THE House of Representatives Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Sport has commenced an inquiry into childhood rheumatic diseases.

Chair of the committee, Trent Zimmerman MP, said the committee looked forward to receiving information on childhood rheumatic diseases and juvenile arthritis.

Mr Zimmerman said, "The committee will examine research into the causes of childhood rheumatic diseases and will focus on the health, social, educational and economic health impacts on children and adults who develop these diseases.

"The committee will also look at access to medical services, including diagnosis, treatment and ongoing management and support for all patients. The inquiry will focus on best practice quality of care and availability of treatments as well as assessing the professional education and training that is currently available for patients.

"We’re looking forward to hearing from the public, health professionals, patients and all interested stakeholders on how Australia’s health system could improve the management of rheumatic diseases for all patients and their families."

Submissions from interested individuals and organisations have been invited by Friday February 4, 2022. The preferred method of receiving submissions is by electronic format lodged online using a My Parliament account.

Further information about the committee’s inquiry, including the full terms of reference and details on how to lodge a submission are available at the committee’s website.

ends

THE Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) has commenced a review into proposed new laws to address critical operational challenges, that national intelligence agencies face, in a rapidly evolving security environment.

The National Security Legislation Amendment (Comprehensive Review and Other Measures No. 1) Bill 2021 implements the 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.

The measures in the Bill improve the legislative framework governing the National Intelligence Community (NIC) by addressing key operational challenges facing the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS), the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD), the Australian Geospatial-Intelligence Organisation (AGO), the Defence Intelligence Organisation (DIO) and the Office of National Intelligence (ONI). The Bill also includes amendments recommended by the 2017 Independent Intelligence Review (IIR) and other measures intended to address important and pressing issues facing these agencies.

PJCIS Chair Senator James Paterson said it was clear that Australia’s threat environment had evolved.

"While we need to ensure that our intelligence agencies have the very best tools at their disposal to keep pace with emerging and evolving threats, we also need to ensure that these tools are proportionate and have robust oversight mechanisms," Senator Paterson said.

The Committee requests submissions to the inquiry by Thursday, February 3, 2022.

Further information about making a submission to a committee inquiry can be found at this link. Further information on the inquiry can be obtained from the committee’s website.

ends

THE House of Representatives Standing Committee on Economics today tabled its report into the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) Annual Reports 2019 and 2020. The report focuses on matters arising from public hearings held in October 2020 and February 2021.

Committee Chair Jason Falinski said, "Scrutinising our competition regulator is an important function of the committee and has been especially vital at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted significant changes to the ACCC’s regulatory work and priorities."

The committee heard from the ACCC on its responses to the pandemic across multiple sectors. Important measures such as temporary market authorisations have enabled market activity to continue to proceed in the best interests of Australians and the broader economy.

The committee also heard from the ACCC regarding its work responding to COVID-related scams targeting Australians, and its management of issues arising from widespread travel cancellations.

Beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, the committee inquired into issues such as the ACCC’s role in the Digital Platforms Inquiry, the financial technology sector, unconscionable and unfair conduct, common ownership, product safety, and motor vehicle service and repair information.

Mr Falinski said, "The ACCC’s work throughout the COVID-19 pandemic has been agile and responsive to emerging issues. While some ACCC priorities were put on hold to address these issues, it has continued to maintain substantial compliance and enforcement responsibilities across the competition and consumer law sector."

A full copy of the committee’s report is available on the committee’s website.

ends

THE Joint Standing Committee on Treaties will hold an inquiry into the agreement between the governments of Australia, the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (US) for the Exchange of Naval Nuclear Propulsion Information (ENNPI).

Committee Chair Dave Sharma MP said, "This agreement will allow Australia to access critical naval nuclear propulsion information from the United States and United Kingdom, and allow the exchange of sensitive and classified naval nuclear propulsion information with a third country for the first time.

"It will help determine the optimal pathway for acquiring nuclear-powered submarines for the Royal Australian Navy, one of the most important strategic military capabilities for Australia in the decades ahead."

The ENNPI Agreement will also provide a mechanism for Australian personnel to access training and education from the UK and US counterparts, necessary for learning how to safely build, operate and support nuclear-powered submarines.

The committee is now accepting submissions and will hold a public hearing on Monday, November 29, 2021.

Further information on the inquiry can be found on the Committee website.

Submissions

Submissions to the inquiry are now open and close on Friday, November 26, 2021.

Public hearing

The committee will hold a public hearing on Monday, November 29, 2021 at 11.15am AEDT.

The program for the hearing will be made available online and the hearing will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live.

ends