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Fisheries Officers take industrial action over personal safety concerns

FISHERIES officers across NSW have begun industrial action over safety concerns after a number of violent incidents where they were shot at, threatened with knives and baseball bats and had cars driven at them.

The officers are demanding they’re issued with protective equipment such as stab-proof vests and capsicum spray.

Fisheries officers are now avoiding certain areas and individuals at the very time fears have emerged that crooks, poachers and organised criminals, like outlaw bikie gangs, have taken over the state’s rivers, oceans and estuaries and are now plundering valuable species like abalone and rock lobster.

Without direct police assistance on operations the officers are now refusing to complete inspections of commercial trawlers at nighttime.

The Department of Primary Industries, which employs fisheries officers, attempted to force them back into dangerous night work earlier this week by applying to the NSW Industrial Relations Commission but the Commission refused to make such an order.

The officers also want the same powers as fisheries officers in other states to check boat and car registrations, conduct surveillance, undertake investigations, and real time GPS tracking of the entire commercial fishing fleet.

They also want to see the introduction of a ‘fit and proper person’ test for commercial fishing licence holders and their crew within six months.

A fisheries officer is going to get killed if the NSW Government doesn’t take action, according to Troy Wright the assistant general secretary of The Public Service Association which represents fisheries officers.

“Fisheries officers are being shot at, run down, having fishing knives pulled on them, someone’s going to get killed,” Mr Wright said.

“Fisheries officers have no way of knowing if a boat or car we inspect is going to be filled with bikies from outlaw motorcycle gangs, they’re blind compared to fisheries officers in other states.

“People say they care about the marine environment but the 100 or so fisheries officers in this state are now saying publicly our oceans, rivers and estuaries are being plundered and there is nothing they can do.

“In other states, fisheries officers have access to car and boat licence records like Police, they can find out if people are violent offenders and avoid dangerous situations, they can see if someone has a history of crimes against the environment -- in NSW we can’t do that.

“It's harder to get a RSA certificate to pull schooners at the local pub than it is to get a commercial fishing licence, you can get one and start taking thousands of kilos of fish by filling out an online form with no 100 points of ID, with no background checks.

“In Victorian or Queensland to be a commercial fisher you need to to pass a fit and proper person test, so if you have a prior history of crimes against the environment, or violent crimes you won’t get a licence,” Mr Wright said.

“It’s an absolute joke, to flick a line in at the local wharf mums and dads have to pay for a licence and have it with them, but to run a commercial fishing operation you can have 15 people all pulling out hundreds of fish who have zilch paperwork.

“Fisheries officers have no powers of investigation, they can’t even use binoculars or a camera, in other states they can apply to a magistrate to put a tracking device on a boat, here they can’t do that, why?

“We know drug traffickers have infiltrated the commercial industry, miles off the coast in the dead of night we need to board boats, yet unlike other states we don’t have a GPS vessel monitoring system for our commercial fishing fleet, one day fisheries officers will board a boat and they'll get killed.

“This is why the NSW fishing fleet is so appealing to drug traffickers to pick up cocaine shipments off the continental shelf,” Mr Wright said.

“In 2020 a fishing trawler called Coralynne was caught carrying 1.8 tonnes or $850 million worth of cocaine it had picked up from a larger ship in international waters. If fisheries officers had boarded this boat they might have been killed.

“Fisheries officers can’t even run a rego check on a boat they physically pull up alongside.

“In Queensland they track every boat via GPS, so they know where each boat is, who’s the skipper and what they’re doing.

“It’s not just miles off the coast, fisheries officers are intercepting poachers with thousands of dollars worth of abalone and rock lobster at all hours of the night, and these crooks won’t hesitate to hurt them if it means avoiding jail time,” Mr Wright said.

“Fisheries officers need more defensive protective equipment, stab proof vests, capsicum spray so if someone comes at them with a fishing knife they can put some distance between them and if they close that distance they can spray them so they can escape.

“Fisheries officers often can’t call police for backup as they are tracking poachers in the dead of night on remote beaches or miles offshore on trawlers. I’m telling you someone is going to get killed.

