FOLLOWING RECENT media speculation on the Parliament’s consideration of the proposed Encryption Bill, the Chair, Andrew Hastie MP, and the Deputy Chair, Anthony Byrne MP, of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security make the following joint statement:

“The Intelligence and Security Committee has consistently functioned in a bipartisan way to ensure that Australia’s national security and law enforcement agencies have appropriate powers to keep Australia safe.

"Since 2014, the Committee has considered 15 substantive national security bills and made over 300 recommendations for amendment, all of which have been accepted by government.

"These reports have been carefully developed to ensure that new powers are proportionate and appropriately balanced with human rights and privacy, and that commensurate oversight and accountability is provided.

"The Committee will hold hearings next week with relevant agencies to hear evidence regarding the necessity and urgency of the proposed powers, as reported by some in recent press. The Committee will publicly announce any changes to the scheduled hearings as advertised.”

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

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SHARES in Coles Group Limited (ASX: COL) today began trading on the Australian Securities Exchange on a deferred-settlement basis.

The listing marks a return to the ASX for Coles, which was de-listed following Wesfarmers' acquisition of the Coles Group in 2007. It follows the Supreme Court of Western Australia’s decision on Monday to approve a vote of Wesfarmers shareholders in favour of a scheme of arrangement to demerge the two businesses.

“We are pleased to be joining the ASX under our own name,” said Coles chairman James Graham.

“Listing Coles on the ASX as a standalone business marks the next phase in the evolution of a company that began as a single store in Collingwood 104 years ago. I speak for the entire board when I say it is an immense privilege to be with Coles for such a milestone, and we thank our 480,000-plus new shareholders for joining us on this journey.”

Coles CEO Steven Cain said the past 11 years with Wesfarmers had seen Coles transform into a world-class supermarket retailer.

“Our 115,000 team members can take enormous pride that their company is now listed alongside some of the largest and most recognised businesses in Australia,” he said.

“We’re all very excited for the next chapter in the Coles story as we deliver on our strategy to make life easier for our customers.”

Coles shares will be transferred to eligible shareholders on 28 November and the shares will trade on a normal settlement basis from November 29.

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SHARES in Coles Group Limited (ASX: COL) today began trading on the Australian Securities Exchange on a deferred-settlement basis.

The listing marks a return to the ASX for Coles, which was de-listed following Wesfarmers' acquisition of the Coles Group in 2007. It follows the Supreme Court of Western Australia’s decision on Monday to approve a vote of Wesfarmers shareholders in favour of a scheme of arrangement to demerge the two businesses.

“We are pleased to be joining the ASX under our own name,” said Coles chairman James Graham.

“Listing Coles on the ASX as a standalone business marks the next phase in the evolution of a company that began as a single store in Collingwood 104 years ago. I speak for the entire board when I say it is an immense privilege to be with Coles for such a milestone, and we thank our 480,000-plus new shareholders for joining us on this journey.”

Coles CEO Steven Cain said the past 11 years with Wesfarmers had seen Coles transform into a world-class supermarket retailer.

“Our 115,000 team members can take enormous pride that their company is now listed alongside some of the largest and most recognised businesses in Australia,” he said.

“We’re all very excited for the next chapter in the Coles story as we deliver on our strategy to make life easier for our customers.”

Coles shares will be transferred to eligible shareholders on 28 November and the shares will trade on a normal settlement basis from November 29.

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THE CARAVAN Industry Association of Australia along with the Residential Land Lease Alliance (RLLA) have released Long Term Residents in Caravan Parks and Manufactured Housing Estates: A Census 2016 Social Trends Report.

The report shows that more than 70,000 Australians lived in manufactured housing estates (MHEs) and caravan parks and that this living arrangement is a vital aspect of affordable housing from both the supply and demand side.

The report found that approximately 2 percent of Australians aged over 65 live in MHEs or caravan parks with the sector undergoing a large shift in the past decade.

MHEs and caravan parks, during the mining boom, provided an important source of temporary housing solutions in remote Australia to cater for the large amounts of support personnel required to sustain fly-in fly-out (FIFO) communities.

With the end of the mining boom, the demographic shift in communities has shown a strong take up from people aged 60-plus.

The research shows that 37 percent of residents in MHEs and caravan parks live alone – highlighting the important social benefits of living in land-lease communities which are increasingly providing facilities to encourage interactions between residents. 

From the supply side, MHEs provide an affordable downsizing option for the baby-boomer  generation who tend to have much equity tied up in their property, especially households with mid-lower income brackets. This downsizing also frees up housing supply in with ageing demographics.

The report highlights the need for government support in this sector as residents living in MHEs are nearly three times as likely to require assistance with core activities compared to Australian averages.

In terms of connectivity; only 64 percent of dwellings in MHEs and caravan parks reported having an internet connection, compared to the Australian average of 90 percent of dwellings. 

www.caravanindustry.com.au

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