit (JCPAA) will examine ways to improve transparency, efficiency, and value for money in Commonwealth procurement.   

The Chair of the JCPAA, Julian Hill MP said, “in recent years the Australian National Audit Office has too often found that Commonwealth agencies have failed to follow both the letter and the spirit of the Commonwealth Procurement Rules. The Procurement Rules are to ensure value for money as well as encourage competition, efficiency and accountability in the expenditure of public money.

“There appears a concerning pattern of agencies cutting corners or interpreting the rules to suit themselves and make life easier for themselves, rather than apply the Rules and let more people and firms bid for Commonwealth work. Maintaining efficient, effective, economical and ethical procurement practices will always be a challenge for governments”, Mr Hill said.

"And the Committee hopes to identify how Commonwealth procurement practices can be improved to deliver better value for money for Australian taxpayers.”

The five Auditor-General Reports that will form the starting point for the Committee’s inquiry are:

• No. 6 (2021-22) Management of the Civil Maritime Surveillance Services Contract
• No. 15 (2021-22) Department of Defence’s Procurement of Six Evolved Cape Class Patrol Boats
• No. 30 (2021-22) Procurement of the National Capital Authority
• No. 42 (2021-22) Procurement of Delivery Partners for the Entrepreneurs’ Programme
• No. 5 (2022-23) Digital Transformation Agency’s Procurement of ICT Related Services

The Committee has invited submissions to the inquiry addressing the terms of reference to be received by Friday, November 11, 2022. Details of the inquiry – including the terms of reference and public hearings – will be made available on the Committee website.

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HOW Australia makes decisions to send service personnel into international armed conflict will be examined in a new parliamentary inquiry.

The inquiry was referred by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Richard Marles MP, on September 28 to the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade (JSCFADT) with its own Terms of Reference. The JSCFADT has tasked the Defence Subcommittee to undertake this inquiry.

JSCFADT Chair, Shayne Neumann MP, said, “One of the most significant powers vested in the Executive Government is the decision to deploy Australian servicemen and women into armed conflict where they are at risk of serious injury and death. This review of course does not alter the fact that Labor's defence policy is founded on the principle of Australian self-reliance and the government and Australia's armed forces need to be able to defend Australia and its interests against credible threats in a dynamically changing geostrategic environment unimpeded by dissenting or short term political opinions.”

Commenting on the inquiry, Defence Subcommittee Chair, Julian Hill MP said, “The government has committed to holding this inquiry which presents an opportunity for the public and stakeholders to present evidence to the committee on where improvements can be made including transparency and accountability in the exercise of these powers. The subcommittee will examine whether the current parliamentary processes are sufficient and importantly, if there are inadvertent security implications any proposed policy changes may cause that could compromise the safety and security of our Defence Force personnel.

“During the inquiry it will be important to hear evidence about how other like-minded democracies and Westminster parliamentary systems around the world commit their citizens to conflict.”

The committee has invited submissions addressing the terms of reference to this inquiry by Friday, November 18, 2022.

Further information in relation to the inquiry is available from the JSCFADT’s website.

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THE Speaker of the House of Representatives, Milton Dick MP has launched the Parliament in Schools program - an initiative to make civics education accessible to students regardless of their location.

The Speaker will be visiting five schools across Western Australia (WA), over the next three days and later take the in-person program nationally.

In collaboration with the Parliamentary Education Office (PEO), the Speaker will visit schools across Australia to bring Parliament to them. They will learn about federation, democracy and the parliament.

"At the moment, we have a fantastic schools program run at Parliament House in Canberra by the PEO," Mr Dick said. "In 2021-22, 19,468 students from 347 schools across Australia participated in an onsite PEO program.

"But not all students will get the opportunity to travel all the way to Canberra. This is why we are taking this program on the road, and bringing it to them," the Speaker said. 

Over the next three days, the Speaker and the PEO will visit:

• Swan View Primary School (Swan View) and Brabham Primary School (Brabham) - with the Member for Hasluck, Tania Lawrence MP;
• Oberthur Primary School (Bull Creek) - with the Member for Tangney, Sam Lim MP;
• Sacred Heart College (Sorrento) – with the Member for Moore, Ian Goodenough MP; and
• Shenton College (Shenton Park) – with the Member for Curtin, Kate Chaney MP.

About the PEO

The PEO educates Australians about, and inspires their enthusiasm for, Australia’s parliamentary democracy. Through accessible, immersive, experiential programs and resources the PEO fosters informed, engaged and active citizens of all ages.

Find out more about the PEO: www.peo.gov.au

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THE Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s (DFAT’s) preparedness to respond to future complex and large-scale crises will be examined in a new parliamentary inquiry, taking account of weaknesses highlighted and lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit has commenced an inquiry into the Auditor-General's report on the effectiveness of DFAT’s crisis management and consular response arrangements during the COVID-19 pandemic (Auditor‑General Report No. 39 of 2021-22).

Committee Chair, Julian Hill MP, said the Auditor-General examined DFAT’s efforts to assist the many Australians stranded overseas during the pandemic and identified scope to improve the Department’s crisis management and response arrangements.

"The committee is seeking to understand whether DFAT was adequately prepared for major crises prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, and what measures the department has taken in response to the Auditor-General’s recommendations to ensure it is well placed to respond to similar crises in the future,” Mr Hill said.

“We want to know what lessons have been learned so far, and whether DFAT has put in place robust plans for anticipating and responding to future complex and large‑scale crises."

The committee is inviting submissions to the inquiry addressing the terms of reference to be received by Friday, November 4, 2022. Details of public hearings will be made available on the inquiry website.

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THE National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) has secured a significant victory for all Victorian casual staff who were set to miss out on pay on the public holiday to mark Queen Elizabeth II's death.

NTEU branches around the state called for all universities to ensure casuals would not miss out on pay because of the one-off National Day of Mourning.

While some institutions initially refused to ensure all workers would be paid, backlash from Union members sparked a backdown, meaning all casual staff will be paid for work cancelled because of the public holiday.

"This is a welcome change of heart from universities like RMIT which initially refused point blank to pay casuals on Thursday's upcoming public holiday," NTEU Victorian Division assistant secretary Sarah Roberts said.

"It was patently unfair for precariously employed university staff to be missing out on a day's pay because of the death of a monarch.

"Our union has scored a significant win for casuals - this shows the strength of our branches right across the state.

"While some universities shouldn't have taken this long to agree to basic fairness, the outcome is a victory for common sense."

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THE Defence Subcommittee of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade is conducting a new inquiry, focussing on important aspects of the Auditor General’s Report No. 4 (2021-22) Defence’s Contract Administration – Defence Industry Security Program (DISP).

Chair of the subcommittee, Julian Hill MP said, "The committee has decided to exercise its oversight powers and conduct a public review of the Department of Defence’s compliance with the Auditor-General’s recommendations in relation to the Defence Industry Security Program.

“National security imperatives require Defence to execute and enforce strict contractual obligations with defence industry.

“The Auditor-General raised serious concerns regarding Defence’s implementation of the Defence Industry Security Program and management of non-compliance which is fundamental to assuring the security of Defence’s people, information and assets," Mr Hill said.

“Defence had not established fit for purpose arrangements to monitor compliance with contracted DISP requirements.

“The committee will examine Defence’s progress in implementing the six primary recommendations it committed to a year ago.”

The Subcommittee is now inviting written submissions, by 4 November 2022.

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