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Treaties Committee recommends ratification of Australia-PNG and ILO 187 treaties

THE Joint Standing Committee on Treaties has tabled a report recommending the ratification of two major treaty actions.

They are::

The Australia-Papua New Guinea (PNG) agreement establishes a framework that will deepen security cooperation between the two countries and create obligations for the countries to work closely on mutual security interests. The agreement strengthens cooperation in traditional security areas such as defence, policing, border, and maritime security, as well as non-traditional areas such as cyber security, climate change, family violence, and critical infrastructure.

Committee Chair, Lisa Chesters MP, said the Australia-PNG agreement ‘"reflects the long-standing cooperation, shared history, geographical proximity, and common regional strategic outlook between our two nations".

"This agreement serves the national interests of both countries and contributes to a safe, stable, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific," she said.

International Labour Organization Convention No. 187 prevents occupational injuries, diseases, and deaths by requiring International Labour Organization (ILO) Members to establish and implement national policies, systems and programmes to promote a safe and healthy working environment.

"Ratifying ILO Convention No. 187 would demonstrate Australia’s commitment to workplace health and safety. Ratification would also mean that Australia has ratified all 10 fundamental ILO conventions, demonstrating our commitment to protecting workers from occupational harm and strengthening our position as a leader of international labour standards within the Asia-Pacific region," Ms Chesters said.

The Committee’s report also contains two minor treaty actions:

  • Amendments to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers
  • 1996 Protocol to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping Wastes and Other Matters 1972

The committee supports ratification and recommends that binding treaty action be taken for both major treaties and the two minor treaty actions.

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

 

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Live music inquiry Canberra public hearing — Contemporary Aboriginal Music

THE House of Representatives Standing Committee on Communications and the Arts is holding a public hearing this week for its inquiry into the challenges and opportunities within the Australian live music industry.

The committee will be speaking with Robbie Bundle, CEO of Victorian-based Songlines Music Aboriginal Corporation about the organisation’s live music initiatives designed to promote contemporary Aboriginal music and to develop cultural and community links, particularly with and for youth. The organisation has been operating a successful model of promoting indigenous music artists since 1994 — working collaboratively with municipalities across Victoria.

Committee Chair, Brian Mitchell MP, said, "The committee looks forward to discussing Songlines Music’s long-running youth-oriented music programs which include school workshops, school holiday programs and music tutoring.

"The committee is eager to hear about how the two biggest annual events which Songlines stages — the Share the Spirit Festival (an all-ages event) and the Koorie Pride Youth Festival — are faring in the current Australian live music environment which many in the industry have told the committee is extremely challenging."

Mr Bundle has performed as a musician for over 35 years with a focus on telling Aboriginal Australian stories through his songwriting and performing. Australia’s Cultural Policy ‘Revive’ is structured around five interconnected pillars: First Nations First; A Place for Every Story; Centrality of the Artist; Strong Cultural Infrastructure, and Engaging the Audience.

The committee will explore the Songlines model of engagement between artists, audiences and communities and the way it conveys and maintains Australian stories, through First Nations music and artist promotion.

Details of the public hearing are below, with the full program and terms of reference available on the inquiry webpage.

More information about the Committee, including membership, may be found on the Committee’s website.

Public hearing detail

Date: Wednesday, 11 September 2024
Time: 12:40pm—1:20pm
Location: Committee Room 1R6, Australian Parliament House

These hearings will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live.

 

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Electoral Matters Committee considers civics education beyond the classroom

THIS WEEK the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters will hold two public hearings as part of its inquiry into civics education, engagement, and participation in Australia on Wednesday, September 11 and Friday, September 13.

Committee Chair, Senator Carol Brown said, "As this inquiry continues, a key theme has been the importance of civics education outside the classroom setting.

"Equal participation in our democracy and the casting of an informed vote depends on a range of factors such as how inclusive and accessible civics education is and how it is being taught outside of school.

"The committee looks forward to exploring how parliaments and universities teach civics and digital literacy and how youth engagement with our democracy can be improved. We will also be learning more about how students navigate the abundance of readily available information online and how they can better identify mis- and dis-information," Senator Brown said.

