A NEW Federal Parliamentary Committee has been established to inquire into and report on the consideration of nuclear power generation in Australia.
The House Select Committee on Nuclear Energy is seeking submissions by Friday, November 15.
Committee Chair, Dan Repacholi MP, the Federal Member for Hunter, said, "With the ongoing debate over whether nuclear energy has a role in Australia’s future energy mix, as well as the mounting cost of living pressures being felt by Australians, this inquiry comes at a critical time.
“Australians have a multitude of questions concerning the Opposition’s proposed nuclear energy idea," he said. “This Committee will be looking to answer some of these questions as it gives proper consideration to Australia’s future energy needs.”
Mr Repacholi explained the committee intended to hear from communities across Australia that would be impacted by the Opposition’s nuclear energy plan. The committee will also call on a broad range of experts to explore the financial, environmental, technical, and legal implications of developing nuclear energy in Australia, among other issues.
Further information, including the inquiry terms of reference are available on the committee’s website.
The AUKUS agreement establishes a legally binding framework to facilitate the communication and exchange of naval nuclear propulsion information between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. The agreement will also permit the transfer of nuclear material and equipment from the UK and the US to Australia for conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines.
Committee Chair, Lisa Chesters MP, said, "The committee will examine if AUKUS will provide Australia with a strategic advantage in terms of surveillance and protecting our shores and if the AUKUS agreement will facilitate the acquisition of submarines that are stealthier, speedier and sturdier than our existing fleet.
"The committee will explore if the agreement emphasises Australia’s commitment to the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and reinforces the role of the International Atomic Energy Agency."
The first public hearing will be held in Canberra, with the Committee scheduled to hear evidence from the Australian Nuclear Association, Professor Donald Rothwell, The Australia Institute and the Australian Conservation Foundation.
The committee will travel to Adelaide on October 18 to hold a public hearing and visit the Osbourne Naval Shipyard for a tour and briefing from Australian Naval Infrastructure. The committee will then travel to Perth on October 22 for tours of HMAS Stirling and HMAS Henderson and a public hearing.
The hearings can be accessed online and the programs are available on the Committee website, along with further information about the inquiry.
Public hearing details
Date: Wednesday 16 October 2024 Time: 2pm to 5pm Location: Committee Room 1R4, Parliament House, Canberra
2.pm–2.45pm: Australian Nuclear Association 2.45pm–3.30pm: Professor Donald Rothwell 3.30pm–4.15pm: The Australia Institute 4.15pm–5pm: Australian Conservation Foundation
THE Federal Government has expanded the Code of Professional Conduct (Code) for tax practitioners, to strengthen integrity and accountability in the tax profession.
To support implementation, the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) is engaging with stakeholders, including tax practitioners, professional associations and community representatives, to develop practical guidance. TPB guidance will issue in late October, for broad public consultation, with the aim to finalise guidance in December 2024.
The Federal Government and the Treasury consulted with professional associations and other stakeholders to clarify the scope of the expanded Code. This process assisted in refining how tax practitioners address integrity (false or misleading statements) and transparency (how they keep clients informed).
TPB chair Peter de Cure said, "These changes to the Determination provide additional certainty to tax practitioners on the intent and scope of the new Code obligations. This includes setting out the specific matters tax practitioners need to inform their clients about, which does not include information relating to the tax practitioner’s health or their personal beliefs."
Following a stakeholder roundtable today, Mr de Cure thanked participants for their ongoing contribution and co-design.
"These new Code obligations build on the principles in the existing law. Most tax practitioners, acting professionally and ethically, will readily comply with the new Code requirements," he said. "The TPB’s guidance will help tax professionals improve their services to clients and systems to comply with the law.
"We are committed to supporting tax practitioners through this process of change. Our draft guidance will also be strengthened by a series of webinars to further assist tax practitioners understand the draft guidance, ask questions and provide feedback that will shape the final products," Mr de Cure said.
"For all tax practitioners trying to do the right thing, we will continue to take a pragmatic and practical approach in addressing compliance with the additional obligations. Our approach is to achieve voluntary compliance through education and support. Any TPB investigation will be targeted at higher risk behaviours and misconduct."
About the Tax Practitioners Board
The TPB regulates tax practitioners in order to protect consumers. The TPB aims to assure the community that tax practitioners meet appropriate standards of professional and ethical conduct. Find further information on X.com, LinkedIn and Facebook.
The committee will hold a half day of public hearings before attending a site visit to the Motor Trades Association (MTA). MTA Training and Employment is a leader in automotive and electrical vehicle training, training over 1,000 apprentices, as well as skilled technicians and workers in automotive, mining and emergency services sectors.
Committee Chair, Tony Zappia MP, said, "The committee looks forward to hearing from representatives from SA Power Networks about the current and future demands on the South Australian electricity grid with the increasing uptake of electric vehicles.
"SA Power Networks will discuss how it is managing the latest technology of vehicle-to-grid EV charging, which allows EVs to feed electricity back into the grid when demand is high.
"Mitsubishi Motors Australia will discuss its current market demand for hybrids and EVs and the committee will examine potential challenges for supplying electric vehicles to Australia’s right-hand driving market now and into the future.
"The site visit to the Motor Trade Association will give the committee an important overview about the training and employment sector for electric vehicles. This is a new sector within Australia with a growing demand for people to be skilled up and trained to understand and service electric vehicles throughout Australia."
The program for the public hearings can be found here.
Further information about the inquiry is available on the committee’s website.
Public hearing details
Date: 17 October 2024 Time: 9am – 12pm Location: Adina Apartment Hotel, Adelaide Treasury, 2 Flinders Street Adelaide.
TOMORROW's reconvened National Construction Industry Forum (NCIF) meeting will see the Australian Constructors Association (ACA) meet with industry peers, government and unions to discuss the past, present and future of the industry.
Jon Davies, CEO of the ACA, which represents the nation’s major contractors, has called on the Australian Government to use the current turmoil as an opportunity to refocus the NCIF and address long-standing structural issues in the industry.
“For too long, the relationships between clients, unions, and industry have been characterised by tension and a lack of trust,” Mr Davies said. “When one side wins, others often lose, leading to inefficiency and missed opportunities.”
The NCIF meeting will be a key moment to reshape the dynamics of all industry participants, he said.
“Instead of fighting for short-term wins, we should focus on shared goals — like improving industry culture and increasing productivity — where everyone benefits,” Mr Davies said.
“The goals of each group — whether it’s workers seeking secure jobs, governments wanting value for taxpayer money, or industry striving for fair returns — aren’t fundamentally at odds.
“The ACA has been seeking a firm commitment from all stakeholders to commit to change and is hopeful that the NCIF meeting will achieve this.
“By working together, we can create a stronger, more sustainable future for the construction industry.
“We have the potential to transform the construction industry into a true success story," Mr Davies said.
“Rather than seeing this moment as a crisis, we should seize it as an opportunity to build an industry where everyone wins.”
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