“They need cars with crimson flashing lights and a siren and power to effect vehicle stops,” Mr Wright said.

“There’s big money in poaching, every abalone is a $50 note, and all you need is a wetsuit and a knife and you can lever a couple of 100 off the rocks in a few hours, it's big money.

“Go for a bushwalk on the south coast and you’ll see where illegal fishers have removed the abalone shell and guts, but they keep the meat which attaches to the rock, they’re highly prized in asian cuisine.

“If you care about our state’s fish stocks, especially of endangered species like abalone and rock lobster, you need to hear this distress call from Fisheries Officer’s because if they’re ignored you might wake up to the news one day soon that these species are extinct,” Mr Wright said.

 

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Child employment regulator issues 1000 licences to help keep kids safe in the workplace

MORE THAN 1000 Victorian employers have been granted a licence to employ children under 15 since the new child employment licensing system came into place.

This milestone comes almost a year after stronger laws were introduced in Victoria to help keep kids safe in the workplace.

The new laws, administered by Wage Inspectorate Victoria and designed in consultation with stakeholders and the community, saw a licensing system replace a permit system, allowing businesses to employ multiple kids under one licence, instead of needing a permit for each child they employ.

Since the licensing system came into place, the Wage Inspectorate has granted 1000 licences for the employment of 8807 children. This represents a significant red tape reduction, as under the old system, businesses would have needed to apply for a permit for each of these 8807 children. 

Emily, who runs a media agency and employs more than 200 kids each year, said the change to the licensing system has helped her save sufficient time.

“Instead of applying for a permit for every child, we can simply add a child to our ongoing licence and the Wage Inspectorate knows the child is working in a safe environment”," Emily said.

“Not having to wait for each permit to be approved also makes it easier for us to substitute kids faster if someone is unable to work on a specific day.”

This system reduces the burden on businesses but hasn’t reduced the protection for kids. It has allowed the Wage Inspectorate to target its resources to the areas with the most risks.

Under the licence system, employers are subject to a ‘fit and proper person’ test which considers, among other things, an employer’s compliance with child employment and other relevant workplace laws.

The new laws also saw stronger powers for breaching child employment laws, with the maximum penalty for employing a child without a licence increased from $18,500 to more than $200,000.

In addition to obtaining a licence, there are other important rules employers must follow, like making sure kids are getting adequate rest breaks, finishing work by 9pm and not working during school hours.

Commissioner of Wage Inspectorate Victoria, Robert Hortle said, “The new licensing system has saved businesses from having to apply for almost 9000 individual permits. That’s time back in their day, and we know for businesses, time is money.

“The new system has reduced the burden for businesses but not protections for kids – It has enabled us to focus on monitoring areas of high-risk rather than assessing permit for compliant employers.

“Tougher penalties show that taking advantage of children in the workplace will not be tolerated. These are serious laws with serious consequences, and the Wage Inspectorate won’t hesitate to take serious offending to court.

“It’s great to give young workers a go, but it’s important to do so safely.”

More information about child employment can be found at wageinspectorate.vic.gov.au.

 

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First Public Hearing – Inquiry into Australia's global efforts to abolish the death penalty

TODAY, the Human Rights Subcommittee of the  Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade, will conduct its first public hearing for its inquiry into Australia's efforts to advocate for the worldwide abolition of the death penalty.

The half day public hearing will hear from representatives from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Attorney-General’s Department, the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Human Rights Commission.

Chair of the subcommittee, Maria Vamvakinou MP said, "This first public hearing will allow us to look at the advocacy role of the Australian Government, gain an overview of Australia’s efforts to date in advocating for the abolition of the death penalty, and examine any progress made against past recommendations on the issue.

“Australia is a vocal opponent of the death penalty and while there has been a trend over time towards abolition globally, there are still countries, including some of Australia’s closest partners, who currently impose and carry out the death penalty. Continued advocacy is important and nuanced, and looking into Australia’s efforts is critical to understanding what we are doing and what we need to do to be impactful.”

Further information about the committee’s inquiry is available on the committee’s website.

 

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Inquiry commences into public sector AI use

THE Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit (JCPAA) has commenced an inquiry into the use and governance of artificial intelligence (AI) systems by public sector entities.

