THE House of Representatives Select Committee on Social Media and Online Safety has opened for submissions and invites all interested people and organisations to have their say.

Committee Chair Lucy Wicks MP said the committee looked forward to hearing from a wide range of stakeholders for the inquiry.

"Given the complexity and importance of this topic, the committee hopes that people will share their experience and their suggestions on how Parliament might address online risks to Australians," Ms Wicks said.

The closing date for submissions is January 12, 2022. The committee will soon schedule public hearings and will table its report in the Parliament by February 15, 2022.

For more information about this committee, visit its website.

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THE Liberal and Nationals Government is providing another $250 million to fund the infrastructure and services regional Australian communities need to grow and prosper.

Applications are now open for Round 6 of the Government’s Building Better Regions Fund (BBRF), paving the way for new projects that regional communities deserve to be funded and delivered.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, Barnaby Joyce said the government was focused on ensuring the "regions remain strong and grow into the future".

“Regional Australians deserve the same services and opportunities that people in metropolitan cities have and the Building Better Regions Fund helps make this happen,” Deputy Prime Minister Joyce said.

“That’s why we’ve committed another $250 million for projects and initiatives that will transform communities, create new jobs and drive economic growth across regional Australia.

“Backing regional communities will help secure our economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic while ensuring regional Australians can get ahead.

“This latest investment in new projects will build on the 298 fantastic regional projects that shared in $300 million in funding under the last round of the Building Better Regions Fund," Mr Joyce said.

“Our government is committed to delivering the best outcomes for regional and remote Australia, which is why we are continuing to support the businesses and people who call regional Australia home.”

Funding under Round 6 takes the Government’s total investment through the BBRF to $1.38 billion.

The BBRF supports economic and social infrastructure for the long-term benefit of regional communities. Funding the infrastructure and services that communities need for the future will create jobs and help them rebound strongly from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Projects will be funded under two streams. The Infrastructure Projects Stream supports the construction of new infrastructure, or the upgrade or extension of existing infrastructure.

The Community Investments Stream funds community development activities including, but not limited to, new or expanded local events, strategic regional plans, leadership and capability building activities.

Applications close on Thursday, February 10, 2022.

Infrastructure Projects Stream: https://business.gov.au/grants-and-programs/building-better-regions-fund-infrastructure-projects-stream-round-6

Community Investments Stream: https://business.gov.au/grants-and-programs/building-better-regions-fund-community-investments-stream-round-6

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WASHINGTON DC -- Days after the White House Summit for Democracy, thousands in the open government community will gather for the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Global Summit in Seoul, Republic of Korea on December 15-17.

The participants, including a dozen heads of state and hundreds of civil society leaders, will focus on how reformers in and out of government can work together to advance democratic reforms and fight growing authoritarianism.

The Global Summit comes as democracies continue to face internal and external threats. The state of democracy, as measured by Freedom House, is at its weakest in 15 years, and more than a quarter of the world’s population now lives in democratically backsliding countries.

“Across our partnership, courageous reformers are advancing ambitious reforms to renew democracy and tackle unprecedented global crises — from a devastating pandemic to economies in turmoil. Our platform also seeks to ensure that commitments made at high-level events such as last week’s White House Summit for Democracy and COP26 are turned into concrete actions,” OGP chief executive officer, Sanjay Pradhan said.

At the OGP Summit, US President Joseph Biden is expected to urge nations to take up a call to action to “fight the scourge of corruption” by working in partnership with civil societies and courageous citizens around the world.

According to OGP’s Civil Society co-chair María Baron, “Government and civil society can work together when they share the same mission, even if approaches and perspectives differ. To counter the global issues we face, we must act collectively. While OGP has one of the most vibrant communities of civil society organizations and activists, we cannot do it without government.”

This year, OGP celebrates its 10th anniversary. At the Summit, it will release an in-depth Decade Report, featuring stories and analysis of independent data showing that when governments co-create reforms with civil society, they are more ambitious and results are stronger.

More than 4,500 reforms have been co-created in 78 countries over the past decade. 2,000 of these were reviewed independently, and over 20 percent were assessed to have made government significantly more open. The report also found that countries that used their OGP action plan to fight corruption were more likely to carry out reforms.

These actions help fight corruption, promote direct citizen engagement, combat growing inequality, and improve citizen trust of government. For example:

• Data shows that the more open a government is, the better the socio-economic outcomes.
• Countries that published more government data have had lower death rates during COVID-19 than more secretive governments.
• Countries that have more budget transparency borrow money at lower rates and spend more of it on vital social services.

Since 2011, the Open Government Partnership, founded by eight national members and nine civil society organizations and initiated by former US President Barack Obama, has grown into a partnership of 78 national and 76 local government members and thousands of civil society organizations.

www.opengovpartnership.org

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THE House Employment, Education and Training Committee will hold a public hearing with the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) as it continues to examine how COVID-19 pandemic responses, including vaccine requirements and mandates, are affecting the workplace and may impact the Fair Work Commission.

Committee Chair, Andrew Laming MP said, "Vaccine mandates are a significant measure that have only recently taken effect and have the potential to impact the Fair Work Commission’s caseload going forward.

"The committee has already heard from the Fair Work Commission, as well as employee and employer groups, but is yet to hear evidence from a public health expert. ATAGI provides expert technical advice to the Australian Government on the immunisation program for COVID-19 vaccines and will provide that perspective," Mr Laming said.

During the pandemic, ATAGI has provided recommendations regarding COVID-19 outbreak settings and the risk/ benefit of COVID-19 vaccination in those circumstances.

Public hearing details

Date: Wednesday, 8 December 2021
Time: 3pm to 4.30pm AEDT
Location: via videoconference
Program: available here.

