THE Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) has commenced a review into the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Modernisation) Bill 2022. The bill review was referred to the committee by Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus, KC, MP.

The Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Modernisation) Bill 2022 proposes amendments to the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Act 1986 to improve the ability of the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security (IGIS) to provide effective oversight of intelligence and security agencies.

The bill would improve reporting and information sharing processes, allow the IGIS to consider employment related grievances for staff employed by the Office of National Intelligence and introduce provisions preventing the head or deputy head of an agency overseen by the IGIS from being appointed to the position immediately after serving in that capacity.

The bill includes a number of technical amendments to improve clarity, modernise drafting expressions and remove redundant provisions, as well as to address certain limitations in the Inspector-General's oversight functions and powers.

In addition, the bill also amends the provisions of the National Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2022 to clarify information sharing arrangements with the IGIS.

Submissions to the inquiry are invited by Friday, February 17, 2023.

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

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THE HOUSE of Representatives Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Training is currently examining the perceptions and status of vocational education and training (VET).

Lisa Chesters MP, Committee Chair, reminded interested stakeholders that submissions to the inquiry remain open for another few weeks. Education and training choices of students, as well as employer views and practices are some among the matters being considered.

Ms Chesters said, “The committee recognises the importance of the VET sector and hopes that this inquiry will identify ways to improve perceptions and opportunities available to students.”

She said the committee was interested in hearing from anyone with a view to share, whether from potential students, employers, parents, career advisers, educators or industry bodies and unions.

Submissions to the inquiry close on March 1, 2023. Ms Chesters said comments would be welcomed on one or more of the terms of references.

More information on the inquiry, including the full terms of reference and details on making a submission, can be found on the committee website.

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THE Joint Standing Committee on Treaties will hold a public hearing on Friday, February 10, 2023, into the Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage and the Australia-Iceland Double Taxation Convention.

Committee Chair, Josh Wilson MP said, “Australia has a precious trove of underwater cultural heritage, from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander underwater cultural heritage in Australian waters, to the remains of Australian ships lost in wars across the globe.”

Mr Wilson said the convention would provide a legal basis for Australia to protect underwater cultural heritage in its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, as well as areas outside of Australia’s jurisdiction where it has an interest. The convention also represents a contemporary international standard for protecting underwater cultural heritage.

In addition, the convention would provide a framework for the Australian Government to negotiate uniform Commonwealth, state and territory rules for protecting underwater cultural heritage.

“Having taken a significant role in drafting the Convention, it is welcome that Australia is now moving to ratify it”, Mr Wilson said.

“Eminent Australians involved in underwater cultural heritage who have supported and called for this treaty action over several years, have been invited to discuss the convention with the committee.

"Their input will shed further light on contemporary challenges of protecting underwater cultural heritage, what final steps would be required by Australia for ratification, and the benefits it would bring in working with other nations who have a common interest in protecting these historic sites.”

Public hearing details

Date:        Friday, 10 February 2023
Time:       9am – 10.30am AEDT - Australia-Iceland Double Taxation Convention
                10.40am – 4.30 pm AEDT - Underwater Cultural Heritage Convention
Location: Main Committee Room (1R0), Parliament House

​The hearing can be accessed online and the programs for this hearing is available on the Committee website, along with further information about the inquiries.

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The Joint Standing Committee on Treaties has recommended the Australian Government ratifies the Joint Initiative on Services Domestic Regulation (JI-SDR).

Committee Chair, Josh Wilson MP said, “The JI-SDR is a plurilateral agreement negotiated between 69 members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) that contains a range of rules that would potentially increase the transparency and predictability of the regulatory environment in Australia’s services export markets".

The JI-SDR establishes best practice requirements for the authorisation processes that enable service exports. Provisions in the JI-SDR relate to a range of areas including transparency in fees and procedures, efficient processing of applications, evaluation based on clear and objective criteria, reasonable access to examinations where required, and the acceptance of electronic documents.

The JI-SDR would provide simple, transparent, fair, and user-friendly global rules to facilitate trade in services.

Mr Wilson said, “It is notable that because Australia has been convinced of this logic for some time, our regulatory practice already complies with these new rules, but of course Australian companies stand to benefit by their wider adoption."

The committee agreed that notwithstanding some concern about the way such plurilateral agreements sit alongside the WTO, the JI-SDR was likely to reinforce the centrality of the World Trade Organization and create momentum in multilateral rule-making.

The report can be found on the Committee website, along with further information on the inquiry.

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