PARLIAMENT’s Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit is holding two public hearings tomorrow.

The first public hearing will hear from the Australian Federal Police and the Australian National Audit Office, for the Committee’s inquiry into Mental Health in the Australian Federal Police. The inquiry is based on Auditor-General report, No. 31 (2017–18), Managing Mental Health in the Australian Federal Police.

The second public hearing will hear from the Department of Finance and the Australian National Audit Office, for the Committee’s inquiry into Commonwealth financial statements. The inquiry is based on Auditor-General report No. 24 (2017–18), Audits of the Financial Statements of Australian Government Entities for the Period Ended 30 June 2017.

Committee Chair, Senator Dean Smith, said the first public hearing will focus on the AFP’s mental health support services, governance arrangements and procedures for managing the mental health of AFP employees.

“Following the six recommendations from the Auditor‑General’s report, the Committee will be interested to hear from the AFP about the progress made to improve the agency’s approach to employee mental health,” Senator Smith said.

“The second public hearing will focus on the significant and moderate findings from the Commonwealth financial statements audit; the accounting rules for equity investment, concessional loans and contingent liabilities; and agency management of IT security.”

“Commonwealth financial statements play a critical role in providing accountability to the Parliament and the public for the expenditure of public funds,” Senator Smith said.

The Committee examines all reports of the Auditor-General tabled in the Parliament and can inquire into any items, matters or circumstances connected with these reports.

The JCPAA is Parliament’s joint public administration committee. It scrutinises the governance, performance and accountability of Commonwealth agencies, and has the power to inquire into all expenditure of Commonwealth money.

Further information about the inquiries can be accessed via the Committee’s website.

Public hearings: Wednesday 22 August 2018, Committee Room 2R1, Parliament House, Canberra

8.45am to 9.30am: Auditor‑General Report No. 31 (2017–18), Managing Mental Health in the Australian Federal Police

Witnesses: Australian Federal Police and Australian National Audit Office

9.30am to 10.30am: Auditor‑General Report No. 24 (2017–18), Audits of the Financial Statements of Australian Government Entities for the Period Ended 30 June 2017

Witnesses: Department of Finance and Australian National Audit Office

The public hearings will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live. The hearing programs are available from the Committee website.

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THE Queensland Resources Council has welcomed news an additional 4400 jobs were created in July with the sector continuing to contribute one new job every hour across the State and more than 1400 vacancies currently advertised online. 

QRC chief executive Ian Macfarlane said the resources sector supported one in every eight jobs in Queensland.

"The resources sector is creating more jobs, delivering more exports and generating more royalties for Queensland. The world wants what we have, particularly with the expansion of renewables, electric vehicles and infrastructure,” Mr Macfarlane said. 

“Over the last 12 months, the resources sector has created more than 8400 jobs – the equivalent of one job an hour. 

“We can continue to create opportunities through direct jobs and spin off benefits for regional communities right across the State. 

“A strong resources sector means a strong Queensland. 

“We are determined to work with the Government for even more jobs, exports and royalties. We need predictable laws to ensure we can invest even more to explore and sustainably develop Queensland’s resources for the benefit of all Queenslanders.”

www.qrc.org.au

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ENERGY Networks Australia has welcomed the release of a report by Australia’s Chief Scientist which further promotes the development of a hydrogen industry in Australia.  

Energy Networks Australia chief executive officer Andrew Dillon is a member of the Hydrogen Strategy Group, led by Dr Alan Finkel that produced the COAG Energy Council report Hydrogen for Australia’s future.

“There’s been a growing focus right across the sector on the significant opportunities hydrogen presents for Australia,” Mr Dillon said.

"As the report states, hydrogen can be safely added to natural gas supplies at up to 10 percent by volume without changes to pipelines, appliances or regulations.

“From a gas distributor’s perspective, hydrogen has potential to support electricity and gas networks by allowing renewable hydrogen to be stored in existing infrastructure and then be used for providing heat or generating electricity.

“The storage capability of our existing gas networks is enormous, with the equivalent of six billion Tesla Powerwall batteries already in place.

“Over time, the gas networks will be able to deliver 100 percent hydrogen as a replacement for natural gas for domestic cooking, heating and hot water.”

Mr Dillon said using renewables to generate hydrogen also creates new revenue raising opportunities for solar PV and wind generation.

“Using excess renewable energy to power electrolysis units takes pressure off the grid with the hydrogen stored for later use, just like excess energy stored in a battery," he said.

“Hydrogen also has a role in transport, for powering passenger vehicles, buses, trucks and trains,” Mr Dillon said. 

“Hydrogen is a key component of industry’s Gas Vision 2050 and industry is already leading the development of this technology through various research and pilot projects.”

The Australian Alliance for Energy Productivity is a not for profit coalition of business, government and environmental leaders promoting a more energy productive economy.

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THE House of Representatives Standing Committee on Economics will hold a public hearing in Canberra on Wednesday, 22 August 2018 for its inquiry into impediments to business investment.

The chair of the committee, Sarah Henderson MP, said that the committee will examine how government at all levels can better support business investment in Australia.

The committee will hear from the Motor Trades Association (MTA) of Queensland and Townsville Enterprise Limited. The MTA Queensland, in its submission, called for regulatory reform to simplify regulation and streamline administrative processes in the automotive industry. It also encouraged an enhanced role for the Commonwealth Government as a champion for emerging technologies and innovation.

Townsville Enterprise, which represents five local government areas in North Queensland, said in its submission that Townville and the surrounding regions are struggling to attract investment. To help address this, the group recommended tax incentives to encourage investment in regional areas, and for Commonwealth and State Government cooperation on energy policy.

Ms Henderson said, "During the inquiry, business and stakeholders have shared similar concerns about complex and excessive regulation and high corporate taxes as impediments to business investment. It remains crucial for governments at all levels to help businesses in regional communities and across the Australian economy to grow through business investment, to foster innovation and create jobs."

Public hearing details: Wednesday, 22 August 2018, Committee Room 1R3, Parliament House, Canberra

11.10am: Motor Trades Association Queensland (via video conference)
11.50am: Townsville Enterprise Limited (via video conference)
12.30pm: Finish

The hearing will be broadcast live at www.aph.gov.au/live

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