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PJCIS backs laws to further strengthen intelligence community

The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) has backed proposed laws that will further strengthen the capacity of the National Intelligence Community to contend with a rapidly deteriorating security environment.

In its Review of the National Security Legislation Amendment (Comprehensive Review and Other Measures No. 1) Bill 2021the PJCIS closely examined the Federal Government response to several recommendations of the Comprehensive Review of the Legal Framework of the National Intelligence Community (Comprehensive Review), led by Dennis Richardson AC. This includes:

  • enabling the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS), the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) and the Australian Geospatial-Intelligence Organisation (AGO) to undertake activities to produce intelligence where there is, or is likely to be, an imminent risk to the safety of an Australian person
  • enabling ASIS, ASD and AGO to seek ministerial authorisation to produce intelligence on a class of Australian persons who are, or are likely to be, involved with a listed terrorist organisation
  • allowing ASIS more flexibility to work with ASIO in the performance of its functions within Australia.

Committee chair Senator James Paterson said the laws address critical operational challenges currently experienced in the National Intelligence Community.

"These laws modernise the legal framework that binds and empowers our National Intelligence Community by giving them the tools they need to keep pace with an evolving security landscape," Senator Paterson said.

'The committee is satisfied that these tools are proportionate to the threat at large, and with only minor amendments, contain robust oversight mechanisms and privacy protections."

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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PJCIS supports terrorist listing of Hizballah and The Base

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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Uncharted Territory: Review of the RBA tabled in the House

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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Pressing matters: report on Australia's regional newspapers

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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Permanent funding for Black Dog first responders' mental health needed now

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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