THE House of Representatives Standing Committee on Communications and the Arts is holding public hearings to inquire into the adequacy of regional and local news, how the pandemic has affected the delivery news services, and suggestions on how to strengthen connections with and coverage of issues affecting regional Australia.

On Monday February 28 and Tuesday March 1, the committee will hear from a range of witnesses including government bodies, major media companies, academics, regional newspapers, and regional and remote local councils.

Chair Dr Anne Webster MP said, "The committee is keen to hear a range of views on the effects of the pandemic on the delivery of news services in regional areas, the effect of the News Media Bargaining Code particularly on small publishers and the impact of suspending the publication of print editions in regional communities.

"The hearings will provide an opportunity to consider all viewpoints, discuss key issues and importantly find potential solutions to maintain locally produced journalism and strengthen tailored news coverage of regional Australia."

Public hearing details

Date: Monday, 28 February 2022
Time: 10am to 5.15pm (AEDT)

Date: Tuesday, 1 March 2022
Time: 10am to 5pm (AEDT)

A full program for the committee’s hearing is available on the committee’s website here.

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THE Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Bruce Billson has thanked the 2,000 small and family businesses which have completed an online survey as part of the Small Business Natural Disaster Preparedness and Resilience Inquiry.

Mr Billson, who is currently hosting small business feedback sessions in areas impacted by natural disasters across Australia, said the online survey is an excellent way for small and family businesses to contribute to the ongoing inquiry.

“Thank you to the 2,000 small and family businesses which have already taken the time to complete our online survey – we value your contribution,” Mr Billson said.

“We want to hear from as many small and family businesses as possible, to learn more about what steps and support best helped them to proactively contend with and recover from a disaster. So if you can’t get to an in-person feedback session, please complete our online survey – your insights are vital to this inquiry. 

“I encourage anyone in a small business who has lived experience of a natural disaster such as bushfires, cyclones or floods and may also have ideas about how best the government can support them to prepare and remain resilient in the case of an unavoidable event, to be part of this important discussion," Mr Billson said.

“What we learn from our small business community, will help inform the work on our current Small Business Natural Disaster Preparedness and Resilience Inquiry, including recommendations to improve information and engagement programs to best target and assist small businesses in preparing for natural disasters.

“In our feedback sessions so far, we’ve heard time and time again that local engagement, leadership and decision making, informed by local knowledge and community connectedness and engagement is critical. More often than not, it’s the local business communities who are experienced in disasters that affect their region, that can best guide and support their business peers," he said.

“This local leadership needs to be supported appropriately, so they have access to the resources needed to assist small business owners who are working to get back on their feet after a natural disaster hits.”

The survey closes on February 28, 2022. Submissions are also welcome and can be completed here. The deadline for submissions is February 25, 2022. 

Complete ASBFEO’s online survey here.

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THIS THURSDAY, the Indigenous Affairs Committee will hear from four organisations as part of its inquiry into fostering better engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander consumers. This will be the inquiry’s final public hearing for this current Parliament.

The four organisations appearing at the public hearing this Thursday are: the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE); Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance NT (AMSANT); Danila Dilba Health Service; and Northern Territory Council of Social Service (NTCOSS).

Committee Chair Julian Leeser MP said, "These organisations played a central role in preventing a Dan Murphy’s store from opening near dry communities in the Northern Territory. They have firsthand experience of poor corporate behaviour towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in relation to alcohol, health and other social issues.

"The committee looks forward to discussing options for more effective and meaningful Indigenous engagement by the corporate sector," Mr Leeser said.

Public hearing details

Date: Thursday, 17 February 2022 (AEDT), 11.35am

- Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE)

 - Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance NT (AMSANT)

 - Danila Dilba Health Service

  - Northern Territory Council of Social Service (NTCOSS)

A live audio stream of the hearing will be accessible at https://www.aph.gov.au/Watch_Read_Listen.

For more information about this inquiry, including its terms of reference, details of upcoming public hearings, and instructions on making a submission, please visit the Inquiry webpage.

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THE PEAK BODY for Catholic not-for-profit hospitals is calling on the Federal Government to stamp out the rise of inefficient ‘junk’ health insurance policies by making ‘bronze level’ insurance the new minimum requirement for Australians seeking to avoid the Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS).

In its Federal Budget submission, Catholic Health Australia is urging the Federal Government to reform the private health insurance system, which currently allows health insurers to sell virtually worthless insurance called ‘basic’ insurance – dubbed ‘junk’ by some – to consumers who are primarily interested in avoiding the MLS at tax time.

CHA Health policy manager Alex Lynch said it was alarming that ‘junk’ policies had grown from a third of all policies sold in 2015, to nearly two-thirds today.

"Most of these ‘junk’ policies merely allow holders to enter the public system as a private patient. Junk policies allow individuals to avoid paying extra tax and provide a super-easy revenue stream for private health insurers. But they offer zero relief to the overburdened public hospital system, nor value to customers," Mr Lynch said.

