THE House of Representatives Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Training continues to hold public hearings for its inquiry into the perceptions and status of vocational education and training (VET).

“The committee is approaching the end of the public hearings for this inquiry,” Committee chair Lisa Chesters MP said. "As part of today’s hearings, the committee will hear from the National Rugby League about its role in addressing negative perceptions of VET through the NRL-VET program.

“The hearings will also examine student experiences of VET with witnesses from the Monash Centre for Youth Policy and Education Practice, Australian Industry Group and the Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia,” Ms Chesters said.

More information on the inquiry, including the full terms of reference and details on upcoming public hearings, can be found on the Committee website.

Public hearing details

Date: Wednesday 24 May 2023
Time: 11am to 1pm
Location: Committee Room 1S5

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

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THE Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit (JCPAA) has initiated a new inquiry to examine the findings of the Watt review into procurement at Services Australia and the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA).

The inquiry will focus on the matters contained in or related to the Independent Review of Services Australia and NDIA Procurement and Contracting (the Watt Review) arising from media reports concerning the activities of government advisory firm Synergy 360.

The issues raised by the Watt Review were being considered as part of the current inquiry into Commonwealth procurement, but following initial hearings the Chair of the Committee, Julian Hill MP, said, "The revelations from the initial public hearings raised serious concerns regarding the expenditure of public funds in the NDIA and Services Australia under the previous government, as well as the conduct of parties associated with these procurements,” Mr Hill said.

“The committee concluded that these issues warrant examination in a fresh inquiry to properly explore the serious issues.

“In the interests of transparency the committee has also released a trove of emails referred to in public hearings that fuelled the media reports that led to the Watt Review.”

The new inquiry will have access to all evidence and materials received during the course of the previous inquiry.

The committee has invited submissions from interested parties by June 6, 2023.

Further information is available on the inquiry website.

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THE Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit (JCPAA) will hold public hearings on Friday, May 19, for its inquiries into the Major Projects Reports and Hunter Class Frigates, and the Commonwealth Financial Statements 2021-22. 

The JCPAA will welcome representatives from the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO), the Department of Defence and the Department of Finance to discuss issues arising from and related to the 2020-21 and 2021-22 Major Projects Report and Defence’s procurement of the Hunter Class Frigates.

The committee will also be considering the scope and guidelines of the Major Projects Report to ensure that it continues to support transparency in reporting Defence acquisitions.

“The Auditor-General’s report on Defence’s procurement of the Hunter Class Frigates is deeply concerning. Given the seriousness of the concerns the Committee initiated this inquiry less than 24 hours after the tabling of the report and has scheduled initial public hearings for Friday 19 May.” said Committee Chair, Julian Hill MP.

The JCPAA will also continue its program of public hearings for its inquiry into Commonwealth Financial Statements with evidence from the Attorney-General’s Department, the Australian Signal Directorate and the ANAO on cyber security arrangements and controls.

Mr Hill noted that safeguarding Australian Government information from cyber threats is a continuing and critical issue of concern across the public sector and was an area of interest to the ANAO during its recent financial statements audit.

“The committee is keen to explore ANAO’s findings relating to the implementation of the Protective Security Policy Framework to support cyber resilience in Commonwealth entities” Mr Hill said.

Public hearing details

Date: Friday 19 May 2023
Time: 9.30am – 3pm
Venue: Committee Room 2R1, Parliament House, Canberra (9.30am-12.45pm)
Committee Room 1S5, Parliament House, Canberra (1.30pm-3pm)

Further information about the inquiries is available on the Committee website.

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THE Trade Subcommittee of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade will hold a public hearing today at the Gold Coast for its inquiry into Australia’s tourism and international education sectors.

The Subcommittee will hear evidence from the international education sector including higher education, ELICOS and VET representatives as well as from an international student tour business. Gold Coast tourism and events organisations will provide evidence to the Subcommittee as well as the Queensland Department of Tourism and the Queensland Tourism Industry Council.

The Chair of the Trade Subcommittee, Senator Deborah O’Neill said, "The public hearing on the Gold Coast will take the committee away from capital cities and shift the focus to tourism and international education sectors in regional locations."

Senator O’Neill noted the importance of "hearing from regional and non-capital city voices as these experiences and needs may vary from capital city counterparts".

Further information about the inquiry and program, are available on the inquiry webpage.

Public hearings details

Gold Coast
Date: Wednesday, 17 May 2023
Venue: Anna Rose Room, TAFE Queensland Robina Campus, 94 Laver Drive, Robina
Time: 8:30am – 5pm (AEST)

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