THE Joint Standing Committee on Treaties has recommended the Federal Government ratifies the International Labour Organization Protocol of 2014 to the Forced Labour Convention.

Committee Chair Dave Sharma MP said, "The Protocol aims to address gaps in the existing forced labour conventions to combat the evolving nature of forced labour.

“The committee is of the view forced labour should, without exception, be outlawed and notes Australia is already in compliance with the obligations established by the Protocol. Australia’s commitment to eliminating forced labour is clear and unequivocal.”

The Committee agreed ratification of the Protocol would enhance Australia’s standing in the international community and ability to address the practices authoritatively, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region.

The committee acknowledged that notwithstanding the progress being made to address forced labour, there was further work to be done, and was also  encouraged to see the detail of future action in the Australian Government’s National Action Plan to Combat Modern Slavery 2020–25.

In addition, Mr Sharma said, the committee was of the view that if a significant proportion of entities reporting under the Modern Slavery Act continued to miss mandatory reporting requirements, the Australian Government should consider steps beyond the current approach of educating and encouraging relevant entities.

The report can be found on the Committee website, along with further information on the inquiry.

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A NEW Parliamentary inquiry report highlights that government procurement has an important part to play in supporting the development of Australia’s sovereign industry capability.

John Alexander OAM MP, Chair of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Infrastructure, Transport and Cities, today tabled the report for the committee’s inquiry into procurement practices for government-funded infrastructure.

"Since starting the inquiry last year, these issues have become even more significant and pressing," Mr Alexander said. "Sovereign security has in recent times, become an important issue for our country, as tensions between great power competitors come into sharp focus, with real concern for the impact this has on our exports and the flow-on effects to our economy.

"Over many decades, sovereign security has been compromised due to our expedient choices in seeking the lowest price over best value for our procurement. This has diminished our capacity to deliver fit-for-purpose infrastructure and a sustainable industry," Mr Alexander said.

"The lack of long-term planning has resulted in a piecemeal, ad hoc and reactive delivery process, which thwarts the development of efficiencies in the construction industry that could be attained if there was a steady pipeline of projects available. Industry needs the confidence to gear up in line with the opportunities available, which would build up industry capacity and productivity.

"‘In the 88 percent male dominated construction workforce, more needs to be done to address the cultural practices and norms within the construction industry that disincentivise women from entering or staying."

The committee makes eight recommendations aimed at:

• improving the planning, procurement and delivery of government-funded infrastructure projects;
• improving collaboration between the tiers of government;
• enhancing opportunities for Tier 2 and 3 companies and Australian businesses to participate in the significant Australian infrastructure pipeline;
• improving technology uptake by both governments and industry; and
• improving the construction industry’s capacity and sovereign capability.

The report is available on the committee’s website.

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THE Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade presented its report into Strengthening Australia’s relationships with countries in the Pacific region in the Senate yesterday.

The Chair of the Foreign Affairs and Aid Sub-Committee, Dave Sharma MP said, “This report seeks to build upon the success of the Pacific Step-up and identify further prospective areas for deepening and strengthening Australia’s engagement in the Pacific.

“At a time of intensifying geopolitical competition and growing global challenges, especially that of climate change, fostering and strengthening Australia’s relationships with the Pacific has assumed a new importance and urgency.”

The committee made several recommendations, including:

• that Australia lead a large-scale, multi-year post-COVID-19 aid and recovery package;
• that Australia builds upon labour mobility schemes to provide better career development options and permanent residency pathways;
• that support for climate change mitigation and adaptation be a high priority in Australia’s immediate regional assistance program;
• that the Federal Court of Australia’s judicial capacity-building programs in the Pacific continue to be supported;
• the creation of a dedicated Pacific component to Australia’s permanent migration intake, akin to the New Zealand model;
• expanding Australia’s media and broadcasting footprint in the Pacific, recognising this is a key element of soft power; and
• exploring ambitious proposals for deeper integration, such as a long-term compact of free association

Further information about the inquiry, including the report, submissions, transcripts, and responses to questions on notice, can be found on the Committee’s website.

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FEDERAL Labor’s promise to commit $10 billion to build affordable social housing is welcome, but only scratches the surface of what is now a housing crisis in Australia.

If Labor leader Anthony Albanese is serious about reducing housing poverty in Australia, he must commit the party to spending at least $20 billion over the next five years, according to CFMEU Construction and General national secretary Dave Noonan.

“Housing is a fundamental human necessity," Mr Noonan said. "In fact it is a basic human right, but right now home ownership is simply out of reach for most Australians.”

Successive Australian governments have failed to take the steps necessary to ensure that all Australians have access to affordable housing, resulting in a massive increase in homelessness, rental stress and housing insecurity, Mr Noonan said.

“Quite simply, as skewed tax incentives and low housing stocks have seen property prices skyrocketing and rents rising by an average of 20 per cent in the past two years, social housing construction has failed to keep pace with the growth in waiting lists.”

