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Expeditioners to be withdrawn from Antarctic Macquarie Island research station

Aug 28, 2026 143
THE Australian Government’s Antarctic Division has made the difficult decision to temporarily withdraw staff from Macquarie Island research station due to the psychosocial risk to expeditioners posed by a potential H5 avian influenza (bird flu) outbreak on the remote island.

The research station, where 24 expeditioners currently live and work, was established on the Southern Ocean island about…

Submissions open for four Inquiries into endangered species, free trade with Singapore, and Fiji…

Aug 27, 2026 197

THE Joint Standing Committee on Treaties (JSCOT) has commenced inquiries into four treaty actions covering endangered species protection, trade and supply chain resilience with Singapore, and defence, security, and economic relations with Fiji.

They are:

HIA says regional infrastructure commitment 'a welcome focus' on getting homes built

Aug 27, 2026 150

THE Housing Industry Association (HIA) has welcomed the Coalition’s commitment to guarantee $1.5 billion for critical housing infrastructure in regional Australia, saying investment in roads, water, sewerage and power is essential to turning housing targets into actual homes.

“The announcement reflects a key recommendation in HIA’s Housing the Regions report and puts the focus on one of the…

Climate Change Committee examines future of solar panel reuse and recycling

Aug 25, 2026 211

THE House of Representatives Standing Committee on Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water will hold a public hearing in Melbourne on Wednesday, August 26 as part of its inquiry into solar panel reuse and recycling.

The committee will hear from industry representatives, researchers, recyclers, local government and circular economy experts about opportunities to expand the reuse and…

Public Works Committee to visit East Sale and Lucas Heights

Aug 24, 2026 176

THIS WEEK, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works will visit East Sale, Victoria and Lucas Heights, New South Wales to conduct a series of site inspections and public hearings into two of its current inquiries:

Public Works Committee referred proposed works by Defence, Infrastructure, and Services Australia

Aug 24, 2026 283

THE Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works has recently commenced three new inquiries into proposed works by the Department of Defence (Defence), the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sports and the Arts (DITRDCSA), and Services Australia under the Public Works Committee Act 1969.

Defence is proposing to deliver new facilities and…

Employment Committee to raise issues about minimum employment conditions with Australian Government

Aug 23, 2026 213

THE House of Representatives Standing Committee on Employment, Workplace Relations, Skills and Training will hold a public hearing in Canberra on Thursday, August 27, as part of its inquiry into the operation and adequacy of the National Employment Standards (NES).

The inquiry was referred to the committee on November 27 last year by the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Amanda…

Public schools mark Skills Week with record enrolments in vocational education

Aug 23, 2026 320

NSW PUBLIC SCHOOLS are leading an increase in the number of students signing up to vocational education and training courses, which are helping them gain practical, job-ready skills for rewarding careers while also addressing critical shortages.

As the nation prepares to mark National Skills Week from August 24, new National Centre for Vocational Education Research figures show that NSW VET in…

Public hearings in Tasmania, SA and WA for the local government funding inquiry

Aug 23, 2026 305

THE House of Representatives Standing Committee on Regional Development, Infrastructure and Transport will hear from the representatives of more than 50 councils during five interstate hearings in Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia this week as part of its inquiry into local government funding.

The committee wants to better understand the funding challenges faced by local government…