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Committee to inquire into Australia's global efforts to abolish the death penalty

THE Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade, through the Human Rights Subcommittee (the Subcommittee), has commenced an inquiry into Australia's efforts to advocate for the worldwide abolition of the death penalty.

The inquiry was referred by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Penny Wong on June 27, 2024 with specific Terms of Reference.

Chair of the Subcommittee, Maria Vamvakinou said, “there is no place for the death penalty in the modern world. State executions are cruel and are often associated with miscarriages of justice; all too often, innocent people are put to death and around the world, minorities and those with disabilities are disproportionately sentenced to death.”

The Subcommittee will look also into progress against the recommendations in the 2017 Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade report: A world without the death penalty: Australia's Advocacy for the Abolition of the Death Penalty.

Submissions from interested individuals and organisations addressing the terms of reference for this inquiry are invited by August 2, 2024. 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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CFMEU 'divorce law' welcomed by Manufacturing Division

THE Manufacturing Division of the CFMEU has welcomed the Australian Parliament’s passage of a new law which provides our members a vote on the future of their union.

This key legislation, passed by the Senate this afternoon, empowers members to decide if their union, the Manufacturing Division, stays amalgamated with or withdraws from the CFMEU.

The Manufacturing Division will now act to facilitate proceedings providing members with a vote by secret ballot conducted by the Australian Electoral Commission.

National secretary Michael O’Connor expressed the Manufacturing Division’s appreciation to Senator Jacquie Lambie, Minister Tony Burke and other supportive Parliamentarians.

“We are pleased that the parliament has passed this crucial legislation,” Mr O’Connor said,

“We thank Senator Lambie, Minister Burke and all of the Members of Parliament who did the right thing by our members.”

A notable and disappointing absence from the large parliamentary consensus which supported the legislation was the Australian Greens.

“The Greens oddly seem to think they are better placed than our members to determine what is best for them, their families and their communities,” Mr O'Connor said.

The Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment (Withdrawal from Amalgamation) Bill 2024 is largely modelled on an amendment moved by Senator Lambie earlier this year.

The bill was introduced and passed the House of Representatives last week and passed the Senate this afternoon with bi-partisan support.

The Manufacturing Division has sought to put the question of whether to withdraw from the CFMEU to its members for some years but was frustrated by the Construction Division’s opposition.

Manufacturing Division members work in vital industries in the economy including floor covering, cabinetry, joinery, glass and glazing, installation and shopfitting, forestry, timber and wood products, pulp and paper, furniture, textile clothing and footwear, and building products and materials manufacturing.

“Our members are now on a pathway to a more active and respected role in the labour movement which they can achieve by formally dissociating themselves with the CFMEU and its ever-deteriorating reputation,” Mr  O’Connor said.

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Live music inquiry public hearings

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

This week the committee will again be speaking with industry stakeholders, including promoters, production specialists, events infrastructure developers, and community organisations. It will also host three case study roundtables on the Cobargo Folk Festival, the Tamworth Country Music Festival and the Port Fairy Folk Festival.

Committee Chair, Brian Mitchell MP, said, "The committee looks forward to delving deeper into the operational and regulatory challenges that are facing live music event operators.

"The committee is equally looking forward to discussing how the Cobargo, Tamworth and Port Fairy festivals, all longstanding events, are facing these challenges, and what benefits they bring to their local communities and economies," Mr Mitchell said.

Details of the public hearings are below, with the full programs 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 details

Date: Wednesday, 3 July 2024
Time: 12.45pm – 1.30pm
Location: Committee Room 1R6, Parliament House, Canberra

Date: Friday, 5 July 2024
Time: 9am – 3.10pm
Location: Committee Room 1R2, Parliament House, Canberra

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

 

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Public Works reports on proposed ADFA accommodation and five other works

THE Chair of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works, Graham Perrett MP, presented the fifth Public Works Committee Report of 2024 to the House of Representatives on July 1.

This report considers six proposals referred to the Committee between November 2023 and March 2024 with a combined value of more than $2.1 billion. One of the projects, to demolish and replace living-in accommodation at ADFA, makes up half of the combined value at just over one billion dollars.

The committee’s report noted that the ADFA accommodation was no longer fit for purpose and needed replacement. However, the report recommended that Defence improve the proposal by working with the National Capital Authority to increase the height of each building, install electric vehicle chargers, and consider design changes to reduce operating costs.

Although Defence stated that the re-design would assist in reducing incidents of unacceptable behaviour, the committee expected Defence to improve behaviour through social education and fostering cultural change and not rely on an improved building layout.

This project was referred to the committee at an early design stage and has not yet received National Capital Authority approval. The committee has recommended that Defence always refer any future projects at a design level of 50 percent or greater to prevent major design changes from occurring during the inquiry process.  

Mr Perret MP said, "There is a clear need to provide fit-for-purpose accommodation for ADFA trainees to maintain the capability of the ADF."

Report 5 / 2024 also recommended that the following projects be approved:

  • Parks Australia — Mutitjulu Essential Services project;
  • Department of Veterans’ Affairs — Proposed Fit-out of New Leased Premises at 18 Marcus Clarke Street, Canberra;
  • Department of Finance – Proposed Fit-out of New Commonwealth Parliament Offices, Perth, Western Australia;
  • Department of Defence — Albury Wodonga Military Area Redevelopment project;
  • Department of Defence —RAAF Base Wagga Redevelopment Project.

For background information

Committee Secretariat
02 6277 4636
pwc@aph.gov.au

For more information about this committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.

 

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Hearings begin for First Nations economic independence inquiry

THE Joint Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs (JSCATSIA) will hold its opening public hearing today for the inquiry into improving the economic self-determination and opportunities for First Nations Australians.

Indigenous businesses are estimated to contribute more than $16 billion to the Australian economy, employ 116,795 people, and pay $4.2 billion in wages.[1].

The committee is interested in hearing from Indigenous Business Australia and a range of government agencies such as IP Australia, the Treasury and the National Indigenous Australians Agency about the support and opportunities they offer to First Nations Australians for training, employment and business development, as well as matters relating to Intellectual Property, and building the economic and social infrastructure to support economic prosperity in the long term.

CommitteeChair, Mutthi Mutthi and Wamba Wamba woman Senator Jana Stewart, said, "Blak-owned businesses are creating long-term economic prosperity in their communities. It is critical that we examine the opportunities and barriers to ensuring First Nations knowledge can be protected, and Blak businesses can thrive."

Further information on the inquiry, including the program for the public hearing at Parliament House on Friday June 28, is available on the committee’s website.

Public hearing details

Date: Friday, 28 June 2024
Time: 9am – 4pm (AEST)
Venue: Committee Room 1R5, Parliament House         

The hearing will be broadcast live and will be accessible from the Parliament House website.

 

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