THE Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) has endorsed the listing of Hizballah and The Base as terrorist organisations under Australia’s Criminal Code.

The PJCIS today presented the report of its Review of regulations listing Hizballah and The Base as terrorist organisations under the Criminal Code Act 1995.

The regulations, made in December 2021, list Hizballah in its entirety as a terrorist organisation for the first time. In a review of previous regulations, in June 2021 the committee supported the re-listing of Hizballah’s External Security Organisation under the Criminal Code, but went a step further to recommend that the Federal Government expand the listing to include the whole organisation of Hizballah.

Committee chair Senator James Paterson thanked the government for acting on the committee’s recommendation, in recognition of the overwhelming evidence that Hizballah and its External Security Organisation in fact operate as a singular entity, under a singular leadership with shared financing and personnel.

"It’s crystal clear that all of Hizballah is guilty of its violent acts of terrorism against innocent civilians," Senator Paterson said.

"This terror listing holds the entire organisation to account and sends a strong message that Australia does not tolerate any form of terrorism. It makes clear that Australians should not have any association with Hizballah."

The Base has also been listed as a terrorist organisation for the first time. The Base is a US-based racist and nationalist violent extremist group which encourages terror attacks and other acts of violence, and has attempted to recruit Australians.

"Like Hizballah, the committee is satisfied that The Base is involved in the planning and preparation of violent terrorist attacks to harm innocent civilians, including Australians. Their terror listing is an important measure to keep the community safe," Senator Paterson said.

Further information on the review as well as a copy of the report can be obtained from the committee’s website.

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THE House of Representatives Standing Committee on Economics today tabled its report titled Uncharted Territory: Review of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) Annual Reports 2019 and 2020. The report focuses on matters arising from public hearings held in August 2020, December 2020, February 2021, August 2021 and February 2022.

The committee scrutinised the RBA on its response to the COVID-19 pandemic through monetary policy – in particular, reducing the cash rate, introducing a bond yield target and bond purchase program, providing a Term Funding Facility (TFF), and reducing the interest rate paid on Exchange Settlement (ES) balances.

The committee also heard from the RBA on Australia’s economic recovery, and broader economic conditions including inflation, unemployment, wage growth, labour supply and housing affordability. Beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, the committee inquired into issues such as digital currency, digital wallets and governance issues in the RBA.

Monetary policy was descried as remaining "incredibly consequential for the Australian economy during these times of great uncertainty" — in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine "and as we emerge from the pandemic".

Accordingly, the committee plans to continue to scrutinise the RBA’s policy responses to current and emerging threats to the strength of the nation’s economy and ensure the transparency and accountability of RBA decisions.  

A full copy of the committee’s report is available on committee’s website: www.aph.gov.au/economics

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RECOMMENDATIONS to support Australia’s newspaper services in rural, regional and remote areas will be laid out in a report released today by the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Communications and the Arts.

Committee Chair, Anne Webster MP said, "Regional newspapers in Australia represent a large and diverse industry, which has experienced significant challenges over the past decade. With the transition to digital news and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, assessing the health of our regional newspapers is more important than ever before."

The Committee made 12 recommendations aimed at addressing core sector issues, and implementing alternative and sustainable business practices, to ensure the longevity of local newspapers across Australia.

The Committee also recommended a multi-pronged approach to support the long-term viability of the sector, particularly for small and independent newspapers based in regional and remote Australian communities. The approach includes the funding and development of a project to gather and analyse core longitudinal data on regional newspapers in Australia.

"For people in regional, rural, or remote communities, regional newspapers are the main source of local information. It also plays an important role in maintaining an interconnected community, and a healthy democracy," Dr Webster said.

"A diversity of opinion from all sides of the political spectrum and coverage of local, as well as national issues, is essential to public debate. It is important we ensure the sector remains viable in the long-term," Dr Webster said.

The report can be accessed from the committee’s website.

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A VITAL mental health service for first responders must be given permanent funding and the NSW Government should step in if the Federal Government won’t, according to the Public Service Association (PSA) and the Fire Brigade Employees Union (FBEU).

Funding for the Black Dog Institute’s Traumatic Stress Clinic has not been renewed, meaning the vital mental health support for first responders to bushfires, floods and other natural disasters will end on June 30.

The unions, which have members working across emergency services including Fire and Rescue NSW, RFS, SES, Police and 000 call operators, say the funding must be secured, either by the Commonwealth or the state.

“Post traumatic stress and mental trauma doesn’t stop once the flood dries and the fires are out,” PSA general secretary Stewart Little said.

“If the Commonwealth won’t fund the Black Dog Institute’s Traumatic Stress Clinic for first responders then the Premier needs to step in and do it.

FBEU secretary Leighton Drury said, “First responders are ordinary women and men who do extraordinary things.

“They're there for us in our hour of need, we shouldn’t abandon them. We should be investing in their mental health and resilience.”

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