Public hearings details

Date: Wednesday, 11 September 2024
Time: 9.45am to 10.30am
Location: Committee Room 1R1, Parliament House, Canberra
Witness: Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Hon Milton Dick MP

Date: Friday, 13 September 2024
Time: 8.30am to 12.30pm
Location:Committee Room 2R1, Parliament House, Canberra
Witnesses: News and Media Research Centre, University of Canberra; Parliamentary Education Office; Universities Australia; Dr Sarah Moulds; Australian Electoral Commission.

A livestream of the hearings will be available via the Parliament’s Watch, Read, Listen website.

Further information about the inquiry, including submissions received and past public hearings, is available on the inquiry webpage.

 

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Generative AI in Education report released

THE House of Representatives Standing Committee on Employment, Education, and Training has today tabled its report, Study Buddy or Influencer, following its inquiry into the use of generative artificial intelligence in the Australian education system.

Committee Chair, Lisa Chesters MP, said, "Generative AI (GenAI) presents exciting opportunities and yet high stakes risks for the Australian education system."

The Committee’s 25 recommendations explore how Australian schools can maximise the opportunities presented by GenAI while successfully mitigating the risks in using the emerging technology, and ensuring adequate safeguards and guardrails are in place to prevent misuse.

A key focus of the recommendations is to integrate generative artificial intelligence into Australia’s national curriculum as a study buddy for all students to use. These tools need to be fit-for-purpose, relevant to the Australian context, sensitive to gender and cultural considerations, and trained on data that is based on the national curriculum.

The committee identified that this technology has the potential to enhance educational experiences and deliver stronger student outcomes, particularly for Australia’s most vulnerable cohorts of students. 

The committee also believes, risks related to the use of the technology must also be addressed urgently. Of particular importance is the need to protect users, 'especially students’ data, and ensure that educational providers do not select GenAI tools that will store users’ data offshore or sell them to third parties.

The committee recognises that generative artificial intelligence technology may outpace the parameters of the terms of reference of this report, and these recommendations may need to be reviewed in the future.

Ms Chesters said, "These recommendations will forge a strong foundation to regulate the application of generative artificial intelligence in Australia’s education sector and if managed correctly GenAI in the Australian education system will be a valuable study buddy and not an algorithmic influencer."

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

 

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Treaties Committee to hold public hearings for High Seas treaty

THE Joint Standing Committee on Treaties will hold the first public hearing today for its inquiry into the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction.

The agreement closes gaps in the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction and enables Australia to take an active role in maintaining the health of marine environments.

Committee Chair, Lisa Chesters MP, said, "The maintenance of ocean health supports Australia’s marine industries and reflects the Government’s international environmental leadership and nature positive agenda. The good health of marine ecosystems, biodiversity and resources provides cultural, social and economic value to Australia.

"As a member of the High Ambition Coalition, Australia has long been an advocate for the Agreement. By ratifying and becoming party to the Agreement, Australia will be able to influence decision making on global environmental action. Ratification will also benefit Australian industries such as tourism, fishing and aquaculture, and will provide Australian scientists with access to undiscovered materials and information," Ms Chesters said.

"This agreement is a priority for many nations within the Indo-Pacific. Early ratification will ensure that Australia remains an influential leader in the agreement’s implementation, contributing to a secure, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific and supports our foreign policy objectives," she said.

The committee will hold the first public hearing at 2pm today, where they will hear evidence from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade as well as from panels of academic, industry and NGO stakeholders.

Professor Donald Rothwell will appear at a second hearing on September 9. The committee will hear evidence relating to his submission to the inquiry.

Public hearing details

Date: Thursday 5 September 2024
Time: 2pm to 4pm
Location: Committee Room 1R4, Parliament House, Canberra

Date: Monday 9 September 2024
Time: 12.10pm to 12.40pm (approximately)
Location: Committee Room 2R1, Parliament House, Canberra

More information about the committee and its inquiry can be found on the Committee’s website.

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

 

 

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