THE House of Representatives Standing Committee on Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water will be travelling to Melbourne this week as part of its inquiry into the transition to electric vehicles (EVs).

The committee will undertake two site visits in Melbourne; the first to Infinitev, a business that is reusing, repurposing and recycling hybrid and EV batteries, and the second to an ANCAP Safety test facility where the committee will view an EV or hybrid model crash test.

A full day public hearing will be held on Thursday,  August 8, where the committee will hear from industry stakeholders, including representatives from health and environmental groups, the petroleum and motor industries, and emergency services about Australia’s transition to EVs.

Committee Chair, Tony Zappia MP, said, "The committee has heard valuable evidence about the benefits and challenges that the transition to EVs presents. We are looking forward to meeting with witnesses in Melbourne to delve deeper into these issues to help inform our inquiry."

The program for the public hearings can be found here.

The committee will be holding further public hearings in Brisbane and Canberra in September 2024. Further information about the inquiry is available on the Committee’s website.

Public hearing details

Date: 8 August 2024
Time: 9.15am – 4.15pm
Location: Legislative Council Committee Room, Parliament of Victoria, Spring St, Melbourne.
Witnesses: Doctors for the Environment Australia, National Automotive Leasing and Salary Packaging Association, ANCAP Safety, Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council, Lithium Australia, bp Australia, Motor Trades Association of Australia, Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce, Infrastructure Victoria, Victorian Greenhouse Alliance, Australasian Convenience and Petroleum Marketers Association.

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MASTER BUILDERS Australia has welcomed the lodgement of the Fair Work Commission’s application seeking to place the CFMEU into independent administration.

The detailed statement read: "While we are disappointed by the exclusion of the ACT and WA, we commend the strong and positive stance of both Minister Murray Watt and the Federal Government in getting behind the application, and will seek their support for future inclusion of these key jurisdictions.

"While this is an important first step towards tackling criminality and the poor culture within the sector, far more needs to be done in order to build on the moves to date and ensure that they drive lasting and meaningful change once and for all.

"This starts with making sure strong and comprehensive protections are in place for people wishing to come forward with evidence, information, or materials to support the various investigations and inquiries underway.

"These protections must be complemented through stronger powers for regulators to receive information, obtain materials and conduct investigations in a manner that protects everyone from reprisals, payback or future adverse consequences.

"We are also calling for the Federal Government to establish one central overarching body to coordinate the various inquiries currently underway.

"Beyond these immediate actions, Government needs to look beyond the usual industrial relations landscape and be open to a more holistic and comprehensive ‘whole of government’ approach.

"History shows that the only way to comprehensively crack down on criminality and corruption is to tackle a poor culture underpinned by disregard for the rule of law.

"This poor culture is ingrained in some parts of the industry and it is this culture that allows criminals and organised crime to flourish. It also stifles productivity and increases the cost of construction at the expense of the community, taxpayers, jobs and small business.

"Fixing this once and for all can only be achieved through a comprehensive and coordinated approach involving permanent changes to create a range of industry specific laws, enforced by one dedicated industry specific regulator with the tools and powers it needs.

"It’s clear existing regulators and law enforcement units cannot operate in silos and require collective resources and the removal of legislative barriers.

"To be effective, a dedicated industry regulator must also be home to a permanent cross-jurisdictional police unit dedicated to targeting criminal activity and organised crime linked to the industry.

"We all, whether as employers, workers or union members, deserve to work in an industry that is lawful, safe and free from corruption, coercion, bullying and intimidation.

"Everyone in building and construction recognises the important role that unions play in workplaces but it’s clear some within the CFMEU have lost their way.

"This is a unique opportunity for governments of all levels to ensure that the building and construction industry is lawful, modern, safe, and productive now and in the future."

www.masterbuilders.com.au

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AT THE EIGHTH public hearing for the inquiry into food and beverage manufacturing in Australia, the House Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Resources plans to hear from a range of stakeholders in Victoria, including representatives from an independent think tank on alternative proteins and an advocacy group working to improve diets and prevent obesity in Australia.

Committee Chair, Rob Mitchell MP, said, “The committee has held multiple public hearings across the country to find out more about what it is like to be an Australian food and beverage manufacturer. At this final interstate hearing, the committee looks forward to continuing to hear from local manufacturers, as well as stakeholders from the academic, health, and recycling & packaging sectors.”