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

Further information about the inquiry is available on the committee’s website: https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House/Employment_Education_and_Training.

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QUEENSLAND’s peak mining body has welcomed the release of a new National Roadmap for Indigenous Jobs, Skills and Wealth Creation today.

Queensland Resources Council (QRC) chief executive Ian Macfarlane said the new framework released by the Minister for Indigenous Australians provides a long-term commitment to lift national outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

“I’m proud to say we’re making great inroads in the resources sector already, with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples making up almost five percent of our workforce in Queensland, which is higher than their current four percent level of representation in the state’s population," Mr Macfarlane said.

Mr Macfarlane said the resources sector spent almost $70 million dollars with 84 different Indigenous businesses in Queensland in 2019-20, with plans to boost outcomes even further.

The QRC hosted a Meet-the-Buyer event in Brisbane last week to build up connections between Indigenous business suppliers and buyers across the sector and create new opportunities for First Nations’ people and their businesses

Mr Macfarlane said the QRC’s highly successful Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA) is also helping to grow the state’s Indigenous skills pipeline.

“The State Government’s Next Step Destination Data shows that of the Indigenous students who went into an apprenticeship or traineeship from QMEA schools, eight percent went into the mining industry. This is compared to 0.5 percent from non-QMEA schools,” he said. 

“Our industry provides exciting, highly skilled and well-paid careers – not just jobs – for Indigenous Queenslanders, which we showcase each year at the QRC Indigenous Awards.

“These awards celebrate leading practice Indigenous achievements and the many role models in our sector, and promote the resources industry as a career of choice for Indigenous people.

“Nominations for the 2022 QRC Indigenous Awards, which will be held in Brisbane on May 11, 2022, are now open.

“The QRC looks forward to continuing to create more opportunities for First Nations’ peoples to thrive personally and professionally in 2022 and beyond.”

www.qrc.org.au

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THE House Standing Committee on Industry, Innovation, Science and Resources has tabled its report, The Now Frontier: Developing Australia’s Space Industry.

Chair of the committee, Pat Conaghan MP said, "This is an exciting time for the Australian space industry, which is deservedly receiving a renewed focus and interest. The industry is not the new frontier, but the now frontier, and building on its strengths will have enduring benefits for all Australians.

"The pace at which space-based technologies and innovation are developing is set to revolutionise the way we live. There are enormous opportunities for individuals, organisations, and communities to take advantage of this growing sector, particularly in rural and regional areas.

"In addition to improving our lives, this transformation will present real opportunities for Australia to be part of a growing and lucrative global space industry. Australia needs to position itself to capitalise on these opportunities."

"It is the hope of the committee that this report acknowledges the with awe-inspiring work already happening here in the Australian space industry and goes further to encourage and support the future promise and potential of the industry."

This bipartisan report of the committee makes 38 recommendations designed to drive growth and investment, encourage commercialisation of research and development, better facilitate international collaboration and grow a future space workforce.

Key recommendations include: a national assessment of Australia’s current and future space infrastructure requirements with particular emphasis on developing sovereign capability in identified areas, while acknowledging the need for industry to access a range of infrastructure for research and development; and community education and outreach programs to promote the range of professions – not generally associated with space – such as law, medicine, project management, communications and business that will all be required to support Australia’s space industry and facilitated to grow an internationally competitive sector.

A copy of the report can be found on the committee’s website.

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THE House of Representatives Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Sport has commenced an inquiry into childhood rheumatic diseases.

Chair of the committee, Trent Zimmerman MP, said the committee looked forward to receiving information on childhood rheumatic diseases and juvenile arthritis.

Mr Zimmerman said, "The committee will examine research into the causes of childhood rheumatic diseases and will focus on the health, social, educational and economic health impacts on children and adults who develop these diseases.

"The committee will also look at access to medical services, including diagnosis, treatment and ongoing management and support for all patients. The inquiry will focus on best practice quality of care and availability of treatments as well as assessing the professional education and training that is currently available for patients.

"We’re looking forward to hearing from the public, health professionals, patients and all interested stakeholders on how Australia’s health system could improve the management of rheumatic diseases for all patients and their families."

Submissions from interested individuals and organisations have been invited by Friday February 4, 2022. The preferred method of receiving submissions is by electronic format lodged online using a My Parliament account.

Further information about the committee’s inquiry, including the full terms of reference and details on how to lodge a submission are available at the committee’s website.

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THE House of Representatives Standing Committee on Economics today tabled its report into the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) Annual Reports 2019 and 2020. The report focuses on matters arising from public hearings held in October 2020 and February 2021.

Committee Chair Jason Falinski said, "Scrutinising our competition regulator is an important function of the committee and has been especially vital at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted significant changes to the ACCC’s regulatory work and priorities."

The committee heard from the ACCC on its responses to the pandemic across multiple sectors. Important measures such as temporary market authorisations have enabled market activity to continue to proceed in the best interests of Australians and the broader economy.

The committee also heard from the ACCC regarding its work responding to COVID-related scams targeting Australians, and its management of issues arising from widespread travel cancellations.

Beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, the committee inquired into issues such as the ACCC’s role in the Digital Platforms Inquiry, the financial technology sector, unconscionable and unfair conduct, common ownership, product safety, and motor vehicle service and repair information.

Mr Falinski said, "The ACCC’s work throughout the COVID-19 pandemic has been agile and responsive to emerging issues. While some ACCC priorities were put on hold to address these issues, it has continued to maintain substantial compliance and enforcement responsibilities across the competition and consumer law sector."

A full copy of the committee’s report is available on the committee’s website.

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