THE House of Representatives Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Sport has published an issues paper concerning the health impacts of alcohol and other drugs (AOD) in Australia.

After launching an inquiry into this topic on August 22 last year, the committee received more than 200 written submissions and heard from witnesses across seven days of public hearings in Melbourne, Brisbane, and Canberra. This significant level of public engagement underscored the critical importance of efforts aimed at addressing and curtailing AOD-related harms across the country.

"Alcohol and other drug use is not just a health issue – it is a complex social challenge that cuts across multiple measures of wellbeing for communities throughout Australia," Committee Chair, Mike Freelander MP, said.

Highlighting the often complex and wide-ranging consequences of substance use, Dr Freelander noted that "the impacts extend far beyond individual health, touching on critical social issues such as family violence, child protection, community services, and the criminal justice system".

The issues paper explores several key themes underpinning the evidence presented during the inquiry, such as the national coordination of the AOD sector, service demand and provision, prevention and harm reduction strategies, workforce development and tailored support for high-risk population groups.

Recognising the depth and complexity of the inquiry subject matter, the committee acknowledged that multiple aspects of the terms of reference could not be fully explored within the available time frame. The committee has recommended that the inquiry be continued in the next Parliament.

The report is now available on the Committee's website.

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THE House of Representatives Standing Committee on Communications and the Arts has today released a report, Am I Ever Gonna See You Live Again?, following its inquiry into the challenges and opportunities within the Australian live music industry.

Over the course of the inquiry, the committee held 18 public hearings in Canberra, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, and received many submissions from a wide range of stakeholders, including all levels of government, artists, broadcasters, promoters, venues, festivals, service providers and peak industry bodies.

Committee Chair Brian Mitchell, the Federal MP for Lyons in Tasmania, said the inquiry’s recommendations, if taken up by government, would help ensure a strong and sustainable future for live music in Australia.

"It was clear to us that many people across the country are doing a lot of work on live music," Mr Mitchell said.

"There was broad agreement about the myriad challenges and a lot of good ideas about how to grasp the opportunities of a fast-changing technological landscape.

"Our committee hasn’t sought to reinvent the wheel, but rather bring all that work and evidence together in a report and a set of recommendations that are practical and achievable."

The report is being tabled in the parliament out of session and can be found on the Committee’s webpage on the Commonwealth Parliament’s website.

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THE Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) has today tabled an advisory report on the Transport Security Amendment (Security of Australia’s Transport Sector) Bill 2024.

The report makes recommendations about proposed amendments to the Aviation Transport Security Act 2004 (ATSA) and the Maritime Transport and Offshore Facilities Security Act 2003 (MTOFSA).

Committee Chair, Senator Raff Ciccone, said, "It has been over 20 years since the ATSA and MTOFSA became law and in that time the threat environment has changed considerably. It is appropriate that the legislative framework governing transport security change along with it.

"The committee’s advisory report makes a number of recommendations — recommendations that seek to improve the bill and make our aviation and maritime industries even safer than they are already."

Further information on the inquiry, and the full report, can be obtained from the Committee’s website.

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THE Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit has today released its report on public sector artificial intelligence (AI) use.

The committee examined the current policy settings for AI use across the Federal Government to determine if they were fit for purpose.

Committee Chair Linda Burney said, "These policy and governance frameworks must be equipped to adequately assess the great promise that AI brings but also understand the inherent and significant risks that accompany its use."

The committee’s recommendations include:

• that the Australian Public Service Commission introduce detailed questions on the use and understanding of AI systems into its annual APS census;
• that a whole of Government working group be established within 12 months to consider what mandatory rules, governance frameworks and legislation will be needed for AI systems across the Commonwealth;
• that a statutory Joint Committee on Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies be established to give the Parliament fully effective oversight of how the government and the public service is managing the impacts of AI.

“If effective and coordinated governance frameworks for AI systems are not implemented now, a very real concern of the committee is that this technology will outpace the government’s ability to do so in the very near future,” Ms Burney said.

The report can be downloaded from the inquiry website.

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MASTER BUILDERS Australia CEO Denita Wawn has announced the building and construction industry "has lost one of its finest leaders" with the passing of Brian Seidler AM, the long-standing executive director of Master Builders Association of NSW. 

"Today, the Master Builders family around the country is mourning the loss of a leader who’s selfless 40-year devotion ensured that the industry’s voice was heard," Ms Wawn said.

"The building and construction industry is in a better place because of Brian Seidler.

"Brian’s tireless, tenacious, and energetic commitment was astonishing, and his legacy is far reaching. We will miss him greatly," Ms Wawn said.

"Our thoughts are with his family and the staff of Master Builders NSW."

www.masterbuilders.com.au

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THE Joint Standing Committee on Trade and Investment Growth has completed its inquiry into the understanding and utilisation of benefits under free trade agreements.

Throughout the inquiry the Committee heard from experts about how to ensure businesses and communities can take advantage of trade opportunities. The Committee focussed on the extent to which small and medium sized enterprises, First Nations, and diaspora communities are able to engage with trade.

