THE Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security will hold a public hearing for its review of the Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment (Declared Areas) Bill 2024 (Declared Areas Bill) today, May 20.

Counter-terrorism provisions within the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Criminal Code) include the ability for the Minister for Foreign Affairs to ‘declare’ an area, making it a potential offence, punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment, for an Australian citizen, resident or visa-holder to enter or remain in the area. The declared areas offence is presently due to sunset in September 2024.

The committee has invited government and non-government representatives to its hearing to discuss the Declared Areas Bill, which primarily aims to continue the declared areas offence and related provisions in the Criminal Code for a further three years.

Committee Chair, Peter Khalil MP, said, "The committee has received mixed evidence regarding the declared areas offence. We look forward to hearing from a range of government and non-government witnesses to inform our review and report to Parliament."

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

The Committee’s website has a full program for the hearing, and the hearing will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live.

Public hearing

Monday, 20 May 2024
11:30am – 2:30pm AEST
Committee Room 2R1, Parliament House, Canberra, and via videoconference.

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THE Joint Standing Committee on Trade and Investment Growth has launched an inquiry into the understanding and utilisation of the benefits available to Australian industry and communities under free trade agreements.

The inquiry will focus on the level of awareness and uptake of the benefits available under Australia’s free trade agreements, including the promotion of the benefits of trade, the difficulties faced in accessing the benefits of trade agreements, and how the utilisation of trade agreements is measured.

It will also examine the extent to which regional, diaspora and First Nations communities take advantage of trade opportunities, including through free trade agreements, and how these communities can be better engaged to build Australia’s trade.

Committee Chair, Steve Georganas MP, said, “International trade offers significant economic and social benefits to Australian industry and communities. The committee wants to hear from the exporters, small business, peak bodies, industry associations, and diaspora and First Nations communities to better understand if the benefits offered by participation in international trade are being maximised and how the utilisation of Australia’s free trade agreements could be improved.”

The committee is seeking submissions from interested parties on the inquiry’s terms of reference by Friday, June 21, 2024..

Further information about the inquiry, including published submissions and hearing transcripts, will be available on the inquiry webpage.

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THE Joint Standing Committee on Treaties will hold a public hearing today, May 20, for its inquiry into the 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.

Committee Chair, Josh Wilson MP, said the agreement ‘"would recognise Fiji as a key strategic defence partner of Australia, build on the longstanding defence and broader bilateral relationship between our two countries, and further our shared vision for security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region".

"The agreement would enable more frequent and sophisticated defence cooperation between Australia and Fiji," Mr Wilson said. "This includes working together on maritime security issues, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, peacekeeping operations, co-deployments and the training of military personnel.

"The agreement would provide a comprehensive, reciprocal and legally binding framework for the status of visiting forces and civilians, and information sharing between the two countries.’

The committee will hear from officials from the Department of Defence, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Human Rights Watch.

Public hearing details

Date:               Monday, 20 May 2024
Time:               3:15 pm approximately
Location:         Committee Room 1R4

The hearing can be accessed online and the program is available on the Committee’s website, along with further information about the inquiry.

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THE Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade, through the Foreign Affairs and Aid Subcommittee (the committee), has commenced an inquiry into Australia’s response to the priorities of Pacific Island countries and the Pacific region.

The inquiry was referred by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Penny Wong with the attached terms of reference.

Chair of the Foreign Affairs and Aid Subcommittee, Josh Burns MP, said, “We look forward to hearing a range of stakeholder views on the key priorities for Pacific Island countries and the Pacific, including their concerns and aspirations for economic, environmental and social development in the region.”

The committee is also interested in hearing about the effectiveness of Australia’s aid programs in the Pacific and opportunities to strengthen linkages and partnerships, and climate change mitigation and adaptation responses in the Pacific.

“During the inquiry, it will be important to consider Australia’s engagement in the Pacific and the alignment of initiatives and policies with the key priorities of Pacific Island nations.”

Submissions from interested individuals and organisations addressing the terms of reference to this inquiry are invited by Friday, June 28, 2024. The preferred method of receiving submissions is by electronic format lodged online using a My Parliament account.

Further information about the committee’s inquiry is available on the committee’s website.

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