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Committee to review listing of Hamas, National Socialist Order and six other terrorist organisations

THE Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) has commenced a review of the listing and re-listing of eight organisations as terrorist organisations under the Criminal Code Act 1995 (the Criminal Code).

The listing of these organisations, made by regulations tabled in Parliament this week, triggers the application of a number of offences under the Criminal Code relating to membership of, support for or associating with the organisations.

Hamas is listed for the first time in its entirety, replacing the previous listing of Hamas’ Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades (the military wing of Hamas). This follows a recommendation of the PJCIS to the Federal Government to consider broadening the listing in October 2021.

The government has determined that Hamas is an ideologically and religiously motivated violent extremist organisation, which supports a strategy of armed resistance in pursuit of its goals of establishing an independent Palestinian state, and destroying Israel as a political entity. Hamas’ leadership has stated that there is no neat separation between the organisations’ political and paramilitary components and implied that the Brigades’ activities, including the use of terrorism, are sanctioned by and carried out as part of the wider Hamas organisation. Public statements made by Hamas’ political leaders have supported and advocated terrorism-related activities.

National Socialist Order (NSO), formerly known as Atomwaffen Division, has been listed as a terrorist organisation for the first time. The government has determined that NSO is a nationalist and racist violent extremist group, founded in the United States in 2015, which advocates the use of violence to initiate a race war and establish a white ethno-state.

Two organisations, Hay’at al Tahrir al-Sham and Hurras al-Din, are listed for the first time in place of the previously-listed organisation Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, on the basis that these two groups are successors to Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, which is now defunct.

Four groups previously listed as terrorist organisations have been re-listed for a further three years by these regulations: Abu Sayyaf Group, Al Qa’ida, Al Qa’ida in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb and Jemaah Islamiyah.

Under section 102.1A of the Criminal Code, the committee may review listings of terrorist organisations and report its findings to each House of the Parliament within the 15 sitting day disallowance period for the relevant regulations.

Members of the public can make submissions to this review, for likely consideration by the new PJCIS once formed in the next Parliament after the election. Submissions should be provided no later than Friday May 13, 2022.

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

 

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Treaties Committee supports ratification of Protocol to Forced Labour Convention

THE Joint Standing Committee on Treaties has recommended the Federal Government ratifies the International Labour Organization Protocol of 2014 to the Forced Labour Convention.

Committee Chair Dave Sharma MP said, "The Protocol aims to address gaps in the existing forced labour conventions to combat the evolving nature of forced labour.

“The committee is of the view forced labour should, without exception, be outlawed and notes Australia is already in compliance with the obligations established by the Protocol. Australia’s commitment to eliminating forced labour is clear and unequivocal.”

The Committee agreed ratification of the Protocol would enhance Australia’s standing in the international community and ability to address the practices authoritatively, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region.

The committee acknowledged that notwithstanding the progress being made to address forced labour, there was further work to be done, and was also  encouraged to see the detail of future action in the Australian Government’s National Action Plan to Combat Modern Slavery 2020–25.

In addition, Mr Sharma said, the committee was of the view that if a significant proportion of entities reporting under the Modern Slavery Act continued to miss mandatory reporting requirements, the Australian Government should consider steps beyond the current approach of educating and encouraging relevant entities.

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

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Strengthening Australia's relationships with the Pacific: report published

THE Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade presented its report into Strengthening Australia’s relationships with countries in the Pacific region in the Senate yesterday.

The Chair of the Foreign Affairs and Aid Sub-Committee, Dave Sharma MP said, “This report seeks to build upon the success of the Pacific Step-up and identify further prospective areas for deepening and strengthening Australia’s engagement in the Pacific.

“At a time of intensifying geopolitical competition and growing global challenges, especially that of climate change, fostering and strengthening Australia’s relationships with the Pacific has assumed a new importance and urgency.”

