Business News Releases

87th Annual Report recommends reform to the Public Works Committee Act 1969

ON MARCH 26, the Chair of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public WorksGraham Perrett MP, presented the Eighty Seventh Annual Report to the House of Representatives.

The report contains a recommendation for reform of the committee’s foundation legislation.

The Public Works Committee was established in 1913. While it has provided parliamentary scrutiny of Commonwealth expenditure and ensured public value of proposed works, the government procurement and construction environment has evolved significantly in the last century.

Mr Perrett said, "A full review of the Public Works Committee legislation, with a view to repealing and replacing the current Act, would ensure the Committee can continue to provide effective oversight of government expenditure".

The annual report is a statutory requirement of the committee. It also includes statistics on inquiries, hearings and medium works for 2023.

For more information about this committee, visit its website.

 

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Electoral Matters Committee launches inquiry into civics education, participation and engagement

THE Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters has commenced an inquiry into civics education, engagement, and participation in Australia, and is seeking written submissions in response to the Terms of Reference by Friday, May 24.

The committee is particularly interested in hearing from people with direct experience of civics and citizenship education and challenges associated with electoral participation. This includes students and teachers, young people, First Nations peoples, people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds, civic and educational organisations, and people in regional, rural, and remote areas.

Committee Chair, Kate Thwaites MP, said, "In a time when we’re seeing challenges for democracies across the world, and a rise in mis- and disinformation, it’s important that every Australian has the opportunity to be informed about and engaged in our democracy.

"The committee wants to hear Australians’ experiences of civics education, and what we can do better to support democratic engagement and participation.

"So many young Australians are passionate about social and political issues, but they may not have access to relevant and reliable information about democratic and electoral processes.

"The diversity of cultures, languages, and life experiences within Australia means we need to ensure access to relevant, digestible, and accurate information about our democracy. This includes for First Nations peoples, people in remote areas and CALD communities."

The committee intends to present a final report for the inquiry by the end of 2024.

Further information about the inquiry is available on the inquiry website.

 

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Shared vision, equal pathways -- Report of VET inquiry released

THE House of Representatives Standing Committee on Employment, Education, and Training has today presented the report of its inquiry into the perceptions and status of vocational education and training (VET).

Committee Chair, Lisa Chesters MP said, "High-quality VET is crucial to skilling Australians for an increasingly dynamic economy and labour market. Unfortunately, many people do not fully understand the VET sector or the careers to which it leads, and many still consider VET a less valuable or rewarding pathway compared to university.

"Governments at all levels must ensure access to reliable, accurate information on VET and actively promote the sector and the fantastic opportunities that it offers," Ms Chesters said.

"However, information and marketing efforts will not on their own be sufficient to address negative perceptions of VET," she said. "Tangible improvements to the sector must also be made to ensure the quality and relevance of training, and that the sector is subject to robust regulatory, governance, and funding arrangements."

The committee has made 34 recommendations designed to address poor perceptions of the sector and enhance the quality of and access to VET pathways. These include:

  • Significantly overhaul the functions of the National Careers Institute.
  • Developing a national careers education strategy for secondary schools.
  • Improving VET delivered to secondary school students via cooperative partnerships and increased school funding.
  • Rationalising the development and implementation of VET qualifications.
  • Addressing systemic barriers to women’s participation in VET, with a focus on eliminating gender-based violence and workplace discrimination and challenging gender stereotypes.
  • Enhancing apprenticeships, including by piloting a network of industry-led apprenticeship support providers, lifting pay and conditions, and exploring new apprenticeship pathways.
  • Creating a robust framework for developing, implementing, and funding micro-credentials.
  • Implementing measures to attract and retain a VET workforce with industry expertise and a greater range of pedagogical competencies.
  • Defining a clear roadmap to a genuinely integrated tertiary education system.

The committee’s report was informed by other reform processes including the Employment White Paper, the National Skills Agreement, and the Australian Universities Accord. The committee’s recommendations should be considered alongside the findings of these reports.

The report and further information about the inquiry is available on the inquiry website.

 

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Flood insurance inquiry to hold hearings in south-east Queensland and northern NSW, April 9-11

THE House Standing Committee on Economics will hold public hearings in the Moreton Bay and Logan regions (Queensland) and the Northern Rivers (New South Wales) on April 9–11 as part of its inquiry into insurers’ responses to 2022 major floods claims.

Committee Chair, Daniel Mulino MP, said the inquiry had heard from regulators, insurance companies and consumer advocacy, and legal rights groups. “Now we want to hear firsthand from the locals in some of the worst-hit regions.”

