THE Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security today presented its Advisory Report on the National Security Legislation Amendment (Comprehensive Review and Other Measures No. 3) Bill 2023.

The Bill implements 12 recommendations of the 2020 Comprehensive Review of the Legal Framework of the National Intelligence Community conducted by Dennis Richardson AC (Comprehensive Review). The Bill also makes important amendments to the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979 to assist Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) officers to perform their vital functions safely and effectively.

The measures contained within the Bill will support Australia’s national security agencies by strengthening identity protections for their employees, increasing operational flexibility and information sharing, clarifying some authorities and approvals processes to provide greater certainty, and supporting quicker processing of security clearance suitability assessments. The committee supported these measures and recommended that the Bill be passed, subject to several recommendations.

The committee’s recommendations included that the Federal Government:

• provide further clarification on the use of cover employment arrangements;
• strengthen notification to individuals who are subject to ASIO security assessments, including as part of security clearance processes, about their right to make complaints; and
• enhance transparency about delayed security assessments by including them in ASIO’s annual report.

The committee also recommended the government consider the need to align amendments to secrecy offences in the Bill with the findings, once published, of the review of secrecy offences legislation being conducted by the Independent National Security Legislation Monitor, Jake Blight.

Committee Chair Peter Khalil MP said, “With the passage of this Bill, the government is delivering on its commitment to implementing the recommendations of the Comprehensive Review to ensure that our national security legislation remains fit-for-purpose.

“Modernisation of our security legislation enables our intelligence agencies to conduct their vital work effectively while also ensuring that appropriate oversight and safeguards are in place," Mr Khalil said.

The committee received both public and classified evidence related to the proposed amendments in the Bill and said it was grateful to those submitters for contributing their expertise to the inquiry.

Further information on the inquiry as well as a copy of the report can be obtained from the Committee’s website.

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THE Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit (JCPAA) has expanded an existing inquiry examining the previous government’s failed attempts to privatise the visa processing system and deliver new IT systems in Home Affairs, to examine public sector IT projects more widely.

Committee Chair, Julian Hill MP, said, "Lessons must be drawn from both stages of the failed attempt to privatise and procure a new visa processing system for Home Affairs, and it’s already clear that broader scrutiny of other large-scale public sector IT projects is warranted.

“We will get to the bottom of what happened with the visa processing debacle, and how and why nearly $150 million was wasted. There are broader lessons to be drawn however into appropriate practices for new IT projects and expenditure in the public sector, including capability-building, advice to government, probity and ethics, and value for money for the Commonwealth.”

In addition to both stages of the failed visa processing privatisation, including Auditor-General Report No. 34 of 2022-23 - Procurement of the Permissions Capability, the inquiry will now also consider others reports including:

• Auditor-General Report No. 12 of 2023-24 - Administration of the Parliamentary Expense Management System
• Auditor-General Report No. 7 of 2023-24 - Establishment of the Workforce Australia Services Panel, specifically on the implementation of a new digital services platform to support employment services.

Additional areas of focus for the committee will include:

• The Digital Transformation Agency’s role in evaluating public sector IT investment.
• Department of Finance assessments of certain high value procurements.
• The Australian Public Service Digital Profession’s role in building digital capability in the public service.
• Any lessons learnt from previous large-scale IT projects.

Details of the revised inquiry, including the new terms of reference and details on hearings, will be made available on the Committee website.

The committee invites submissions to the inquiry addressing the revised terms of reference to be received by April 12, 2024. The committee is reminding witnesses of interest of its power to summon witnesses should that be required.

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THE Health, Aged Care and Sport Committee will hold a public hearing at Parliament House in Canberra as part of its inquiry into diabetes this Friday, March 22.

The committee will hear from a variety of pharmaceutical companies and manufacturers, including Dexcom/AMSL Diabetes, Eli Lilly Australia, Medtronic and Insulet Australia, who provide life-saving diabetes medications and equipment. The committee will also hear from Novo Nordisk, manufacturer of Ozempic.

Chair of the Committee, Mike Freelander MP, said, "Throughout the inquiry, the committee has heard a lot of evidence about patients’ experiences and challenges accessing and using life-saving medication, devices and equipment to manage their diabetes.

"This public hearing will explore steps that the Australian Government can take to improve access to these management and treatment options," Dr Freelander said.

Deputy Chair of the Committee, Melissa McIntosh MP, said, "The growing impact of diabetes in Australia, including the growing prevalence of the autoimmune disease type 1 diabetes, has been a core focus for this inquiry. At this hearing, we will also hear from Jane McDonald, a person living with type 1 diabetes, about her journey through diagnosis, treatment and management."

Public hearing

Date: Friday, 22 March 2024
Time: 8.45am – 5.30pm AEDT (Canberra time)
Location: Committee Room 1R3, Parliament House, Canberra

A program for the public hearing is available on the inquiry website. A live audio stream of the hearings will also be available on the APH website.

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THE Joint Standing Committee on Treaties has tabled a report recommending the ratification of the two treaty actions related to the Universal Postal Union.

First, Acts of the Universal Postal Union adopted by the 2nd Extraordinary Congress: Tenth Additional Protocol to the Constitution of the Universal Postal Union and Second Additional Protocol to the General Regulations of Universal Postal Union.

Second, Acts of the Universal Postal Union adopted by the 27th Universal Postal Congress: Eleventh Additional Protocol to the Constitution of the Universal Postal Union, Third Additional Protocol to the General Regulations of the Universal Postal Union, the Universal Postal Convention, the Final Protocol to the Universal Postal Convention, the Postal Payment Services Agreement and the Final Protocol to the Postal Payment Services Agreement.

The Universal Postal Union (UPU) aims to promote accessible and efficient universal postal services of value that ensure communication around the world. Participation in the UPU enables Australia to promote and safeguard its interests in the UPU and continue to work to improve the international postal system for the benefit of Australian consumers, businesses, and designated postal operator, Australia Post.

These treaty actions aim to create a more efficient UPU by addressing internal governance arrangements and representation issues. Changes to internal arrangements include clarity around decision-making and the responsibility of adopting procedures, while establishing a system for the electronic submission of procedural documents.

Representation changes will be made by introducing gender equality principles and addressing membership inequalities for Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries, such as Australia’s Pacific Island neighbours.

Committee Chair Mr Josh Wilson MP said, "The exchange of international mail between member states is important for commerce and development. These changes create a more efficient and less ambiguous UPU, which aligns with Australia’s trade, national security, biosecurity, and border protection interests.”

“The establishment of permanent Pacific Island seats on the UPU Councils highlights the importance of supporting and promoting Pacific Island interests and aligns with Australia’s engagement with the region.”

The committee supports ratification and recommends that binding treaty action be taken.

The report can be found on the committee website, along with further information on the inquiry.

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