THE Joint Standing Committee on Implementation of the National Redress Scheme will be holding a public hearing tomorrow for an inquiry into the National Redress Scheme.

Legal practitioners, support services and advocates are among witnesses scheduled to give evidence.

The public hearing will start at 9:30am AEDT (Canberra time). The program is available on the Committee’s website.

The inquiry is looking into a range of areas, including:

• The experience of First Nations applicants and applicants with disability in their dealings with the Scheme.
• Accessibility, performance and effectiveness of support services and legal advice for survivors and their advocates.

The committee is continuing to accept written submissions.

Full details of what the inquiry is examining can be found in the terms of reference on the Committee’s website. An easy English guide is also available.

Public hearing details

Thursday 23 November 2023
9:30am to around 4:45pm AEDT (Canberra time)
Committee Room 1R3, Parliament House, Canberra
Listen online at www.aph.gov.au/News_and_Events/Watch_Parliament

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THIS WEEK, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Milton Dick MP is in regional New South Wales with Sussan Ley MP, Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Member for Farrer, as part of the Parliament in Schools program.

Students will learn about federation, democracy and the Australian Parliament, as well as hear first-hand from the Speaker and Ms Ley on what a typical day looks like in their electorate and when they are in Canberra for sitting weeks.

Over three days, the Speaker and Ms Ley will visit:

• Wentworth Public School
• Pomona Public School
• Palinyewah Public School
• Pooncarie Public School
• Dareton Public School
• Gol Gol Public School
• Euston Public School.

“In collaboration with local federal MPs, we have brought Parliament to over 70 schools across Australia,” Speaker Milton Dick said.

“I am so passionate about ensuring as many young Australians as possible have the information and knowledge they need to go on to being engaged and informed citizens.”

“I am really looking forward to bringing the Parliament in Schools to the great electorate of Farrer.”

About the Parliament in Schools program

Launched last year, the Parliament in Schools program is a bi-partisan initiative to make civics education accessible to students regardless of their location. In collaboration with local federal members, the Speaker is visiting schools across Australia to bring parliament to them.

The program is an extension to well-established Parliamentary Education Office (PEO) onsite, digital and outreach education programs available to schools across Australia.

It also complements the existing PEO online and print resources that are curriculum-aligned, for Australian teachers and students.

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UNDER the Public Works Committee Act 1969, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works will consider three new referrals, one from the Department of Defence, one from Airservices Australia and one from Australia’s Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation.

The projects are: 

• Department of Defence – RAAF Base Darwin – Mid-term Refresh – $159.9 million – Darwin, Northern Territory; The works will deliver enhanced resilience and redundancy to the base and includes upgrades to vehicle access as well as sewer and water networks.
• Airservices Australia – PFAS Remediation of Former Fire Training Ground at Launceston Airport – $24 million – Launceston, Tasmania. The works will remediate Per-and Poly-Fluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) contamination of Launceston Airport resulting from historical firefighting operations on the site.
• Australia’s Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation – Nuclear Medicine Manufacturing Facility – $619 million – Lucas Heights, New South Wales. The works will replace Australia’s main nuclear medicine manufacturing facility to meet community needs.

It is anticipated that the committee will conduct public and in-camera hearings for the inquiries in 2024. The committee wants to hear from all individuals or organisations interested in the project. The deadline for public submissions is early January 2024, with more information available on the Public Works Committee website.

Committee Chair Graham Perrett MP, said, "Public submissions and the public hearings will allow the committee to review the purpose, need and public value of the proposed works."

Note: The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works is not involved in the tendering process, awarding of contracts or details of the proposed works. Inquiries on these matters should be addressed to the relevant Commonwealth entities.

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THE Foreign Affairs and Aid subcommittee of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade this morning tabled its report titled Supporting democracy in our region.

Chair of the subcommittee, Josh Burns MP, said, "This is an important bipartisan report that considers how Australia can partner with countries in our region to promote democracy and the international rules-based order.

"This report recommends how Australia’s national interests and foreign policy pursuits can be strengthened by aligning with local priorities, enhancing both countries institutions and building on strong bilateral relationships to promote democracy in our region.

"Ultimately, stronger partnerships build capacity to resist regression of democratic norms and ideals that has been eroding the effectiveness of the international framework that has served our region for many years."

Recommendations include:

• Increased funding for the Australian Electoral Commission to develop long-term partnerships with electoral bodies in the Indo-Pacific who request assistance with elections.
• Establishing a media broadcasting capacity and support building program for the region that facilitates training and development both in Australia and in our neighbouring countries.
• Establishing a Women in Parliament program to strengthen partnerships with women in the region.
• Establishing a central Civil Society Organisation Hub within the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to help coordinate development delivery in the region.

This report makes eight recommendations in total and can be found on the inquiry's website.

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