THE Trade Subcommittee of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade (JSCFADT) has tabled its interim report today for the inquiry into Australia’s tourism and international education sectors.

This interim report has a primary focus on the future of Australia’s international education sector post-COVID and explores options for the sector’s sustainable growth.

Chair of the Trade Subcommittee, Senator Deborah O’Neill, said, "International education makes a substantial contribution to Australia in many forms through its impact on the economy, our reputation abroad and the broader community. Upholding the integrity of the sector and quality of higher education provided to international students is therefore essential in many respects.

"The 29 recommendations made by the committee complement the reforms recently announced by the government, with the aim of strengthening the integrity and enhancing the competitiveness of Australia’s international education sector," Senator O’Neill said.

"While we anticipate that this inquiry’s final report will have more of a focus on the recovery of Australia’s tourism sector, as the subcommittee continues to travel across the country, we will continue to collect evidence on international education," Senator O’Neill said. "As noted since this inquiry began, the environment that international education operates in is dynamic."

Further information in relation to the inquiry and a full list of its recommendations is available from the JSCFADT’s website.

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THE Joint Standing Committee on Implementation of the National Redress Scheme will be holding a public hearing tomorrow for its inquiry into the National Redress Scheme.

The public hearing will commence at 9.30am AEDT (Canberra time). The program is available on the committee’s website.

The inquiry is looking into a range of areas, including:

• The experience of First Nations applicants and applicants with disability in their dealings with the scheme.
• Accessibility, performance and effectiveness of support services and legal advice for survivors and their advocates.

Committee Chair Senator Catryna Bilyk said, "Throughout the inquiry, the committee has heard about many challenges and barriers that prevent survivors from accessing the scheme.

"Tomorrow’s public hearing will hear from redress support services and the Department of Social Services. This evidence will assist the Committee with gathering evidence to make recommendations to government on how the Scheme could be improved."

Full details of what the inquiry is examining can be found in the terms of reference on the committee’s website. An easy English guide is also available.

Public hearing details

Friday, 20 October 2023
9:30am to around 2:15pm AEDT (Canberra time)
Committee Room 1R5, Parliament House, Canberra
Listen online at www.aph.gov.au/News_and_Events/Watch_Parliament

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THE Queensland Resources Council (QRC) said the decision by Glencore to close its Mount Isa Mines underground copper operations and Lady Loretta zinc mine was unfortunate, but understandable, and commended the company for its commitment to work with affected employees to find new opportunities.

Glencore will, according to the QRC, maintain a strong presence in the region through its copper smelter, George Fisher Mine, zinc-lead concentrator and lead smelter and Townsville copper refinery.

QRC chief executive Ian Macfarlane said the announcement highlighted the need for new resources investment in Queensland to develop new projects as major mines like this reach their end of life.

“The future success of the resources sector cannot be taken for granted by governments and we need policies that encourage investment in new Queensland resources projects as more mines reach their end of production in coming years,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“The Queensland Government needs to start listening to the many warnings about the threat to future investment as a result of its snap decision to impose the world’s highest coal royalty tax rates.

“In the current global economic climate, the State Government should be doing all it can to attract investment in new resources projects in Queensland.

“It’s time the Queensland Government started encouraging resources investment, which will support exploration and investment in new projects, rather than discouraging it with the world’s highest royalty taxes and endless approval processes,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“Queensland’s North West Minerals Province offers enormous potential for the resources sector with abundant reserves of many the critical minerals the world needs to develop the new technologies for a decarbonised future.

“That potential can only be fully reached with the backing of investors providing the billions of dollars to develop the projects that will provide future jobs and economic benefits for Queensland.

“Sudden Government policy changes and over-complicated red and green tape and regulation will do little to encourage investors when they have more attractive options in other states and countries.”

www.qrc.org.au

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THE Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit (JCPAA) has tabled its report for its inquiry into the 2021–22 Annual Performance Statements audits by the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO).

The committee’s report focused on issues raised in the report, such as the impact of Machinery of Government changes, and the ANAO’s conduct of these audits, including the scheduling of these audits.  

Chair of the JCPAA, Julian Hill MP said, "Performance reporting may not be the most exciting of topics, but for public sector agencies charged with serious responsibilities and entrusted with spending billions of dollars wisely it really, really matters. Unlike financial reporting, which has been subject to ANAO audits for decades, performance reporting has been underdeveloped and under resourced.

“Plainly speaking, while Australians can trust the accounts of government departments as they are thoroughly audited, for too long the Parliament and the public have had no reliable way of knowing whether what agencies report in their performance statements is true or not. Do all those often mind-numbing KPIs and measures fairly represent what an agency does? Are there actually data sources underneath all the reports? Are they a fair measure of what’s been achieved, or did someone fudge the books?

“The ANAO’s 2021–22 Annual Performance Statements audits showed a clear improvement in the performance reporting and highlighted a number of key issues, such the lack of verifiable methodologies or supporting information for performance measures, as well as valuable examples of better practice," Mr Hill said.

The committee was concerned with the current need for performance statements audits to be requested by the Finance Minister before the ANAO can begin their work. This is an unnecessary process that can significantly delay these audits, and should be removed.”

The committee’s report makes four recommendations to improve the process and impact of performance statements audits.

The committee’s interim report and further information on the inquiry is available on the Committee website.

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