HOW will driverless vehicles affect agriculture and regional Australia? How will their presence be felt in Australia’s capital cities?

The Innovation Committee’s driverless vehicles inquiry aims to find out at a hearing in Canberra today.

Committee Chair Michelle Landry MP says the potential effects of the introduction of driverless vehicles in Australia are wide ranging.

“From the farm to the city, we can expect driverless vehicles to shape industries, employment, and access to services and communities,” Ms Landry said.

“The Committee will also consider the environmental impacts in both rural areas and cities.”

The public hearing will include witnesses from the National Farmers’ Federation and the Council of Capital City Lord Mayors.

The Committee will also be hearing from academics to discuss some of the likely impacts of driverless vehicles, including public acceptance, ethics questions, health benefits and broader social changes that access to driverless vehicles might affect.

This hearing will be the ninth the Committee has held for its inquiry into the social issues relating to land-based driverless vehicles in Australia.

Public hearing details: 10.45am – 12.30pm, Wednesday 14 June, Committee Room 1R1, Parliament House, Canberra

10.45 – 11.25am: Dr Damith Herath, Human Centred Technology Research Centre, University of Canberra and Professor Simone Pettigrew, School of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Curtin University.
11.25am – 11.55am: Council of Capital City Lord Mayors
11.55am – 12.30pm: National Farmers’ Federation
12.30pm: Close

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

Interested members of the public may wish to track the committee via the website. 

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THE Trade Sub-Committee of the Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade (JSCFADT) will hear from the Minerals Council of Australia at a public hearing today for its inquiry into Australia’s trade and investment relationship with the United Kingdom.

The Minerals Council of Australia (MCA), which is the peak industry body for the Australian mining sector that exports nearly $5 billion worth of minerals and energy to the UK, believes the decision by the UK to Brexit from the European Union may create some uncertainties for companies looking to London as a global trading hub for gold, silver and other industrial metals.

The MCA’s submission to the inquiry states the Australian government needs to consider how entering into negotiations for an FTA with the UK may impact on other Australian trade priorities.

According to the MCA submission, the City of London is also one of the world’s most significant financial centres providing important capital for the Australian mining sector so any changes to its role may impact on future investment. The MCA believes the monetary threshold which triggers screening of business investments from the UK should be increased from $252 million to the $1,094 million that applies to investors from FTA partner countries.

Public hearing details: 10:05am - 11:00am, Wednesday 14 June, Committee Room 2S1, Parliament House, Canberra

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

Interested members of the public may wish to track the committee via the website. 

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THE Australian Retailers Association (ARA) are commencing an advertising campaign on behalf of the retail sector in various major national newspapers this morning, calling on the Government to pass the low value GST legislation which will be in front of the Senate today.

Russell Zimmerman, Executive Director of the ARA said they have been working with the Federal and State Governments to reduce the low value threshold and provide a level playing field for Australian retailers.

“Australian retailers are continually having to pay GST while their foreign counterparts do not, and local online and bricks-and-mortar retailers are sick of the constant delays in implementing this tax equality issue,” Mr Zimmerman said.

“We do not want to take away the right for consumers to purchase from overseas, however we do need to provide a level playing for Australian retailers.”

“This tax equity issue has been going on for years, now the legislation is in front of the Senate, smaller mum and dad retailers are demanding the legislation to be passed.”

Mr Zimmerman said Australian retailers have banded together and are willing to call out those who do not support tax fairness for local retailers.

The ARA strongly support the new legislation before Parliament, and call on the Senate to support small Australian businesses, and level the unfair playing field against international competitors.

“The retail industry is already operating in a tough environment and any delay to this much-needed legislation will significantly affect employers and employees working in this sector,” Mr Zimmerman said.

“We strongly support this proposed GST model and will continue to put pressure on those who oppose the immediate implementation of the low value GST legislation.”

About the Australian Retailers Association:

Founded in 1903, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) is the retail industry’s peak representative body representing Australia’s $310 billion sector, which employs more than 1.2 million people. The ARA works to ensure retail success by informing, protecting, advocating, educating and saving money for its 7,500 independent and national retail members throughout Australia. For more information, visit www.retail.org.au or call 1300 368 041.

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THE Tax and Revenue Committee will hear from tax policy advisor Richard Highfield at the next public hearing for the inquiry into taxpayer engagement with Australia’s taxation system.

Committee chair Kevin Hogan MP said that tomorrow’s meeting will provide an opportunity to grapple with some of the more complex issues in the tax engagement debate with a former ATO Second Commissioner.

Mr Hogan said that Mr Highfield, now an adjunct professor with the School of Taxation and Business at the University of New South Wales, has extensive experience in tax policy design, development and administration.

Over the course of two decades, the professor held key advisory roles with the OECD, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and the International Monetary Fund. He is currently a member of expert advisory panels to the ATO and the NSW Office of State Revenue on tax gap research programs.

“The committee looks forward to receiving expert guidance from one of Australia’s senior tax advisors,” Mr Hogan said.

“Taxation law is complex and regulators must be careful that reforms do not have unintended consequences; even opening up loop holes for criminal activity. At the other end of the scale, how do we promote the message that paying your taxes is worthwhile, both for your business and the community?”

Public hearing details: 4:15pm – 5.30pm, Wednesday 14 June 2017, Committee Room 2R1 Parliament House, Canberra

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

Interested members of the public may wish to track the committee via the website. 

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