A PARLIAMENTARY inquiry into the impact of COVID-19 on Australia’s defence, trade and international relations will turn its attention to the pandemic’s impact on Australia’s freight and shipping industries at its next public hearing.

Senator David Fawcett, chair of the Parliament’s Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee, said that an effective and trusted maritime freight system is critical to Australia’s economy.

Senator Fawcett said, “Australia’s import and export supply chains, including our ports, have underpinned our economy to date and have kept many goods that we depend on moving during the pandemic. Our ongoing prosperity depends on an efficient and resilient shipping and logistics industry.”

Witnesses from the Freight and Trade Alliance, the Australian Peak Shippers Association, and Ports Australia will give evidence on the freight, shipping and logistics sector’s response to the pandemic.

Full terms of reference for the inquiry are on the Committee website.

Public hearing details

Date: Thursday 30 July
Time: 3pm – 4.30pm AEST 
Location: By teleconference

The hearings will be audio streamed live at aph.gov.au/live.

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THE Queensland Government should mirror key planks of the Western Australian Government’s COVID-19 recovery plan for the Sunshine State’s own economic revival, Queensland Resources Council chief executive Ian Macfarlane said.

Mr Macfarlane said the WA Recovery Plan, launched by Premier Mark McGowan at the weekend, adopted many recommendations the QRC had already made to the Queensland Government, the Premier’s Queensland Industry Recovery Alliance and the Parliamentary Inquiry into the Government’s response to the COVID-19 recovery.

“The resources industry in Queensland, like WA, has been one of the very few sectors to keep our Queenslanders working and earning.  We have kept the lights on during one of the darkest periods in Queensland’s history,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“Like the industry in WA, the Queensland resources sector needs the State Government to help kick-start new projects with support for exploration, reduced assessment timeframes and exemption for affected mining tenement holders.”

In response to QRC’s 40-point Resource Industry Recovery Agenda, the Palaszczuk Government has increased funding for the Collaborative Exploration Initiative by $10 million.

“For the resources sector to do more, we need the Queensland Government to do more,” Mr Macfarlane said.

Specifically, QRC is seeking:

• Streamlined assessment and approval processes for new and expanded resource projects;
• A 10-year royalty freeze on all resource commodities to provide certainty, particularly for investments in new and expanded projects; and
• An Industry Development Plan with a commitment to work with the sector on its long-term growth and prosperity.

Premier Mark McGowan’s WA Recovery Plan states:

“The mining sector is the backbone of the WA economy and has played an integral part in keeping Western Australia in a strong economic position throughout the pandemic.

"The McGowan Government will continue to support mining exploration to build a pipeline of new activity to complement existing operations.

"Initiatives will include building on the industry’s understanding of the state’s geoscience, encouraging exploration activities and ultimately kick-starting new projects across Western Australia.

"Amendments to mining regulations will reduce assessment timeframes for exploration applications, thereby fast-tracking new opportunities.

"Changes to regulations will also allow mining tenement holders to apply for expenditure exemptions if they are able to demonstrate that the COVID-19 pandemic affected their financial capacity to meet expenditure conditions of their leases.”

Link to the WA Recovery Plan: www.wa.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-07/WA_Recovery_Plan.pdf

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THIS WEEK the House Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs will hold two further public hearings for its inquiry into homelessness in Australia.

At hearings on Wednesday and Thursday, the Committee will hear from representatives of all three levels of government, including the Lord Mayors of Sydney and Melbourne, the Northern Territory Government, and Federal Government agencies including the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation.

Other witnesses will include the Community Housing Industry Association and academics from the ANU Centre for Social Research and Methods who have been monitoring the level of housing stress being experienced by Australians during the COVID-19 period.

The Committee will also have the opportunity to hear from individuals with lived experience of homelessness, who will provide a valuable perspective for the inquiry.

Chair of the Committee, Andrew Wallace MP, said the Committee was keen to hear from witnesses about the unique challenges in addressing homelessness in different regions of Australia, and about how the community can better support people who may be particularly vulnerable, including older Australians and veterans.

"We know that the issue of homelessness presents in different ways across the country, from our largest capital cities to our most remote communities. These hearings are an opportunity for the Committee to hear about the different approaches to providing housing and homelessness services in these different communities," Mr Wallace said.

"The Committee will also hear about support services for groups of Australians that we know are particularly at risk of homelessness, including older Australians and veterans, and about the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 situation."

In order to ensure public safety during the COVID-19 situation, witnesses will participate in the hearing remotely, via teleconference. Interested members of the public are invited to listen to the live broadcast, available at aph.gov.au/live.

Further information, including hearing programs and submissions to the inquiry, is available on the Committee’s website.

Public hearing details

Date: Wednesday, 29 July 2020
Time: 8.45am to 4pm
Location: Via teleconference

Date: Thursday, 30 July 2020
Time: 8.45am to 4pm
Location: Via teleconference

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THE House of Representatives Standing Committee on Procedure this week continues its program of public hearings as part of its inquiry into the practices and procedures relating to question time in the House.

Chair of the committee, Ross Vasta said the committee would hear from a panel from the parliamentary press gallery and from former Speaker, Peter Slipper.

"This is an opportunity to explore perceptions of Question Time," Mr Vasta said.

"Hearing different perspectives on Question Time and the role it plays in the parliamentary day will inform our consideration of practices and procedures," said Mr Milton Dick, the Deputy Chair of the committee.

The committee has so far conducted a public survey, received submissions, held public hearings and consulted with current Members. At the conclusion of its inquiry, the Committee will make recommendations to the House for its consideration. Further information about the inquiry is available on the Committee’s website.

