HOW Australia supports democracy in the region will be examined in a new parliamentary inquiry.

The inquiry was referred by the Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong, on September 28  to the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade (JSCFADT) with specific Terms of Reference. The JSCFADT has tasked the Foreign Affairs and Aid Subcommittee to undertake this inquiry.

Chair of the Foreign Affairs and Aid Subcommittee, Josh Burns MP said, “I am looking forward to leading this inquiry and hearing from expert witnesses about how we can support the role of civil society organisations working toward equitable participation in democracy and an open, free and independent media sector.

“I encourage interested individuals and organisations to make submissions focused on Australia’s long-term interest in the region, and our common connection through shared democratic values, liberty, human rights and rules-based systems”.

The committee has requested initial submissions addressing the terms of reference to this inquiry by Friday, November 11, 2022.

Further information in relation to the inquiry is available from the JCFADT’s website.

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THE Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) has commenced a review Item 250 of Schedule 1 of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2022.

On September 30, the Attorney-General wrote to the committee referring an amendment to subsection 110A(1) of the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979 (TIA Act) included in the National Anti-Corruption Commission (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2022 (the Consequential Bill) for the committee’s review.

Subsection 110A(1) of the TIA Act defines 'criminal law-enforcement agency', being an agency that is permitted to obtain stored communications warrants and to give authorisations for access to telecommunications data under the TIA Act.

Item 250 of Schedule 1 to the Consequential Bill amends the definition of criminal law-enforcement agency to remove the reference to the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity and insert a reference to the National Anti-Corruption Commission. The Bill proposes that this Item would ensure the new commission can exercise TIA Act powers, to effectively investigate corrupt conduct that could be serious or systemic where the conduct concerned meets the existing thresholds in the TIA Act.

Subsection 110A(11) of the TIA Act requires any amendment to subsection 110A(1) of the TIA Act to be referred to the committee for review.

The committee noted that this review was separate to Joint Select Committee on National Anti-Corruption Commission Legislation and submissions addressing issues beyond Item 250 of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2022 should be addressed to that committee.

Submissions, addressing only Item 250 of the Consequential Bill, are invited by Monday, October 31, 2022. The committee encourages concise submissions.

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

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THE Professional Standards Councils have published their combined 2021/22 Annual Report. The annual report is a consolidated volume of the councils’ achievements and performances over the past financial year.

Professional Standards Councils’ chair, John Vines OAM said the 2021/22 Annual Report demonstrated the councils’ achievements in working with professional associations to maintain high standards in the delivery of services to Australian consumers.

“The data shows over 93,000 professionals now participate as members of 18 occupational and professional associations with approved professional standards schemes, providing greater consumer protection,” Mr Vines said.

“We have kept our focus on the important work of regulating for consumer protection and advancing professional standards, while also looking to the future and how we can encourage and assist occupational associations in their important work of regulating their members and serving their communities.”

During the 2021-22 financial year the Professional Standards Councils:

• Approved five new schemes for associations;
• Encouraged associations to engage in root cause analysis, resulting in 42 percent of associations undertaking it, with 37 percent incorporating elements into their risk management strategies;
• Launched a new Scheme Application Framework, to make completing an application for a professional standards scheme clearer, simpler and more efficient. Found that 60 percent of legal profession associations are now reporting on sexual harassment as part of their risk analysis or risk management strategies;
• Published a Rapid Evidence Review: Professional Standards and Sexual Harassment to encourage consumer-protection focused professional standards responses to sexual harassment in the legal profession;
• Delivered two online Professional Standards Forums to over 130 delegates from all states and territories in Australia on the topics of:
  • ‘Continuing professional development in the regulation of professional standards’
  • ‘Responding to risk – insurance and improvement strategies'

For more information or to access the Professional Standards Councils’ 2021-22 Annual Report, visit www.psc.gov.au.

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ON SEPTEMBER 28, 2022, the Senate referred the Inquiry into Community Safety, Support Services and Job Opportunities in the Northern Territory, to the Joint Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs (JSCATSIA).

The inquiry is directed at considering the preparations made for the sunsetting of the Stronger Futures legislation and to consider its impacts on community safety and alcohol management, job opportunities and Community Development Program reform, justice reinvestment community services, and related matters.

Committee Chair Senator Patrick Dodson said, “The committee expects to receive evidence from individuals living and working in the Northern Territory, as well as communities, organisations, land councils, and others with a connection to the important issues we will be inquiring into.

“I would like to encourage all Territorians to have their say on how the sunsetting of the Stronger Futures legislation has affected them and their communities.”

The committee has called for submissions from interested individuals and organisations.

For more information about this committee and its inquiry, including the terms of reference and instructions on making a submission, visit the inquiry webpage.

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