The committee made several recommendations, including:

  • that Australia lead a large-scale, multi-year post-COVID-19 aid and recovery package;
  • that Australia builds upon labour mobility schemes to provide better career development options and permanent residency pathways;
  • that support for climate change mitigation and adaptation be a high priority in Australia’s immediate regional assistance program;
  • that the Federal Court of Australia’s judicial capacity-building programs in the Pacific continue to be supported;
  • the creation of a dedicated Pacific component to Australia’s permanent migration intake, akin to the New Zealand model;
  • expanding Australia’s media and broadcasting footprint in the Pacific, recognising this is a key element of soft power; and
  • exploring ambitious proposals for deeper integration, such as a long-term compact of free association

Further information about the inquiry, including the report, submissions, transcripts, and responses to questions on notice, can be found on the Committee’s website.

 

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Government procurement to support sovereign security

A NEW Parliamentary inquiry report highlights that government procurement has an important part to play in supporting the development of Australia’s sovereign industry capability.

John Alexander OAM MP, Chair of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Infrastructure, Transport and Cities, today tabled the report for the committee’s inquiry into procurement practices for government-funded infrastructure.

"Since starting the inquiry last year, these issues have become even more significant and pressing," Mr Alexander said. "Sovereign security has in recent times, become an important issue for our country, as tensions between great power competitors come into sharp focus, with real concern for the impact this has on our exports and the flow-on effects to our economy.

"Over many decades, sovereign security has been compromised due to our expedient choices in seeking the lowest price over best value for our procurement. This has diminished our capacity to deliver fit-for-purpose infrastructure and a sustainable industry," Mr Alexander said.

"The lack of long-term planning has resulted in a piecemeal, ad hoc and reactive delivery process, which thwarts the development of efficiencies in the construction industry that could be attained if there was a steady pipeline of projects available. Industry needs the confidence to gear up in line with the opportunities available, which would build up industry capacity and productivity.

"‘In the 88 percent male dominated construction workforce, more needs to be done to address the cultural practices and norms within the construction industry that disincentivise women from entering or staying."

The committee makes eight recommendations aimed at:

  • improving the planning, procurement and delivery of government-funded infrastructure projects;
  • improving collaboration between the tiers of government;
  • enhancing opportunities for Tier 2 and 3 companies and Australian businesses to participate in the significant Australian infrastructure pipeline;
  • improving technology uptake by both governments and industry; and
  • improving the construction industry’s capacity and sovereign capability.

The report is available on the committee’s website.

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Much more needed to tackle social housing crisis says CFMEU

FEDERAL Labor’s promise to commit $10 billion to build affordable social housing is welcome, but only scratches the surface of what is now a housing crisis in Australia.

If Labor leader Anthony Albanese is serious about reducing housing poverty in Australia, he must commit the party to spending at least $20 billion over the next five years, according to CFMEU Construction and General national secretary Dave Noonan.

“Housing is a fundamental human necessity," Mr Noonan said. "In fact it is a basic human right, but right now home ownership is simply out of reach for most Australians.”

Successive Australian governments have failed to take the steps necessary to ensure that all Australians have access to affordable housing, resulting in a massive increase in homelessness, rental stress and housing insecurity, Mr Noonan said.

“Quite simply, as skewed tax incentives and low housing stocks have seen property prices skyrocketing and rents rising by an average of 20 per cent in the past two years, social housing construction has failed to keep pace with the growth in waiting lists.”

“The ensuing homelessness and housing insecurity affects parts of the community disproportionately; in particular younger people, First Australians and women over 50.”

Mr Noonan said the small positive gains made, such as industry superannuation investing in affordable housing through National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation bonds, is still too little and too slow to address the problem.

“Australia’s stock of social housing has not grown for 30 years, and the share of social housing has fallen from six percent to four percent today, leading to the shortfall of 100,000 dwellings that we now face," he said.

“At the CFMEU’s national conference this week delegates voted unanimously on a resolution demanding Labor at least double its investment to $20 billion to make inroads into this crisis.”

The conference also called for a full, independent, inquiry into affordable and social housing policy, including the interaction between federal and state governments, tax policy, future needs, and other relevant factors.

“This is a task for all levels of government, along with financial institutions such as super funds, to substantially increase investment in social and affordable housing immediately.  A failure to act is a failure of leadership, and a betrayal of future generations,” Mr Noonan said.

 

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