The Chair of the Committee, Mr Steve Georganas MP, said: “This inquiry highlighted the strength of Australia as a trading nation and the remarkable success that so many Australian businesses have had in making the most of the opportunities presented by international trade.

However, there is untapped potential. We must continue to ensure that more Australian businesses and communities are able to participate if we are to maximise the economic and social benefits of trade for all Australians.”

The Committee’s report makes thirteen recommendations to Government to boost access of Australian business to the benefits of trade, including by:

• Publishing more information and data on the uptake and utilisation of trade agreements.
• Developing a strategy to build awareness and capacity for Australian businesses to engage with trade and trade agreements, including through collaboration with industry bodies.
• Continuing to work proactively with industry to identify and resolve non-tariff barriers to trade, including advocating for greater standards harmonisation.
• Accelerating initiatives to streamline requirements and processes involved in accessing trade agreements, particularly relating to rules of origin and certificates of origin.
• Creating a strategy for enhanced targeted education and outreach programs among groups such as small and medium sized enterprises, First Nations, and diaspora communities.
• Supporting research to better understand how and to what extent different participants in the economy engage with and benefit from trade and free trade agreements.
• Providing communications material and trade facilitation initiatives in non-English languages to more effectively engage with local diaspora communities.

Throughout the inquiry, the Committee held public hearings in Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney, and virtually, in addition to receiving 35 written submissions from businesses, industry groups and peak bodies, government agencies, community organisations, academics, and individuals.

The Committee would like to thank all those who have taken part in the inquiry by providing written submissions and giving evidence at public hearings.

The Committee’s final report can be found on the inquiry webpage alongside further information about the inquiry, including the terms of reference, published submissions, and public hearing transcripts.

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WITH ONLY THREE DAYS to go until the submission deadline for the Parliamentary Inquiry into Volunteering, Volunteering Queensland is urging volunteers and organisations to have their say. 

“Every person and organisation who has been involved in volunteering can make a valuable contribution. Every story, every idea can help improve the future,” Volunteering Queensland chief executive Jane Hedger said.

“You don’t have to submit a formal document – just an email telling your volunteering story and what you would like to see change will do.” 

Volunteering Queensland believes this inquiry has the potential to create a positive legacy for decades to come.  
“There is so much more we can do to raise awareness of the need for volunteers and make volunteer experiences more rewarding and effective,” Ms Hedger said.

“Our vision is a volunteering ecosystem in which people are able to easily find and engage in meaningful acts of service in their community.

“The Inquiry provides an opportunity to strengthen the foundations of communities across Queensland, especially as we move towards the 2032 Olympics & Paralympics during which volunteers will play a pivotal role.” 

Volunteer numbers are declining and, as Ms Hedger said, it is essential that this trend is turned around as the need for volunteers is growing. 

“This inquiry is a crucial opportunity to have your say.” 

The Inquiry into Volunteering Queensland is accepting submissions until Friday,  February 28. Find more information about the Inquiry and how to make your submission on the Volunteering Queensland website (click here).

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AS PART of its inquiry into nuclear power generation in Australia, the House of Representatives Select Committee on Nuclear Energy has released an interim report.

The committee was established to inquire into and report on the consideration of nuclear power generation, including deployment of small modular reactors, in Australia.

The committee has held 19 public hearings across Australia, which took important evidence from a range of stakeholders. The committee heard from global nuclear experts about the milestones and recommended approach for deploying nuclear power generation were the existing state and federal prohibitions on nuclear power in Australia lifted.

Evidence was also received from representatives of Australia’s science, energy and climate sectors — including federal government agencies responsible for Australia’s existing nuclear activities — who advised on key considerations and challenges for deployment in the Australian context. Many stakeholders, including First Nations, environment and community groups, commented on social licence issues for deploying nuclear power in Australia.

Chair of the committee, Dan Repacholi MP, the Federal Member for Hunter, said, "This interim report focuses on two key issues that have dominated the evidence we’ve received to date: whether nuclear power generation could be rolled out in Australia in an acceptable timeframe, and how affordable it would be – particularly compared to alternative power generation technologies currently available in Australia.

"From the evidence considered by the committee to date, it is apparent that it could be well into the 2040s before we might see nuclear energy generated in Australia if that form of energy generation were to be pursued. This would be too late to meaningfully support the achievement of Australia’s climate and energy targets or to help our coal power plant workforce and communities as we transition away from coal power," he said.

"We also heard that nuclear power is more expensive than the alternatives both to build and to use. As a country with no previous nuclear power experience, we were told that Australia could experience a 100 percent premium on the estimated cost to build nuclear reactors – a cost that taxpayers would likely have to pay."

On the question of small nuclear reactors, Mr Repacholi said, "Given they are still in the conceptual design stage and are not commercially available, small nuclear reactors simply don’t measure up as a viable option for powering Australia in the foreseeable future compared to proven solar and wind technologies which are already being rolled out and generating power."

The interim report states it does not present the committee’s final views or recommendations.

The committee thanked all those who contributed to the inquiry to date through written submissions, correspondence and giving evidence at public hearings.

The interim report and further information about the inquiry can be found on the Committee's website.

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