THE Indigenous Affairs Committee will hear from stakeholders in Far North Queensland and the Northern Territory this week as part of its inquiry into pathways and participation opportunities for Indigenous Australians in employment and business.

Due to recent lockdowns, these hearings will be conducted by conference call.

Committee Chair Julian Leeser MP said Land Councils, Aboriginal Corporations, Indigenous enterprises and business associations, as well as employment service providers and training organisations would be among the many stakeholders appearing before the committee over three days of hearings.

"These hearings will contribute significantly to the existing body of evidence for this inquiry. The Committee looks forward to discussing gaps and opportunities in the workforce and future growth sectors that could result in employment and enterprise options for Indigenous Australians," Mr Leeser said.

"We will be particularly interested to hear from CDP and Jobactive providers about their experiences helping Indigenous people find work. It will also be very useful to learn about continuing challenges to Indigenous participation and how Government can better facilitate these opportunities."

Public hearing details

Date: Wednesday, 7 July 2021
Time: 9.30am to 4pm AEST 

Date: Thursday, 8 July 2021
Time: 9.30am to 4.40pm AEST

Date: Friday, 9 July 2021
Time: 9.20am to 4.50pm AEST

A live audio stream of the hearing will be accessible at https://www.aph.gov.au/Watch_Read_Listen.

Full programs will be available at the inquiry website.

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THE Waanyi Native Title Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC will discuss their experience with New Century Resources at a public hearing tomorrow.

Committee Chair, Warren Entsch MP, noted that it was unfortunate the committee was unable to visit the Waanyi PBC in person due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Mr Entsch said, "The discussion via teleconference will be valuable to this inquiry. We will be interested to hear about the decision-making process that led to the agreement to the Cultural Heritage Management Plan for Magazine Hill."

The Waanyi Native Title Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC, in their submission, conveyed that the Waanyi People’s final decision to consent to the excavation of Magazine Hill was taken with considerable sadness, but it was an informed decision.

A program for the public hearing is available on the committee’s website.

Public hearing details

Date: Thursday, 8 July 2021
Time: 10am to 11am AEST
Location: by video/teleconference

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

Further details of the inquiry, including terms of reference, can be found on the Committee’s website.

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THE Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit (JCPAA) has commenced two inquiries into important areas of public sector accountability as part of its examination of Auditor-General’s reports.

The Auditor-General's reports on Defence Major Projects and on Commonwealth Financial Statements are critical accountability mechanisms for the expenditure of public funds.

Committee Chair Lucy Wicks MP said the Major Projects Report inquiry was an important opportunity for Parliament to review the cost, progress and technical attributes of major Defence acquisitions, and the review of financial statements gives the committee the chance to examine Federal Government agencies' expenditure.

"The JCPAA scrutinises the governance, performance and accountability of Commonwealth agencies, to examine whether public money is used in an efficient, effective, economical and ethical manner," Ms Wicks said. "The committee has an important role holding Commonwealth agencies to account."

The Committee invites submissions to the inquiries which address the terms of reference. Public hearings will be held in the second half of 2021.

For more information about this Committee, visit its website.

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NSW Fair Trading is investigating ticket reseller Viagogo as consumer complaints against the company spike in line with the reintroduction of ticketed events. 

There have been 36 complaints received about Viagogo in 2021 so far, 16 relating to ticket scalping, 11 relating to the cancellation of events that were not refunded, 5 relating to misleading customers that they are the authorised seller, 3 for tickets not being delivered in a timely manner and 1 for not providing age restriction advice. 

NSW Fair Trading Commissioner Rose Webb said with the arts and entertainment already struggling, ticket scalpers and especially Viagogo "should not get away with ripping off consumers".

“It was big news in 2018 when NSW Fair Trading made ticket scalping illegal by making it an offence for ticket resellers such as Viagogo to charge more than 10 percent extra on the original ticket price and transactions costs,” Ms Webb said. 

“We did briefly see a drop off in complaints but then we saw a spike at the end of 2019. When the pandemic hit complaints obviously dropped off again as events were not able to go ahead.

“However now that events are back on the agenda, we have seen a spike again and despite Viagogo being explicitly warned and receiving a $7 million fine from the ACCC in 2020, they continue to flout the rules.

“Those within the entertainment and arts industry have been vocal about the obliteration of their industry due to COVID and they do not need the additional stress of ticket resellers scalping well-meaning fans. 

“We will be investigating and using our powers to stop any unlawful behaviour.”

In 2021 the most common complaints related to tickets for the musical Hamilton exceeding the 110 percent cap.

Ms Webb urged anyone who had witnessed or experienced ticket scalping to report the incident at the Fair Trading website: Make a complaint | NSW Fair Trading 

For more information about consumer rights and ticket reselling go to Tickets, parties and events | NSW Fair Trading.

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