THE Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security has commenced a review of the relisting of Islamic State East Asia (ISEA) as a terrorist organisation under the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Criminal Code).

ISEA is a Philippines-based organisation affiliated with Islamic State. The Australian Government has listed ISEA as a terrorist organisation since 2017. Since its last relisting in 2020, ISEA has continued to make terrorist threats and conducted a number of terrorist attacks in the Philippines.

Relisting ISEA triggers the ongoing application of a number of offences under the Criminal Code relating to membership of, support for, or association with the organisation.

Section 102.1A of the Criminal Code provides that the committee may review listings of terrorist organisations and report its findings to each house of Parliament within the 15 sitting day disallowance period.

Members of the public are welcome to make submissions to this review by Friday, September 29, 2023.

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

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THE Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit (JCPAA) has tabled an interim report for its inquiry into procurement at Services Australia and the NDIA which were connected with consulting firm Synergy 360.

The report recommends that the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) examine the evidence gathered by the committee to date to determine whether to conduct a fuller investigation to establish the substance of the serious allegations made in relation to former Minister Stuart Robert and Synergy 360.

Committee Chair Julian Hill MP said, “A referral to the NACC should never be made lightly and is not done so here. There appears to be no other appropriate course of action however in light of the serious and systemic nature of the allegations raised.

“The committee has established a number of matters but is unable, given its resources, lack of forensic accounting expertise, and the refusal so far of key witnesses to provide documents or fully answer questions, to make clear findings as to the truth. An agency with compulsory questioning, document gathering, and investigatory powers may be able to properly assess these matters.

“Throughout this inquiry the committee has sought to always act in the public interest. The inquiry is ongoing, and a final report will be tabled as soon as possible.”

Concerning reports were received of alleged financial impropriety, improper relationships and undisclosed conflicts of interest with parties receiving contracts from the Commonwealth.

Rebutting these allegations, Mr Robert, his longtime friend, business partner and political fundraiser Mr John Margerison, Synergy 360 principal Mr David Milo and others strongly deny improper conduct, hence the evidence before the inquiry is directly conflicting.

The committee has also recommended that the Speaker authorise the commissioning of legal advice regarding the nature of the committee’s statutory powers under sections 13 – 15 of its legislation, including situations where a person claims to be resident overseas.

Further information is available on the inquiry website.

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THE Committee on the National Redress Scheme will be holding a public hearing this evening for an inquiry into the National Redress Scheme.

The committee will hear evidence from People With Disability Australia commencing at 6pm.

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.

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

Tuesday 12 September 2023
6pm to around 6:45pm (Canberra time)
Committee Room 1R4, Parliament House, Canberra
Listen online at www.aph.gov.au/News_and_Events/Watch_Parliament

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THE Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) has endorsed rules that allow sharing of information between administrators of the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme (FITS) and the Foreign Arrangements Scheme (FAS).

Committee Chair Peter Khalil MP today presented to Parliament a report by statement on the Committee’s review of the Rules, made under subsection 53(2) of the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Act 2018 (FITS Act).

The new Rules authorise the Secretary of the Attorney-General's Department, which administers the FITS, to communicate FITS information to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), who are responsible for the FAS.

The committee agreed that streamlining interoperability between the two schemes was a legitimate and reasonable purpose for sharing FITS information with DFAT for the FAS.

The committee encouraged the government to consider a legislative amendment to similarly allow sharing information in the other direction, from the FAS to the FITS. The committee also urged administrators to take whatever measures they can to minimise the compliance burden on entities that may fall within both schemes.

The committee is undertaking a separate review of the FITS Act in its entirety, and looks forward to reporting to Parliament on that in due course.

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

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