THE Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit has published its report into the 2022-23 Major Projects Report.

Committee Chair, Linda Burney MP said, "Now in its 16th year, the Major Projects Report (MPR) continues to be an important tool for Defence accountability and transparency. In 2022-23, the 20 projects contained in the MPR constitute around 31 percent ($58.6 billion) of Defence’s total acquisition budget."

The committee examined a wide range of issues this year, including the reasons for the Auditor-General’s qualified conclusion and emphasis of matter.

The committee made four recommendations, which when implemented, will result in important corrections and introduce evolutions to the MPR process to improve its transparency and Defence’s accountability to the Parliament and the Australian public for what are large amounts of public expenditure.

Broadly, these recommendations deal with the reinstatement of lessons to PDSSs; reporting on improved governance and assurance processes; assessments of the full project costs of each project, including fundamental inputs to capability; and more clearly identifying scope, schedule and budget changes, both in-year and life-to-date for each project.

The report can be downloaded from the inquiry website.

The committee has also published its 2023-24 Annual Report, which can be downloaded from the Committee website.

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AS PART OF ITS INQUIRY into nuclear power generation in Australia, the House of Representatives Select Committee on Nuclear Energy will conduct multiple public hearings in New South Wales from December 10 to 12.

The committee will visit Muswellbrook, Lithgow and Sydney.

Chair of the committee, Dan Repacholi MP, the Federal Member for Hunter, said, "Each public hearing is a chance for the committee - and for people following the inquiry - to build our understanding of the concerns and priorities of communities in areas that have been earmarked for potential nuclear plants, and to hear from a range of stakeholders, including technical experts and advocacy groups, about the potential benefits and challenges of nuclear energy for Australia.”

The hearings can be accessed online.

The committee will be holding further public hearings in Western Australia later this month. 

Programs for all hearings and further information about the inquiry, including the inquiry terms of reference, are available on the Committee’s website.

​Public hearing details

Muswellbrook, NSW:

Date: Tuesday, 10 December 2024

Time (approx.): 9:30am – 12:30pm (AEDT)

Location: Muswellbrook Workers Club, 15 - 17 Sydney Street Muswellbrook NSW

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Lithgow, NSW:

Date: Wednesday, 11 December 2024

Time (approx.): 9am – 12pm (AEDT)

Location: Millenium Room, Lithgow and District Workmens Club, 3-7 Tank St, Lithgow NSW

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Sydney, NSW:

Date: Thursday, 12 December 2024

Time (approx.): 8:45am – 5pm (AEDT)

Location: Sydney Room, Cliftons, 13/60 Margaret Street, Sydney, NSW

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THE Human Rights Subcommittee of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade (JSCFADT) has tabled its report titled Inquiry into Australia’s efforts to advocate for the worldwide abolition of the death penalty.

Chair of the Subcommittee, Maria Vamvakinou MP, said, “Most stakeholders to the inquiry noted that progress has been made globally towards the abolition of the death penalty.

“However, in the current challenging geopolitical conditions, there are signs that specific groups are more likely to face the threat of the death penalty. We also heard there is a risk for states to backslide. Progress cannot, therefore, be taken for granted, and Australia has a critical role to play in advocating in a clear and consistent manner for the abolition of the death penalty—especially within our own region,” Ms Vamvakinou said.

This report makes seven recommendations aimed at Australia’s efforts in advocating for the abolition of the death penalty, including:

• the development of strategies to advocate for the abolition of the death penalty for drug related crimes;
• the development of a statement against the death penalty to be delivered annually;
• continued advocacy, including in partnership with like-minded abolitionist countries in the Asia-Pacific region;
• the development of a domestic education and awareness strategy; and
• provision of adequate funding for Civil Society Organisations to gather data on trends and current areas of concern.

The report is now available on the JSCFADT website.

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THE Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade, through the Human Rights Subcommittee (the subcommittee), has commenced a review of the amendments made by the Autonomous Sanctions Amendment (Magnitsky-style and Other Thematic Sanctions) Act 2021.

Pursuant to Clause 4 of the Autonomous Sanctions Amendment (Magnitsky-style and Other Thematic Sanctions) Act 2021 the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade is required to commence a review of the operation of the amendments made by this Act as soon as possible after December 8, 2024.

Chair of the Subcommittee, Maria Vamvakinou, said, “There is a role for sanctions in applying pressure to states or individuals, with the goal of targeting the repression of human rights. The review will seek to ascertain how the operation of the amendments made by the Act, accord with Australia’s international human rights obligations’."

Submissions from interested individuals and organisations are invited by January 17, 2025. The preferred method of receiving submissions is by electronic format lodged online using a My Parliament account.

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

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