“The ensuing homelessness and housing insecurity affects parts of the community disproportionately; in particular younger people, First Australians and women over 50.”

Mr Noonan said the small positive gains made, such as industry superannuation investing in affordable housing through National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation bonds, is still too little and too slow to address the problem.

“Australia’s stock of social housing has not grown for 30 years, and the share of social housing has fallen from six percent to four percent today, leading to the shortfall of 100,000 dwellings that we now face," he said.

“At the CFMEU’s national conference this week delegates voted unanimously on a resolution demanding Labor at least double its investment to $20 billion to make inroads into this crisis.”

The conference also called for a full, independent, inquiry into affordable and social housing policy, including the interaction between federal and state governments, tax policy, future needs, and other relevant factors.

“This is a task for all levels of government, along with financial institutions such as super funds, to substantially increase investment in social and affordable housing immediately.  A failure to act is a failure of leadership, and a betrayal of future generations,” Mr Noonan said.

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THE Joint Select Committee on Road Safety today tabled the final report for its Inquiry into Road Safety.

The report examines factors contributing to fatal and serious injuries on Australian roads and considers opportunities to improve road safety outcomes through measures which:

• support the design, construction, and maintenance of high-quality road infrastructure that minimises the likelihood and severity of road crashes;
• encourage the uptake of modern vehicles fitted with proven safety features;
• effectively manage speeds to safe levels and deter unsafe behaviours;
• ensure all road users are equipped with the knowledge and skills to identify and respond appropriately to road safety risks;
• embed road safety as part of ‘business as usual’ in public and private sector organisations;
• promote safety for gig economy participants who use the road as a workplace;
• enhance road safety in the heavy vehicle sector; and
• contribute to effective post-crash response and trauma support.

The report also identifies a need for effective leadership and oversight in relation to road safety at the national level, noting that efforts to improve road safety in the past have been stymied by poor governance, a lack of clearly defined responsibilities for reducing road trauma, and failures to report progress towards set targets in a meaningful way.

In addition, the report highlights the importance of high-quality research and reliable, accurate data to understanding the road safety environment and to the design, implementation, and evaluation of innovative measures to improve road safety outcomes.

The report includes 61 recommendations relating to these matters.

Committee Chair, Darren Chester MP, said, "Road trauma touches the lives of all Australians, whether as victims of a road crash or as family members, friends, first responders, or members of the wider community. The causes of road trauma are complex and demand innovative solutions supported by strong leadership, reliable, accurate data, and high-quality research.

"The committee’s report outlines a series of measures that may be taken to improve road safety in the short term, while also highlighting some of the steps that should be taken if we are to achieve sustainable reductions in road trauma into the future.

"While the committee’s report outlines several areas where road safety can be enhanced, what is crucial is that governments at all levels take responsibility for reducing fatal and serious injuries on our roads, including implementing as a matter of urgency recommendations of this and other inquiries. As this report coincides with the federal Budget, the committee also calls on the Government to invest in safety for all Australians by committing sustainable funding to measures which reduce deaths and serious injuries on our roads."

The committee has thanked all who contributed to the inquiry by lodging submissions, giving their time to provide evidence at hearings, providing additional information, or expressing views via correspondence.

The report is available on the committee’s website.

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COOPERATIVE Research Australia will showcase Australian cutting-edge technologies and innovations from 30 Cooperative Research Centres, spin-out companies and universities at a special event at Parliament House in Canberra on Thursday, March 31.

The Innovation Showcase is part of Cooperative Research Australia’s Collaborate Innovate Conference, which also marks the 30^th anniversary of the Australian Government-funded Cooperative Research Centres program. The conference brings together Australia’s senior leaders and participants in industry-research collaboration.

Innovation highlights of the exhibition include:

• Low carbon bricks and plasterboard samples from Mineral Carbonation International;
• Cameras and sensors to create more efficient transport systems from iMOVE CRC;
• A sample carbon fibre wheel from Innovative Manufacturing CRC;
• Silicon carbide wafers, a microfluidic pump, EEG headset, Biowraps, 3D printed wrist bones and femoral deformity device and smart garments from Griffith University;
• Hives and honey from the CRC for Honey Bee Products;
• · Upcycled food waste products and materials from the Fight Food Waste CRC;
• A smart bed for monitoring the aged for falls and other vitals from Sleeptite;
• · A model satellite from SmartSat CRC;
• A soil monitor protype from the Soil CRC.

“Celebrating 30 years of the Cooperative Research Centres program, the Innovation Showcase features interactive exhibits from CRCs and CRC Projects displaying practical examples of their technologies, products and services that are improving the competitiveness, productivity, and sustainability of Australian industries," Cooperative Research Australia CEO Jane O’Dwyer said.