Chair of the JCPAA, Linda Burney MP, said, "Evidence to the committee’s 2022-23 Commonwealth Financial Statements inquiry indicated an increased adoption of AI by public sector entities but also a lack of adequate governance frameworks to regulate and monitor this use. The committee has decided that oversight is needed of the current and potential future impacts of this fast-developing technology in delivering outcomes for the Australian public."

The inquiry will have particular regard to the following:

  • the purposes for which AI is currently being used by the public sector entity and whether there are planned or likely future uses;
  • the existing legislative, regulatory and policy frameworks that are relevant to the use of AI and whether they are fit for purpose;
  • whether the internal governance structures that currently exist for AI will ensure its ethical and responsible use by public sector entities;
  • the internal framework/policies or additional controls used for assessing the risks associated with the use and possible misuse of AI, including the areas of security, privacy, ethics, bias, discrimination, transparency and accountability;
  • whether there is an adequate line of sight to the output of AI, and the decisions made through its use;
  • whether the public sector has the internal capability to effectively adopt and utilise AI into the future;
  • whether there are sovereign capability issues to consider given that most AI tools currently used in Australia are sourced from overseas;
  • any other related matters.

Submissions to the inquiry addressing the above terms of reference are invited by Friday October 25. Details of this inquiry – including the submissions received and public hearings – will be available on the inquiry website.

The committee will make use of existing submissions to the Inquiry into Commonwealth Financial Statements 2022-23 that were requested from Commonwealth agencies on their use of AI.

 

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Fourth Public Hearing – Inquiry into Pacific Priorities

TODAY, September 12, the Foreign Affairs and Aid Subcommittee of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade will conduct its fourth public hearing for its inquiry into Australia’s response to the priorities of Pacific Islands and countries in the Pacific.

The subcommittee will today hear evidence from leading Australian academics.

Chair of the Subcommittee, Josh Burns MP, said, “The committee looks forward to the insights of some of our leading academics into Australia’s role in our region and the priorities that the Pacific itself has set.

“We are particularly excited to welcome academics of Pacifica origin as well as those that have studied the attitudes, interests, and priorities of diverse communities across the Pacific.”

Further information, including the hearing program is available on the Inquiry webpage.

Public Hearing Details

Date: Thursday 12 September 2024

11:30am – 12:30pm (AEST)

Committee Room 2R1, Parliament House, Canberra

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

 

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Treaties Committee recommends ratification of Australia-PNG and ILO 187 treaties

THE Joint Standing Committee on Treaties has tabled a report recommending the ratification of two major treaty actions.

They are::

The Australia-Papua New Guinea (PNG) agreement establishes a framework that will deepen security cooperation between the two countries and create obligations for the countries to work closely on mutual security interests. The agreement strengthens cooperation in traditional security areas such as defence, policing, border, and maritime security, as well as non-traditional areas such as cyber security, climate change, family violence, and critical infrastructure.

Committee Chair, Lisa Chesters MP, said the Australia-PNG agreement ‘"reflects the long-standing cooperation, shared history, geographical proximity, and common regional strategic outlook between our two nations".

"This agreement serves the national interests of both countries and contributes to a safe, stable, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific," she said.

International Labour Organization Convention No. 187 prevents occupational injuries, diseases, and deaths by requiring International Labour Organization (ILO) Members to establish and implement national policies, systems and programmes to promote a safe and healthy working environment.

"Ratifying ILO Convention No. 187 would demonstrate Australia’s commitment to workplace health and safety. Ratification would also mean that Australia has ratified all 10 fundamental ILO conventions, demonstrating our commitment to protecting workers from occupational harm and strengthening our position as a leader of international labour standards within the Asia-Pacific region," Ms Chesters said.

The Committee’s report also contains two minor treaty actions:

  • Amendments to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers
  • 1996 Protocol to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping Wastes and Other Matters 1972

The committee supports ratification and recommends that binding treaty action be taken for both major treaties and the two minor treaty actions.

