AS A RESULT of the travel restrictions imposed by COVID-19, the House of Representatives Select Committee on Regional Australia will be extending its inquiry into 2021.

Committee chair, Tony Pasin MP said the committee was planning to travel to regional Australian communities as COVID-19 travel restrictions ease.

"We’re looking forward to the opportunity to further connect with people who live in the regions and to develop our understanding of the challenges and opportunities found across regional communities," Mr Pasin said.

"This extension allows us to further examine how the Black Summer bushfires and COVID-19 have impacted regional areas. We hope to learn more about what our regions need in order to encourage growth, decentralisation and sustainability."

Prior to the introduction of travel restrictions, the Committee conducted site visits and community roundtables in northern Tasmania. Since then the Committee has held 12 virtual public hearings.

Submissions to the inquiry have now been re-opened.

The Committee is offering organisations and individuals who have previously lodged a submission the opportunity to update their submissions in light of recent events.

Both new and updated submissions can be emailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

To learn more about the inquiry or read submissions received so far, visit aph.gov.au/regionalaustralia.

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THE Northern Australia Committee has commenced an inquiry into the destruction of the Indigenous heritage sites at Juukan Gorge, WA.

The inquiry will examine how the destruction of the caves came about; the processes that failed to protect the site; the impacts on Traditional Owners; and the legislative changes required to prevent such incidents from recurring.

Committee Chair, Warren Entsch, said it was inconceivable that such a valuable heritage site could be destroyed in complete accordance with the law and without any means for Traditional Owners or their representatives to effectively intervene.

"The Committee wants to find out how this was allowed to happen and how we will prevent such occurrences in the future. The States and Territories and the Commonwealth have an absolute obligation to preserve our Indigenous heritage for the benefit of all Australians," Mr Entsch said.

The Committee welcomes submissions from all interested parties. The deadline for submissions is July 31, 2020.

The Committee is due to report on September 30, 2020.

The detailed Terms of Reference can be found on the Committee’s website.

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THE Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) has commenced a statutory review into the ‘declared area’ provisions, listed in sections 119.2 and 119.3 of the Criminal Code Act 1995.

The provisions were introduced as part of the Foreign Fighters Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendments in 2014, and make it an offence for a person to enter, or remain in, declared areas of a foreign country, historically on the basis of regional terrorism activity.

Under a sunset clause, the provisions are due to expire on September 7, 2021. The Committee will review and make recommendations on whether they should be extended.

The Committee requests submissions to the inquiry by Friday August 28, 2020.

Prospective submitters are advised that any submission to the Committee’s inquiry must be prepared solely for the inquiry and should not be published prior to being accepted by the Committee.

Further information about making a submission to a committee inquiry can be found at the following link.

Further information on the inquiry can be obtained from the Committee’s website.

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THE Electoral Matters Committee has commenced a review into the Commonwealth Electoral Amendment (Ensuring Fair Representation of the Northern Territory) Bill 2020.

The bill, introduced to the Senate by Senator Malarndirri McCarthy and Senator the Hon Don Farrell, would amend the Commonwealth Electoral Act to provide for a minimum of two divisions for the Northern Territory in the House of Representatives.

Analysis from the Parliamentary Library has projected the possibility of the Northern Territory losing one of its two House of Representatives seats before the next federal election, caused by its population falling below the entitlement quota for the second seat.

The Committee invites written submissions addressing any or all aspects of the bill.

Prospective submitters are advised that any submission to the Committee’s inquiry must be prepared solely for the inquiry and should not be published prior to being accepted by the Committee.

Submissions are requested by 10 July 2020. Further information about making a submission to a committee inquiry can be found at the following link.

Further information on the inquiry can be obtained from the Committee’s website.

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