"We need to recalibrate the system so people are either paying the MLS to fund more Medicare or receiving proper insurance that reliably allows them to be treated in the private health system. Our current system, which encourages private health insurers to make big profits from selling near-worthless products, is a shocking waste our health system can no longer afford."

CHA is calling for bronze-level policies, which cover 18 categories of services in private hospitals, to be the new floor for Australians who wish to be exempt from the Medicare Levy Surcharge.

“A private health policy should give you the chance to exercise choice and use private hospitals where suitable," Mr Lynch said.

"The pandemic has highlighted the need for government to encourage the use of private hospitals so they can take pressure off the public system. But this can only happen if we start winding up the sale of ‘junk’ private health insurance that sees people pushed into public hospitals anyway."

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THE House of Representatives today resolved to extend the reporting date for the Select Committee on Social Media and Online Safety.

Accordingly, the committee has reopened submissions and is calling for interested parties to provide evidence by Tuesday, March 8, 2022. The committee is particularly interested in hearing from young people (aged 13-18) or their representatives on their experiences with social media and online safety, and their perspectives on how online harms might be addressed.

Committee Chair Lucy Wicks MP expressed her thanks to all witnesses who have so far provided submissions and appeared at public hearings, stating that the powerful accounts of online abuse have highlighted to the committee the importance of its work.

The committee has so far conducted nine hearings with over 50 witnesses, and received over 70 submissions from individuals, organisations and government bodies. Further hearings are being considered for coming weeks.

The committee is now required to provide its final report to the Parliament on March 15, 2022.

Further information about the committee can be located on its website.

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THE Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) has commenced a review into new laws to protect Australia’s infrastructure from sophisticated cyber threats.

The Security Legislation Amendment (Critical Infrastructure Protection) Bill 2022 was referred to the committee by Karen Andrews MP, Minister for Home Affairs, and has been requested to report in time for the Bill to be passed in the March 2022 sitting period.

The Bill has been introduced to address the outstanding elements of the proposed framework that the PJCIS reported on in its Advisory report on the Security Legislation Amendment (Critical Infrastructure) Bill 2020 and Statutory Review of the Security of Critical Infrastructure Act 2018.

The Bill proposes revised measures to introduce:

• Critical Infrastructure Risk Management Programs – revised and reformed in line with the recommendations of the PJCIS report. The form of the programs, the rules defining their content and scope, and ongoing consultation to ensure collaborative design and to avoid regulatory duplication has been highlighted by the government in the Bill’s introduction;
• Declaration of Systems of National Significance and accompanying Enhanced Cyber Security Obligations; and
• Other measures to achieve the outcomes of other recommendations from the PJCIS report, feedback from stakeholders and other realised efficiencies. 

More information regarding the Bill and its referral can be found at the review website.

The committee is requesting submissions to the Bill review by Tuesday, March 1, 2022. The committee has acknowledged the short timeframe for this review, and has provided some principle-based questions and themes to help aid submitters on addressing the key areas the committee will be interested in. These principles are available on the review website.

Prospective submitters are advised that any submission to the committee’s inquiry must be prepared solely for the inquiry and should not be published prior to being accepted by the committee.

Further information about making a submission to a committee inquiry can be found at this link.

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THE Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO) Bruce Billson is set to visit Lismore on Tuesday, February 15, to meet with flood and storm-impacted small businesses.

Mr Billson said he was keen to speak with small business owners that have had flood or storm damage at a feedback session to be held at Lismore Workers Club (231 Keen St, Lismore) on Tuesday afternoon from 2pm-3pm.

“We want to hear from small and family business owners who have lived experience of a natural disaster such as floods or storms and have ideas about how best the government can support them to prepare and remain resilient in the case of an unavoidable event,” Mr Billson said.

“What we learn from small businesses in this session, will help inform the work on our current Small Business Natural Disaster Preparedness and Resilience Inquiry, including recommendations to improve education and engagement programs to best target and assist small businesses in preparing for natural disasters.

“I encourage Lismore small and family business owners to take part in this important discussion.”

Small business operators who are unable to make a feedback session can contribute their insights here.

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THE Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO) Bruce Billson is set to visit Murwillumbah on Tuesday, February 15, to meet with flood and storm-impacted small businesses.

Mr Billson said he was keen to speak with small business owners that have had flood or storm damage at a feedback session to be held at Murwillumbah RSL Club (10 Wollumbin St, Murwillumbah) on Tuesday from 11.30am-12.30pm.

“We want to hear from small and family business owners who have lived experience of a natural disaster such as floods or storms and have ideas about how best the government can support them to prepare and remain resilient in the case of an unavoidable event,” Mr Billson said.

“What we learn from small businesses in this session, will help inform the work on our current Small Business Natural Disaster Preparedness and Resilience Inquiry, including recommendations to improve education and engagement programs to best target and assist small businesses in preparing for natural disasters.

“I encourage Murwillumbah small and family business owners to take part in this important discussion.”

Small business operators who are unable to make a feedback session can contribute their insights here.

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