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

 

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Live music inquiry Canberra public hearing — Contemporary Aboriginal Music

THE House of Representatives Standing Committee on Communications and the Arts is holding a public hearing this week for its inquiry into the challenges and opportunities within the Australian live music industry.

The committee will be speaking with Robbie Bundle, CEO of Victorian-based Songlines Music Aboriginal Corporation about the organisation’s live music initiatives designed to promote contemporary Aboriginal music and to develop cultural and community links, particularly with and for youth. The organisation has been operating a successful model of promoting indigenous music artists since 1994 — working collaboratively with municipalities across Victoria.

Committee Chair, Brian Mitchell MP, said, "The committee looks forward to discussing Songlines Music’s long-running youth-oriented music programs which include school workshops, school holiday programs and music tutoring.

"The committee is eager to hear about how the two biggest annual events which Songlines stages — the Share the Spirit Festival (an all-ages event) and the Koorie Pride Youth Festival — are faring in the current Australian live music environment which many in the industry have told the committee is extremely challenging."

Mr Bundle has performed as a musician for over 35 years with a focus on telling Aboriginal Australian stories through his songwriting and performing. Australia’s Cultural Policy ‘Revive’ is structured around five interconnected pillars: First Nations First; A Place for Every Story; Centrality of the Artist; Strong Cultural Infrastructure, and Engaging the Audience.

The committee will explore the Songlines model of engagement between artists, audiences and communities and the way it conveys and maintains Australian stories, through First Nations music and artist promotion.

Details of the public hearing are below, with the full program and terms of reference available on the inquiry webpage.

More information about the Committee, including membership, may be found on the Committee’s website.

Public hearing detail

Date: Wednesday, 11 September 2024
Time: 12:40pm—1:20pm
Location: Committee Room 1R6, Australian Parliament House

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

 

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Generative AI in Education report released

THE House of Representatives Standing Committee on Employment, Education, and Training has today tabled its report, Study Buddy or Influencer, following its inquiry into the use of generative artificial intelligence in the Australian education system.

Committee Chair, Lisa Chesters MP, said, "Generative AI (GenAI) presents exciting opportunities and yet high stakes risks for the Australian education system."

The Committee’s 25 recommendations explore how Australian schools can maximise the opportunities presented by GenAI while successfully mitigating the risks in using the emerging technology, and ensuring adequate safeguards and guardrails are in place to prevent misuse.

A key focus of the recommendations is to integrate generative artificial intelligence into Australia’s national curriculum as a study buddy for all students to use. These tools need to be fit-for-purpose, relevant to the Australian context, sensitive to gender and cultural considerations, and trained on data that is based on the national curriculum.

The committee identified that this technology has the potential to enhance educational experiences and deliver stronger student outcomes, particularly for Australia’s most vulnerable cohorts of students. 

The committee also believes, risks related to the use of the technology must also be addressed urgently. Of particular importance is the need to protect users, 'especially students’ data, and ensure that educational providers do not select GenAI tools that will store users’ data offshore or sell them to third parties.

The committee recognises that generative artificial intelligence technology may outpace the parameters of the terms of reference of this report, and these recommendations may need to be reviewed in the future.

Ms Chesters said, "These recommendations will forge a strong foundation to regulate the application of generative artificial intelligence in Australia’s education sector and if managed correctly GenAI in the Australian education system will be a valuable study buddy and not an algorithmic influencer."

The full report of the inquiry can be found on the committee’s inquiry webpage.

 

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Electoral Matters Committee considers civics education beyond the classroom

THIS WEEK the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters will hold two public hearings as part of its inquiry into civics education, engagement, and participation in Australia on Wednesday, September 11 and Friday, September 13.

Committee Chair, Senator Carol Brown said, "As this inquiry continues, a key theme has been the importance of civics education outside the classroom setting.

"Equal participation in our democracy and the casting of an informed vote depends on a range of factors such as how inclusive and accessible civics education is and how it is being taught outside of school.

"The committee looks forward to exploring how parliaments and universities teach civics and digital literacy and how youth engagement with our democracy can be improved. We will also be learning more about how students navigate the abundance of readily available information online and how they can better identify mis- and dis-information," Senator Brown said.