"The showcase will be an opportunity to see the outcomes of Australian innovation firsthand and speak to those who have driven new ideas to reality,” 

One of Australia’s most significant and distinguished champions of innovation, David Thodey AO, will deliver the keynote address at Cooperative Research Australia’s 30^th Anniversary Gala Dinner (March 31).

See here for full list of showcase exhibitors: https://pdfhost.io/v/y9IkuTUy9_Showcase_List_v2convertedPDF

See full conference program here: https://collaborateinnovate.com.au/program/

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THE Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) has presented its recommendations to combat foreign interference at Australian universities and in the research sector.

In its unanimous and bipartisan Report into national security risks affecting the Australian higher education and research sector, the committee has made 27 recommendations to address the serious threats posed by foreign interference to Austrlaia's most critical research institutions.

The recommendations are targeted at securing sensitive, taxpayer-funded research and protecting student safety on campus.

Among its recommendations, the committee has recognised the risks associated with Chinese Government-funded Confucius Institutes to academic freedom and student welfare, and calls on universities and the Foreign Minister to take steps to mitigate them. 

Similarly, the committee has asked the Foreign Minister to also decide the future of a $10 million contract between Monash University and COMAC – a Chinese Government-owned aviation company that has been linked to a global industrial cyber espionage campaign and been sanctioned by the US government.

The committee recommends a range of measures to protect students from threats to their freedom of speech, association and physical safety. This includes documenting and reporting incidents of harassment, intimidation and censorship resulting from foreign interference, as well as new penalties for foreign interference activities on campus, including reporting on fellow students to foreign governments.

The committee has also called for:

• A risk-based audit which samples Australian Research Council grants over the past decade to determine exposure associated with participation in talent recruitment programs, noting the Thousand Talents Program is one amongst many. Adequacy of existing penalties, including grant fraud, should also be investigated.
• Banning employees of government departments and agencies from participating in talent-recruitment programs.
• Training on national security issues for universities’ staff and students.
• Communicating Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme requirements to foreign student associations operating at Australian universities and investigating possible cases of non-compliance.

Committee chair Senator James Paterson said that while the sector has made progress in addressing national security concerns, foreign interference on campus remains a serious threat, and more work has to be done to safeguard our students and education institutions.

"There’s no question that students and academics have faced a sustained campaign of intimidation, harassment, censorship and intelligence gathering by foreign state governments. This resulted in the transfer of sensitive research to authoritarian regimes and their militaries and threats to the safety of domestic and international students," Senator Paterson said.

"While efforts have been made to strengthen the sector’s awareness and resilience to these threats, there is a great deal more to do to secure sensitive, taxpayer-funded research, and protect students on campus.

"These bipartisan reforms build on the work already undertaken and I look forward to a continued, concerted effort by government and sector to combat these escalating threats," Senator Paterson said.

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

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THE Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) has backed proposed new laws that further enhance government cooperation with industry to combat sophisticated cyber-attacks on Australia’s critical infrastructure.

In its Advisory report on the Security Legislation Amendment (Critical Infrastructure Protection) Bill 2022 (SLACIP Bill) presented on Friday, the committee has recommended that the next phase of critical infrastructure protections be passed, with targeted amendments. These provisions will enable the government to work with industry to ensure that appropriate risk management programs are in place, and that the nation’s most at risk assets can be protected on all fronts.

The PJCIS has made 11 recommendations in relation to the Bill and the revised Security of Critical Infrastructure (SOCI) framework, which aim to ensure that:

• the cooperative relationship with industry can continue to inform the flexible regulatory base that the Bill proposes;
• the committee is notified when sensitive powers are exercised and that consultation is ongoing and effective;
• elements of the potential impact of the Bill on workers’ rights are clarified, definitions codified and that review mechanisms be considered; and
• the Bill’s mechanisms will be reviewed for their effectiveness, operation and proportionality, once the new powers are finalised and implemented.

Chair of the committee, Senator James Paterson said, "The new laws are a critical tool that will bring together government and industry to strengthen our defences against significant threats from nation state adversaries and criminal actors.

"The threat to Australia is increasing in scale and sophistication, and so it’s never been more important to harden our systems. That requires a collaborative effort from government and industry to identify and counter cyber threats targeted at our critical infrastructure, many of which are currently regarded as soft targets by our adversaries," Senator Paterson said.

"Regrettably, even the best endeavours of industry may not be enough to stop a cascading and potentially economy-crippling collapse of supply lines and services. That’s why government and industry must be able to efficiently and effectively combine efforts to defend these critical systems.

'The committee is confident that these tools strike the right balance to ensure our nation’s most critical assets are protected from cyber threats at all levels. The cost of inaction is simply too high.

"To ensure the laws achieve this critical objective, the committee has recommended that their effectiveness be reviewed once fully implemented to ensure they remain fit for purpose and proportionate to the threat environment," 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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