Dr Mulino said councils, community organisations and businesses had been invited to give evidence at roundtable discussions at the hearings. (Organisations that wish to contribute can email their interest to the Committee secretariat.)

Expressions of interest are also being sought from residents to each give a three- to four-minute public statement about their experience with their insurers. Dr Mulino urged people “with a story to share, and who are willing to go on the public record, to register – as soon as possible – their interest in appearing”.

The committee would like to hear about any of the following issues:

  • the experiences of policyholders before, during and after making claims
  • timeframes for resolving claims
  • obstacles to resolving claims
  • insurers’ communication with policyholders
  • accessibility and affordability of hydrology reports and other expert assessments
  • affordability of insurance premiums
  • claimants’ experiences of insurers’ dispute resolution processes.

People interested in appearing should email a one or two sentence summary of their experience to the Committee secretariat.

Dr Mulino acknowledged that the inquiry may not be able to accommodate everybody on the day.

The committee will hold public hearings at:

  • The Hub, Caboolture, Queensland on Tuesday April 9.
  • Beenleigh Events Centre, Logan, Queensland on Wednesday April 10.
  • Invercauld House, Lismore, New South Wales on Thursday April 11.

 

“We know that in some of these places almost everyone has a story to tell. But for anyone who misses out or who wishes to provide information to the Committee, there is still time to make a public or confidential submission, and/or complete our online survey.”

More than 400 people have completed the survey about their experience with their insurer.

Individuals who want to make a statement at the hearings should email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

They should write “Public hearing” and the hearing location (whether Caboolture, Logan or Lismore) in the subject line and include full name(s) for each person who wants to participate, as well as a contact number and email address.

Submissions can be uploaded through this online link or by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. until July 31, 2024.

Programs for the hearings will be posted on the inquiry website closer to the time. A live audio stream of the hearings will be available on the APH website.

Online survey

The survey is open until July 31 and is available here: Insurers’ responses to 2022 major flood claims.

For further information contact the committee secretariat on 02 6277 4707 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Upcoming hearings, April 2024:

Public Hearing – Moreton Bay, Qld – local councils, businesses, community organisations and community members

Date: 9 April 2024
Time: 9am (tbc)
Location: The Hub, Caboolture

Public Hearing – Logan, Qld – local councils, businesses, community organisations and community members

Date: 10 April 2024
Time: 9am (tbc)
Location: Beenleigh Events Centre

Public Hearing – Lismore – local councils, businesses, community organisations and community members

Date: 11 April 2024
Time: 9am (tbc)
Location: Invercauld House, Goonellabah

Background information

Committee Secretariat
02 6277 4707
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For more information about this committee, visit its website.

 

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Treaties Committee to consider Southeast Asia trade area agreement and removal of wrecks treaty

THE Joint Standing Committee on Treaties will hold two public hearings today for its inquiries into the Second Protocol to Amend the Agreement Establishing the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA) (AANZFTA Second Protocol) and the Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks (the Nairobi Convention).

The second public hearing to be held by the Committee on the AANZFTA Second Protocol will provide an opportunity for the committee to discuss issues arising from the treaty including the investor-state dispute settlement mechanism, inter-state dispute settlement, the adoption of a negative list approach and cooperation in education.

The committee will hear from Professor Luke Nottage, the Australian Fair Trade and Investment Network and the Australian Council of Trade Unions.

The committee will then hold a public hearing for its inquiry into the Nairobi Convention which aims to give State Parties the legal means to remove or have shipwrecks removed that potentially affect the safety of lives, goods and property at sea, and the marine environment.

The convention provides rules and standards that facilitate prompt and effective removal of shipwrecks which are located in areas beyond the territorial sea. The convention also ensures that registered ship owners are held financially liable for the creation of wrecks and are required to have insurance or other financial security to cover the costs of locating, marking and removing wrecks. 

Committee Chair Josh Wilson MP said, "Australia is dependent on international maritime trade, so it is vital we keep our maritime environment safe.

“Most wreck incidents affecting Australia involve lost shipping containers from foreign flagged vessels in Australia’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ). By acceding to this treaty, Australia would be legally allowed to remove or have removed wrecks in the EEZ that pose a danger, impede navigation or could cause major consequences to the marine environment or Australia’s coastline.”

The committee will hear from officials from the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, and the Arts and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Public hearing details - AANZFTA Second Protocol  

Date:               Monday 25 March 2024
Time:              11am approximately
Location:        Committee Room 2R1

Public hearing details - Nairobi Convention

Date:               Monday 25 March 2024
Time:               11:50am approximately
Location:         Committee Room 2R1

The hearings can be accessed online and the programs for the hearings are available on the Committee website, along with further information about the inquiries. 

 

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