THE Northern Australia Committee has re-commenced its inquiry into the economic engagement of Traditional Owners.

The inquiry will examine opportunities and challenges associated with land rights, native title and other land-related agreements for the purpose of engaging Traditional Owners in the economic development of Northern Australia.

Committee Chair, Warren Entsch, said that with 78 percent of land in Northern Australia claimed or recognised under statutory land rights or native title, the resources available to Indigenous Australians are significant.

"The Committee wants to find ways to work with Traditional Owners so they can make better use of their resources, which will work to the advantage of Indigenous peoples while contributing to the economic development of Northern Australia," Mr Entsch said.

He urged a greater focus on capacity building in grass-roots Indigenous organisations under the land rights and native title regimes.

The inquiry commenced in the last Parliament, and was suspended during the election period. To date, the Committee has received 26 submissions and held one public hearing. 

Submissions are open until Friday, November 15, 2019. 

Further details of the inquiry, including expanded terms of reference, can be found on the Committee’s website.

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THEPalaszczuk Government must immediately approve the New Acland stage 3 project, following a Court of Appeal decision in favour of New Hope, according to the Queensland Resources Council (QRC).

QRC chief executive Ian Macfarlane said there could be no more hold ups, no more delays and no more excuses.

“The New Acland Stage 3 mine should go ahead, securing the jobs of the 150 workers who are facing redundancy because of more than 10 years of delays,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“There is a precedent for the Palaszczuk Government to act. In 2007 Anna Bligh’s Government legislated to guarantee operations at Xstrata’s Wollombi project in Central Queensland in response to a court ruling."

Mr Macfarlane said that at the time, Premier Anna Bligh said: ‘My government is not prepared to have this uncertainty…Next week we will legislate to validate the mining lease so that the mine can proceed, but only with stringent environmental requirements.’

Mr Macfarlane said, "This is in sharp contrast to the Palaszczuk Government, which has refused to act to save the jobs of 150 workers at the Acland mine, where redundancy proceedings have started.

“In fact, the government doesn’t have to take that extra step to legislate, it could simply approve the mining lease and associated water licence to allow the expansion to go ahead.

“In Parliament last week the Premier said the hold up for a decision was because ‘my government is waiting on the finalisation of proceedings in the Court of Appeal’.

“The Palaszczuk Government cannot allow this emotional upheaval affecting New Hope workers and the local community to go on for one moment longer," he said.

"If the government supports coal jobs, it’s not enough just to say so. It has to back up those words with action.

“It shouldn’t matter whether those jobs are in Central Queensland or Southern Queensland. The Premier must act immediately to save New Acland coal jobs.”

Click here for link to Anna Bligh’s statement on October 12, 2007.

www.qrc.org.au

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THE Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Kate Carnell said banks were wrong to discriminate against legitimate small businesses in the adult industry by blocking their access to essential financial services.

“My office is continuously contacted by sex workers who have complained they have been denied banking services such as merchant facilities to allow them to conduct their business,” Ms Carnell said.

“This is an ongoing issue and we have expressed our concerns to the Australian Banking Association and individual banks involved. There aren’t too many Australians who would rely on banks to be the moral arbiter for society.

“An EROS Association report found that financial services providers were treating adults-only businesses unfavourably on the basis of broad internal policies against the sex industry rather than tailored assessments of financial risk," Ms Carnell said.

“These actions are not only unfair, they are undermining efforts to combat the black economy. Bank accounts and financial services are essential for any legal business to operate.

“There are an estimated 25,000 people employed in the adult industry, which has an annual turnover of $2.6 billion.

“I encourage sex workers who feel they have been discriminated against by a financial service provider to contact ASBFEO for assistance.”

www.asbfeo.gov.au

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THE FEDERAL Government's role in supporting exporters and encouraging trade and investment will be the focus of a public hearing on Friday, September 13.

The Trade and Investment Growth Committee is holding the public hearing with government agencies in Canberra as part of its Inquiry into Supporting Australia’s Exports and Attracting Investment.

Committee Chair, George Christensen MP, said, "With increasing international uncertainty regarding trade, it is vital that Australia has the right regulations in place to boost trade and investment opportunities for Australian businesses. The Committee is interested in hearing from agencies about how the government is facilitating trade and investment, particularly in new and rapidly growing areas of export."

Public hearing details

Date: Friday, 13 September 2019
Time: 9.15am to 1.15pm
Location: Committee Room 1R3, Parliament House, Canberra

Further information about the Committee’s inquiry, including the public hearing program is available on the Committee’s webpage.

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