The committee will conduct further public hearings in Canberra during August 2024. Further information about the inquiry, including the Terms of Reference, is available on the Committee’s website: aph.gov.au/isr

Public hearing details

Date: Wednesday, 7 August 2024
Time: 9am to 2:30pm (AEST)
Location: Legislative Council Committee Room, Parliament of Victoria, Spring Street, East Melbourne VIC 3002
Witnesses: La Trobe University, Australian Dairy Products Federation, Independent Brewers Association, Food for Health Alliance, Food Frontier, AUSVEG, Starward/New World Whisky Distillery, Pact Group.

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THE Fair Work Commission’s general manager, Murray Furlong, has today initiated proceedings in the Federal Court under s.323 of the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009 (RO Act) to appoint an independent administrator for the Construction and General Division of the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU).

The proposed scheme of administration covers the Divisional Executive and offices in the Victoria-Tasmania, New South Wales, Queensland Northern Territory and South Australian divisional branches. The remaining divisional branches in Western Australia and the Australian Capital Territory would continue to function as usual but could be brought under the scheme at a later date on application to the court.

Following significant consultation with a wide range of stakeholders representing both employer and employee interests, it is proposed that the court appoint Mark Irving KC as administrator.

Mr Irving KC has been a member of the Victorian Bar for over 26 years. His experience is extensive and includes acting in significant matters relating to both unions and employer organisations. 

The court has been asked to approve a scheme for the taking of action by Mr Irving KC as independent administrator.

The proposed scheme

The members of the Construction and General Division of the CFMEU and the broader community deserve to have confidence in the ongoing effectiveness of the administration proposed in the scheme, which will take as long as necessary to bring the branches of the division into lawful compliance, and then systemically embed this governance for the future. 

If appointed, the administrator will have the ability to ensure that the division and divisional branches function effectively and lawfully within the legislative framework and the lawful objectives of the CFMEU. The administrator will be required to ensure that the rights of members of the union continue to be protected and that the division and divisional branches operate in accordance with their objects.

The scheme proposes that the administrator will have power to:

• remove officers, officials and employees from their positions, engage employees and consultants as required, and apply to the court for the appointment of assistant administrators;
• take possession of all property and credit cards;
• exercise votes of the offices he holds;
• appoint proxies to represent him at meetings and exercise voting rights as instructed;
• bring proceedings to recover funds, impose penalties and award compensation;
• cooperate with any investigations;
• establish and implement policies, including Rule alterations to ensure the CFMEU can be representative of and accountable to its members, operate lawfully and effectively and encourage member participation and democratic functioning;
• keep and maintain the register of members;
• prepare financial accounts as required; and
• issue a certificate when satisfied a divisional branch is operating effectively so that the process to remove it from administration can commence, including by commencing elections for office.

The administration of the division or a divisional branch will only end after the administrator certifies that it is functioning effectively, and the Fair Work Commission’s general manager agrees. Before reaching that conclusion, an independent audit of the financial affairs of the division or divisional branch must be conducted.

Independent special purpose audit and general manager’s industry committee

To support the integrity of the scheme, the application to the Federal Court also seeks the appointment of KordaMentha Pty Ltd to undertake a special purpose audit and prepare a report into the financial position and financial risks relating to the Division and Branches in administration. This report will be provided to both the Administrator and to the General Manager following commencement of administration.

As part of the commitment to being an open and transparent regulator, the Fair Work Commission’s general manager is establishing a Building and Construction Industry Committee. The committee will report to the general manager. The administrator will also be required to meet with the general manager regularly throughout the administration to report on the scheme’s progress.

Yesterday the general manager wrote individually to approximately 250 CFMEU office holders to remind them of their obligations as elected officials under the RO Act and of the information and education resources the commission publishes to assist them in their roles.

The general manager said he was unwavering in his commitment to ensuring the success of this process for the benefit of CFMEU members, employers and the broader community. The objective in making this application is to ensure that the CFMEU can meet the expectations and act in the interests of its members, lawfully and in a proper and democratic way, and in accordance with its statutory obligations and the expectations of the broader community that it operates within.

About the Fair Work Commission

The Fair Work Commission is Australia’s national workplace relations tribunal and the independent regulator of registered organisations. It exercises its functions and powers in accordance with the Fair Work Act 2009. The commission and general manager also have responsibilities in relation to registered organisations under the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009.

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