THE Australian Parliament’s Agriculture Committee has made 13 recommendations following an inquiry into the role of Australian agriculture in Southeast Asian markets.

The inquiry examined ways to deepen engagement with Southeast Asia in food and agriculture with reference to Invested: Australia’s Southeast Economic Strategy to 2040 (the Moore report).

Committee Chair, Meryl Swanson, said, "The Moore report emphasised the significance of Australia’s relationship with Southeast Asia at an economic level, but urged us to look beyond trade to a broader and more closely integrated relationship with the region.

"Australia has an important role to play in the food security of Southeast Asia through food exports and by building agriculture and food production capability in the region. Australian technology and production systems also have much to offer the region. Long-term investment in regional relationships will be vital to progressing both trade and regional collaboration," Ms Swanson said.

In addition to supporting the recommendations of the Moore report, the committee has recommended:

• resourcing agencies to implement trade agreements and address non-tariff barriers;
• making a long-term commitment to the Southeast Asia Business Exchange program;
• maintaining and enhancing the Agriculture Counsellor network;
• reinstating and resourcing the Agri-Business Expansion Initiative and the Agriculture Trade and Market Access Cooperation program;
• increasing the resources available for regional collaboration on biosecurity; and
• providing additional funding to ACIAR for its work in Southeast Asia.

The committee further supports the establishment of the Australian Agricultural Partnership and the extension of the PALM scheme to Southeast Asia.

Over the course of the inquiry, the Committee held seven public hearings and received 28 written submissions from industry, government and other interested stakeholders. 

The committee’s full report can be found on the inquiry webpage.

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THE Joint Standing Committee on Treaties yesterday tabled the report on its inquiry into the Agreement among the Government of Australia, the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the Government of the United States of America for Cooperation Related to Naval Nuclear Propulsion (AUKUS agreement).

The report makes eight recommendations, including a recommendation that supports the agreement and recommends that the Australian Government take binding treaty action. The report was agreed to by all committee members.

The AUKUS agreement creates a framework to facilitate the communication and exchange of naval nuclear propulsion information between Australia, the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States of America (US). The agreement also enables the transfer of nuclear material and equipment from the UK and the US to Australia for conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines.

Committee Chair, Lisa Chesters MP, said, "The committee has heard a wide range of evidence throughout the inquiry and has determined the agreement to be in the national interest. Australia’s acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines provides our nation with not only a strategic advantage, but also an opportunity to grow Australian jobs, education and infrastructure.

"The successful implementation of AUKUS will require upskilling the Australian workforce. This is an opportunity for our education sector and will create jobs that last for the life of the agreement and beyond. The 20,000 jobs added by the AUKUS program will diversify Australia’s workforce and will provide high-paying jobs for trades and tertiary educated workers alike.

"In addition to recommending binding treaty action, the committee has made recommendations that seek to ensure that the Australian people are continuously engaged and informed throughout the implementation of the agreement and resulting AUKUS program. These recommendations include expanding and enhancing community education activities to inform the community on how AUKUS will benefit Australia, and help to dispel a number of emerging AUKUS myths," Ms Chesters said.

The committee’s report also includes recommendations concerning infrastructure funding for local communities, enhanced engagement with First Nations peoples and local environmental groups, and parliamentary scrutiny of instruments resulting from the AUKUS agreement.

The report can be accessed online and further information about the inquiry is available on the Committee website.  

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THE Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) today presented its Annual Report of Committee Activities 2023-2024.

During the reporting period, the committee continued with a busy program of work. It was largely occupied with reviewing a range of prospective and existing national security legislation, in addition to its ongoing oversight activities.

Over the review period the Committee presented 14 reports, held 50 meetings and briefings, including eight public hearings, and worked on a total of 21 inquiries. These included annual reviews of the administration and expenditure of intelligence agencies, examination of bills before Parliament, statutory reviews of existing legislation and reviews of the listing and re-listing of terrorist organisations.

Legislative changes which took effect in August 2023 saw the committee’s membership increase from 11 to 13, and the appointment of two new members.

Committee Chair, Senator Raff Ciccone, said, "This annual report shows that the committee continues to manage a high workload in a diligent and bipartisan manner to fulfil its important oversight and inquiry functions, and to ensure that national security laws remain appropriate and effective.

"The committee thanks all who made contributions to the various inquiries and reviews undertaken during the 2023-2024 financial year," Senator Ciccone said.

Further information on the functions and role of the committee, a copy of the annual report and all the reports presented by the committee during the review period, can be obtained from the Committee’s website.

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THE Joint Standing Committee on the Implementation of the National Redress Scheme has today tabled its report, following its inquiry into the operation of the National Redress Scheme. The report Redress: Journey to Justice was agreed to by all committee members.

Committee Chair, Senator Catryna Bilyk, said, "We acknowledge what the scheme has achieved for many survivors, as well as the hard work and effort that goes into administering the scheme. However, the committee’s unanimous findings have highlighted barriers to accessing the scheme, which need to be addressed to ensure no further harm is done to survivors of institutional child sexual abuse."

The Deputy Chair, Senator Dean Smith, said, "We thank the many members of the public who bravely shared their experiences with the committee. You have been heard and the report’s recommendations reflect your vital insights."

The report makes 29 recommendations, which focus on the accessibility, performance and effectiveness of the scheme. This includes whether the scheme is meeting the needs of victims and survivors who are seeking redress, whether those needs will be met before the scheme is due to cease in 2028, and whether the scheme fairly and accurately assesses the needs of each survivor seeking redress.

The committee has also recommended improving the accessibility of quality legal advice, and support services, for survivors of institutional child sexual abuse seeking redress.

The committee urged "all named institutions and governments to work together to continue National Redress Scheme reform".

The committee said it sincerely appreciated the contributions made by survivors to the inquiry.

The full report of the inquiry can be found on the committee’s inquiry webpage.

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