Public hearings details

Date: Wednesday, 11 September 2024
Time: 9.45am to 10.30am
Location: Committee Room 1R1, Parliament House, Canberra
Witness: Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Hon Milton Dick MP

Date: Friday, 13 September 2024
Time: 8.30am to 12.30pm
Location:Committee Room 2R1, Parliament House, Canberra
Witnesses: News and Media Research Centre, University of Canberra; Parliamentary Education Office; Universities Australia; Dr Sarah Moulds; Australian Electoral Commission.

A livestream of the hearings will be available via the Parliament’s Watch, Read, Listen website.

Further information about the inquiry, including submissions received and past public hearings, is available on the inquiry webpage.

 

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Treaties Committee to hold public hearings for High Seas treaty

THE Joint Standing Committee on Treaties will hold the first public hearing today for its inquiry into the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction.

The agreement closes gaps in the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction and enables Australia to take an active role in maintaining the health of marine environments.

Committee Chair, Lisa Chesters MP, said, "The maintenance of ocean health supports Australia’s marine industries and reflects the Government’s international environmental leadership and nature positive agenda. The good health of marine ecosystems, biodiversity and resources provides cultural, social and economic value to Australia.

"As a member of the High Ambition Coalition, Australia has long been an advocate for the Agreement. By ratifying and becoming party to the Agreement, Australia will be able to influence decision making on global environmental action. Ratification will also benefit Australian industries such as tourism, fishing and aquaculture, and will provide Australian scientists with access to undiscovered materials and information," Ms Chesters said.

"This agreement is a priority for many nations within the Indo-Pacific. Early ratification will ensure that Australia remains an influential leader in the agreement’s implementation, contributing to a secure, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific and supports our foreign policy objectives," she said.

The committee will hold the first public hearing at 2pm today, where they will hear evidence from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade as well as from panels of academic, industry and NGO stakeholders.

Professor Donald Rothwell will appear at a second hearing on September 9. The committee will hear evidence relating to his submission to the inquiry.

Public hearing details

Date: Thursday 5 September 2024
Time: 2pm to 4pm
Location: Committee Room 1R4, Parliament House, Canberra

Date: Monday 9 September 2024
Time: 12.10pm to 12.40pm (approximately)
Location: Committee Room 2R1, Parliament House, Canberra

More information about the committee and its inquiry can be found on the Committee’s website.

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

 

 

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Queensland’s Electric Super Highway and innovative battery manufacturing

AS PART of its inquiry into the transition to electric vehicles (EVs) the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water will travel to Brisbane to hear from representatives of the Queensland Government, the heavy vehicle industry, EV manufacturers and experts in battery technologies.

The committee will hold a half day of public hearings before conducting a site visit to Queensland Energy Storage Technology (QUEST) Hub, a facility enabling the research, development and commercialisation of battery materials, cells and systems.

On Friday September 6, the committee will conduct a second site visit to Lava Blue Ltd’s Centre for Predictive Research into Specialty Materials (PRiSM), where researchers are developing processes for manufacturing battery-grade materials.

Chair of the committee, Mr Tony Zappia MP, said, "The committee is eager to hear from the Queensland Government about its Electric Super Highway that is connecting commuters and tourists with fast charging infrastructure for electric vehicles along the coastline and into regional and rural Queensland. In addition, the committee is looking forward to meeting with witnesses to further explore the impact the transition to EVs may have for Australian consumers and our transport and heavy vehicle sector.

"The site visits will give the committee an important opportunity to learn more about Australia’s growing domestic battery industry, battery certification and the circular economy."

The program for the public hearings can be found here.

The committee will be holding further public hearings in Canberra and Adelaide in September and October 2024. Further information about the inquiry is available on the committee’s website.

Public hearing details

Date: 5 September 2024
Time: 9am – 1pm
Location: Committee Room 1 (CR1), Queensland Parliament, Brisbane.
Witnesses: Queensland Government, ACE EV Group, Janus Electric, Volvo Group Australia, Strata Solve, Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia, Queensland University of Technology Energy Storage Research Group and the Queensland Energy Storage Technology Hub.

 

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