TODAY, the Foreign Affairs and Aid Subcommittee of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade will conduct its first public hearing for its inquiry into Australia’s response to the priorities of Pacific Islands and countries in the Pacific.

During the full day public hearing, the subcommittee will hear evidence from diplomatic and regional representatives of Pacific Island countries, international development agencies, and Australian Government agencies including the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Department of Defence, the Department of Home Affairs, the Australian Federal Police and the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.

Chair of the Subcommittee, Josh Burns MP, said, "We are excited to kick off this inquiry by hearing from a range of voices and delving deeper into some of the issues that have been raised in submissions, including climate change and aid and development.

“This is not the first inquiry into the Pacific and it won’t be the last. That’s because Australia is part of the Pacific, we have a shared past and a shared future," Mr Burns said.

"As the focus of this inquiry is Australia’s response to the priorities of the Pacific, the subcommittee is eager to use this first hearing to explore the Australian Government’s understanding of, and programs to support, those priorities.”

Further information, including the hearing program is available on the Inquiry webpage.

Public Hearing Details

Date: Friday 16 August 2024
9:45am – 3:30pm (AEDT)
Committee Room 1R3, Parliament House, Canberra

The hearing will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live.

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A PARLIAMENTARY committee inquiring into the operation of the National Redress Scheme is expecting to finish its inquiry in October 2024.

If you have been thinking about making a written submission, you should send it to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. as soon as possible. Submissions will close on September 2, 2024.

The National Redress Scheme was established in response to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. The Committee’s role is to oversee implementation of the Royal Commission’s redress-related recommendations.

Making a submission

To make a submission or find out more, email the Committee Secretariat at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or check the Committee’s webpage.

Full details of what the inquiry is examining can be found in the terms of reference on the Committee’s website. An easy English guide is also available.

A discussion paper aims to provide guidance to individuals and organisations interested in making submissions to the inquiry.

The committee can be requested to keep submissions confidential.

Planned public hearing

The committee is planning a public hearing at 8:00am next Wednesday, August 21, 2024. The Department of Social Services has been invited to respond to evidence heard at a recent public hearing.

Check the committee’s website next week for details.

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THE Joint Standing Committee on Treaties (JSCOT) has tabled a report recommending the ratification of four major treaty actions.

The major treaty recommendations are:

• Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the Republic of Fiji on Cooperation in the Field of Defence and the Status of Visiting Forces (Australia-Fiji agreement);
• Protocol on the Accession of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and associated side-letters (UK Accession to the CPTPP);
• Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity Agreement relating to Supply Chain Resilience (IPEF Agreement); and
• International Labour Organization Convention No. 191: Safe and Healthy Working Environment (Consequential Amendments) Convention (ILO 191).

The Australia-Fiji agreement builds on Australia’s relationship with Fiji through enabling more frequent and sophisticated defence cooperation between the two countries. The agreement enables Australia and Fiji to work together on maritime security issues, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, peacekeeping operations, co-deployments, and the training of military personnel.

Deputy Chair of the Committee, Phillip Thompson MP, said the Australia-Fiji agreement "strengthens the mutually beneficial relationship with a key defence partner of Australia. It builds on existing agreements and provides a comprehensive, reciprocal, and legally binding framework for the status of visiting forces and civilians, and information sharing."

The UK Accession to the CPTPP treaty enables the UK to accede to a free trade agreement (FTA) that eliminates 98 percent of tariffs in a trade zone that represents a combined GDP of US$14.6 trillion. The UK would be the first country to accede to CPTPP and its accession expands the trade partnership beyond the Pacific region.

Mr Thompson said, "The UK’s accession strengthens economic and strategic ties between Australia and the UK and builds on the significant benefits of the Australia-UK FTA. This treaty enhances trade and investment opportunities for Australian exporters of goods and services and aligns with Australia's broader national interests."

The IPEF Agreement increases Australia’s supply chain resilience by establishing international policy levers, sending market signals on diversification, promoting an international evidence-based approach, and ensuring a systemic and coordinated approach to disruptions.

"The IPEF aims to enhance collaboration to prevent, mitigate and prepare for supply chain disruptions within the Indo-Pacific. Australia experienced supply chain disruptions during the Covid-19 pandemic and IPEF’s collaborative approach will help minimise future vulnerabilities and mitigate potential risks," Mr Thompson said.

ILO 191 amends ILO Conventions and Protocols to ensure the right to a safe and healthy working environment is reflected in existing ILO instruments. Ratification of the treaty will ensure Australia meets its obligations as an ILO Member to respect, promote and realise this right.

Mr Thompson said , "ILO 191 demonstrates Australia’s commitment to workplace health and safety as a fundamental principle and right at work. Australia has a strong reputation within the Asia Pacific with respect to supporting and advocating for WHS matters and ratification of this treaty ensures that our reputation is maintained."

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

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NEW LEGISLATION to place all construction and general division branches of the CFMEU into administration has been introduced into Parliament.

Peak building and construction industry association, Master Builders Australia welcomed the legislation as an important first step to ridding the industry of toxic and lawbreaking culture.

“We urge all parties to support the legislation currently before them and stress this is only the first in a series of measures that are required to stamp out this culture once and for all,” Master Builders CEO Denita Wawn said.

“The CFMEU has breached workplace law 2,600 times in more than 20 years, accumulating $24 million in fines.

“After decades of this behaviour, it’s clear the union cannot clean up its own backyard, and we think the use of independent administrators, as a first step, is the most effective way to achieve meaningful and lasting change.

“History has shown us that deregistration of construction unions doesn’t work. What we need is long-term, lasting cultural change which means changing the people who promote and thrive in this environment," Ms Wawn said.

“Calls for yet another review or inquiry, while well intentioned, will not help government, law enforcement and regulators get on with the job, because we already know what the problems are, how they arise, and how to fix them.

“We need action now. It must be swift; it must be permanent," she said. "The building and construction industry can no longer be a political football.

“Following the passage of this legislation, the Federal Government should move to establish a dedicated building and construction industry watchdog with real teeth.

“To ensure the regulator works effectively, it must have oversight on a range of matters, including workplace, safety, competition, corporations, governance and training.

“It would also be home to a dedicated cross-jurisdictional police unit to oversee and coordinate a strong law enforcement presence in the building and construction industry," Ms Wawn said.

“We thank Minister Murray Watt for working constructively with the industry to undertake meaningful changes to address the systemic issues within the CFMEU."

www.masterbuilders.com.au

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