TODAY Volunteering Queensland will launch the first State of Volunteering in Queensland 2021 Report. The report found that, remarkably, more than 3 million people -- more than 75 percent of the population -- volunteered 900 million hours in 2020, a year that was challenging for all.

“We have always believed that the majority of Queenslanders volunteer in some way. Now we have the evidence to confirm that, with over 3 million Queenslanders volunteering – that’s a participation rate of 75.7 percent and certainly something we should all be proud of and celebrate," Volunteering Queensland CEO Mara Basanovic said.

“Whilst we now have evidence of the high participation rate in both informal and formal volunteering, there are still many challenges facing the volunteering sector. About 38 percent of volunteer-involving organisations saw a decrease in their volunteer numbers, with time and health reasons being the main barriers to people being able to volunteer," Ms Basanovic said.

The report has uncovered the true value of volunteering in the state, with volunteers contributing almost $84 billion in value to the Queensland community. 

Another astounding finding is the size of the volunteer workforce in Queensland. The volunteer workforce is three times the size of the Queensland Government and nearly as big as the private sector. The cost to replace the labour of this workforce in 2020 would have been approximately $37.1 billion.

"We have always known that volunteering is a valuable contributor to Queensland’s economy. Now we have the hard facts, each year volunteering contributes almost $84 billion to our state. 

Not only does volunteering contribute almost $84 billion annually to the community, it also offers a significant return on investment. For every $1 invested in volunteering, it delivers a return of $4.10 back to the community," Ms Basanovic said.

Queenslanders are motivated to volunteer to help each other, the simple act of giving, she said.

"As we celebrate National Volunteer Week 2021, we recognise the selfless act of over 3 million Queenslanders who are giving their precious time for an average 5.7 hours every week to help others."

On Friday May 21, as National Volunteer Week comes to an end, Volunteering Queensland will be celebrating these remarkable volunteers at the Queensland Volunteer Awards. 

www.volunteeringqld.org.au

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THE Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security tabled its report on Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (International Production Orders) Bill 2020 last week.

The Committee recommended that, following the implementation of the recommendations in its report, the IPO Bill 2020 be passed by Parliament.

The Chair, Senator James Paterson, said, “An international production orders scheme will provide Australia’s law enforcement agencies and ASIO with much faster access to evidence during the investigation and prosecution of serious crimes, a vital power in an increasingly digital world where much evidence is located offshore.

“The Committee’s recommendations seek to provide necessary assurances that any international agreement that Australia enters into under the provisions in the Bill are necessary, proportionate and subject to appropriate oversight.” Senator Paterson said.

The Committee recommended that the Bill contain a list of conditions governing designated international agreements, including on the non-use of the death penalty on Australian-sourced information, as well as the conditions a foreign country must meet prior to Australia negotiating a designated international agreement.

In addition, the Committee recommended that the authority to apply for an international production order be confined to senior officers in the relevant law enforcement agencies and ASIO. The Committee also made a number of recommendations to enhance oversight of the powers.

Further information on the inquiry can be obtained from the Committee’s website.

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THE report of the Inquiry into Defence relationships in the Pacific undertaken by Defence Sub-Committee of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade was tabled last week.

Chair of the Sub-Committee Andrew Wallace MP said Defence and security challenges faced in the Pacific are now more prevalent and complex than ever before. ​

“It behoves all members of our Pacific family to be aware of emerging issues, and to face them together in an organised, collaborative, and coordinated manner. As a regional medium-power, Australia bears significant responsibility for creating the environment and providing the means to achieve this..” he said.

The inquiry report and its recommendations reflect the fact that there are several existing and proven defence initiatives and programs which contribute significantly to the Pacific Step-up. These include the long-standing Defence Cooperation Program and the Pacific Maritime Security Program.

The report also indicates that there are ways to improve these initiatives, as well as new and innovative ways to forge, deepen and strengthen defence ties between members of the Pacific family. This is where the future of Australian defence relationships should be focussed.

“From fisheries management, protection and surveillance, to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, intelligence collection and sharing, climate change and the global pandemic, Australia’s defence organisation stands ready to play its part in the Pacific Step-up. There is, however, more to be done.” Mr Wallace said.

This Parliamentary inquiry examined Australia’s Defence relationships with Pacific Island nations in the context of the Pacific Step-up. The inquiry heard from a range of Academic, Government, and Non-Government Agencies over two days of public hearings in July 2020 and via a number of written submissions provided to the Sub-Committee from Government agencies, academia and individuals. ​

While the conduct of the inquiry was impacted by COVID-19, the submissions received, and evidence heard at public hearings was of the highest quality and the committee thanks all of those who contributed to it. This report and its recommendations reflect the committee’s belief that Australia’s defence relationships in the Pacific are extremely important, are becoming increasingly so, and that additional efforts can and should be made to ensure the security of our region in the years to come. ​

Further details about the about the inquiry, including terms of reference, details on how to contribute a submission and, when available, details of public hearings and roundtable discussions, can also be obtained from the committee’s website.

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THE NSW Government is being urged to intervene and employ NSW's contact tracers directly, with hundreds of the disease detectives uncertain about their ongoing work.

The Public Service Association (PSA) is warning NSW's contact tracers, many of whom are stood down aviation workers, may soon walk after more than a year of insecure work and growing rostering chaos.

While some contact tracers are employed directly by the Ministry of Health, many who do the follow up calls, including advising people of a close contact, advising on changing restrictions, and following up that people are following isolation orders, have been employed for more than a year through ad-hoc labour hire arrangements.

"Insecure work and pandemics just don't mix," assistant secretary of the PSA, Troy Wright said. "Labour hire means insecure conditions for workers, poor value for taxpayers, and puts the entire contact tracing system at risk.

"COVID-19 isn't going anywhere. We need to make contact tracers permanent employees so that they'll be there when we need them. The government needs to be retaining these skilled workers."

Recently the union has heard of rising absenteeism, increased turnover, and plummeting morale as management refuses to provide certainty around shifts or ongoing work.

"NSW's gold standard contact tracing system is at risk because the government refuses to offer any job security," Mr Wright said.

"These people have a tough enough job as it is. They're the ones on the end of the phone telling someone Christmas is cancelled or that they may have unknowingly exposed loved ones. They don't deserve the added stress of knowing that if they speak up about conditions they'll be shown the door."

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