THE Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee will hold the first of a number of public hearings tomorrow as part of its Review of the Security Legislation Amendment (Critical Infrastructure) Bill 2020 and Statutory Review of the Security of Critical Infrastructure Act 2018.

The Committee will hear from the Law Council of Australia, Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, Commonwealth Ombudsman, Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner, Office of the Australian Information Commissioner, and the Department of Home Affairs and the Australian Signals Directorate.

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

Public hearing details

Friday, 11 June 2021
9.30am – 3:30pm (AEST)
Committee Room 2R1, Parliament House, Canberra

A program for the hearing can be found here and the hearing will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live.

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THEAustralian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson said his office would closely monitor Woolworths’ planned acquisition of a controlling stake in PFD Food services (PFD), in regards to the impact it has on small businesses in the sector.

Following the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) decision not to oppose Woolworths’ acquisition of 65 percent of shares in PFD, Mr Billson said small businesses in the food distribution space were understandably concerned.

“The ACCC’s decision not to intervene or impose any conditions on Woolworths’ proposed acquisition of a majority stake in PFD is disappointing,” Mr Billson said.

“The deal is an example of another creeping acquisition by an already dominant player in the food and grocery sector, eating away at the competitive landscape and the footprint of independent businesses.

“In this case it’s the wholesale food distribution channel, which has been one of the few genuinely competitive areas of the food and grocery sector

“Food and grocery suppliers are concerned about the likely further narrowing of alternatives to supermarkets for their products with the transaction expected to result in Woolworths significantly increasing its presence and influence in wholesale food distribution channels.

“Small and family business food and grocery suppliers will understandably feel one of the truly open doors for their products closed a little today.

“My office has made our concerns about this transaction clear to the ACCC and we note the evidence was not sufficient to support ACCC intervention as it has concluded the deal will not substantially lessen competition," Mr Billson said.

“Given that much of the concern about this acquisition relates to Woolworths’ influence on the wholesale distribution channel and the impact on food and grocery producers who are already concerned about having too few customer options, I hope the ACCC will join me in keeping a close eye on how this plays out.

“In the meantime, my office welcomes ongoing feedback from small and family business owners and operators in food distribution.”

www.asbfeo.gov.au

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 “THE ANNOUNCEMENT by the government to extend the temporary halving of the minimum superannuation drawdown amount is welcomed by retirees,” Association of Independent Retirees president Wayne Strandquist said today. 

“In times of financial crisis or market volatility that we have seen with the GFC or the COVID-19 pandemic, retirees need greater flexibility in the minimum amount they are required to draw down from their superannuation," he said.

“If retirees are forced to withdraw money from superannuation when the capital value of superannuation accounts are depressed or when the returns being generated are low, it will have long term impacts on how long their superannuation will last,” Mr Strandquist said.

“The 50 percent reduction in the minimum age based drawdown percentages for superannuation income streams for the past two years was welcomed by retirees, as is the extension of the temporary reduction for a third year 2021-22.

“The Association of Independent Retirees has advocated for some years to government that the minimum withdrawal percentages from superannuation in retirement should be permanently lowered for retirees who are 75 years and older.

“The time spent in retirement is now considerably longer than when the compulsory superannuation system was established. In addition to this longevity risk, investment risk also increases over time with more periods of volatility in the value of retirement savings and retirement income,” Mr Strandquist said.

“So, rather than a temporary arrangement, retirees need a permanent reduction to minimum super drawdowns so they have the flexibility to deal with whatever comes along as well as preserving funds for out of pocket health and age care expenses in later life."

www.independentretirees.com

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ON TUESDAY, June8, the Northern Australia Committee will hear from representatives of the Cape York Land Council, AECOM, Torres Shire Council and Gur A Baradharaw Kod Torres Strait Sea and Land Council Torres Strait Islander Corporation (GBK).

The inquiry into the destruction of Indigenous heritage sites at Juukan Gorge will further examine Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage legislation in Queensland, with a public hearing by videoconference.

The Committee will delve into cultural heritage problems experienced in Queensland by both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Committee Chair Warren Entsch said, "Cultural heritage protection is the primary objective of the Committee. By discussing issues with those affected we can ensure that the Committee’s report will include the voices of stakeholders from across Australia."

A key issue for the Cape York Land Council is that politicians and bureaucrats should not be making decisions relating to heritage protection and management.

An important issue for AECOM is that authorised Indigenous parties must be treated as crucial partners by governments and proponents in decision making processes for heritage management.

GBK wants land users to recognise and appreciate that the relationship between Aboriginal and Torres Strait People and their environment is one based on balance in harmony with nature and observance of their ancestral customs.

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

Public hearing details

Date: Tuesday, 8 June 2021
Time: 10am to 4pm AEST
Location: by video/teleconference

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

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