Public hearing details

Date: Monday, 27 July 2020
Time: 3pm to 4pm
Location: By teleconference
Witnesses: Parliamentary Press Gallery

Date: Tuesday, 28 July 2020
Time: 2pm to 3pm
Location: by teleconference
Witness: Peter Slipper 

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

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WHEN the COVID restrictions began in March, the Financial Services Council’s (FSC) participating life insurers put two major initiatives in place – the commitment to Frontline Healthcare Workers and the Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) claims initiative.

The frontline healthcare workers initiative ensures that frontline healthcare workers are not prevented from obtaining life insurance cover purely because of their exposure, or potential exposure, to coronavirus through the crucial work they are doing on the frontline.

The TPD claims initiative ensures that if people lose their job, are stood down or have reduced working hours due to COVID, this will not affect their TPD cover.

Today, the Financial Services Council (FSC) announced the extension of both these initiatives until January 1, 2021. In the case of the COVID TPD claims initiative, claims need to be lodged on or before March 31, 2021.

FSC CEO Sally Loane said, “These initiatives aim to ease any concerns Australians may have about their life insurance cover during uncertain times.

“What this means is that participating life insurers will have provided additional support to the community right through to the end of 2020.

“If anyone is unsure about what cover they have, contact your superannuation trustee, life insurer or financial adviser.”

https://fsc.org.au/policy/life-insurance/commitments

About the Financial Services Council

The Financial Services Council (FSC) has over 100 members representing Australia's retail and wholesale funds management businesses, superannuation funds, life insurers, financial advisory networks and licensed trustee companies. The industry is responsible for investing almost $3 trillion on behalf of more than 15.6 million Australians. The pool of funds under management is larger than Australia’s GDP and the capitalisation of the Australian Securities Exchange and is the fourth largest pool of managed funds in the world.

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THE Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Kate Carnell is reminding small businesses they have until September 7, 2020, to declare any errors in superannuation payments to staff, without facing harsh penalties.

“This applies to the superannuation guarantee amnesty legislation passed from July 1,1992 to March 31, 2018,” Ms Carnell said.

“Small businesses should speak to their trusted, accredited financial advisers now to get their affairs in order before it’s too late. Payment plans are available to small businesses unable to pay the lump sum amount owed, so long as they get on the front foot and make contact with the ATO, before the September 7 deadline.

“However, only payments made before September 7 will be eligible for the tax deduction benefit. To qualify for the amnesty, employers have to come forward voluntarily, without direct prompting from the ATO and agree to pay all employee entitlements plus interest.

“Most small businesses already do the right thing, with 95 percent complying," Ms Carnell said. "The amnesty will give small businesses a chance to ensure they are compliant because all Australian workers deserve to be paid the entitlements they are owed.

“If you don’t disclose unpaid super under the amnesty and you are found to have been non-compliant, you will face a minimum penalty of 100% of the superannuation owed, have to pay $20 administration fee per employee per quarter and you cannot deduct any payments made.”

More information can be found at ato.gov.au/sgamnesty

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A 32-YEAR-OLD DEREGISTERED tax professional from Queensland has been sentenced at the Brisbane District Court to three years jail today for fraudulently obtaining $192,140 from the ATO by lodging false Business Activity Statements (BAS) and amendments without her clients’ knowledge. She was also ordered to pay $158,845 in reparations.

Alana Hodge, a formerly registered (BAS) agent, was employed by seven businesses. Ms Hodge was trusted by these businesses to manage their business tax obligations.

She abused their trust by changing the bank account details and contact information in the ATO business portal. She went on to lodge 47 false BAS for seven of her clients without their knowledge between 2015 and 2017.

Assistant Commissioner Adam Kendrick said that tax and BAS agents play a vital role in contributing to and protecting the integrity of the Australian tax and super systems.

“The ATO knows that the majority of registered agents do the right thing, but unfortunately there are some agents who take advantage of their clients for financial benefit,” Mr Kendrick said.

Ms Hodge attempted to obtain a further $65,056 in GST refunds, however, she was unaware the ATO had already received a tip off from one of her client’s accountants and were already undertaking an investigation into the suspicious activity. The funds were not released.

“As demonstrated in today’s case, even registered tax professionals can be dishonest and take advantage of their clients," Mr Kendrick said. "That is why it’s important for the ATO and Tax Practitioners’ Board (TPB) to work together to maintain the integrity of the tax profession and identify those who try to undermine their trusted position.”

The ATO has a program dedicated to identifying and addressing agents whose behaviour has an immediate and ongoing threat to the integrity of the tax and super systems, their clients, and the wider Australian community.

“We want to assure the community we take these matters seriously and work closely with the TPB to combat dishonest behaviour.”

The TPB terminated Ms Hodge’s registration in October 2018 and banned her for the maximum five-year term.

This matter was prosecuted by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.

https://www.tpb.gov.au/make-complaint.

ATO reporting: via the app or by calling 1800 060 062.

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SOME of Australian industry’s biggest companies are supporting a new initiative that will see them work together to better understand pathways to achieving net zero emissions in supply chains.

BHP, Woodside, BlueScope Steel, BP Australia, Orica, APA Group, Australian Gas Infrastructure Group and Wesfarmers Chemicals, Energy and Fertilisers – which together represent 14 percent of Australian industrial emissions – have signed on to the Australian Industry Energy Transitions Initiative.

They are joined by National Australia Bank, Schneider Electric and AustralianSuper, who represent the broader system of investments, services, products and knowledge that will be key to supporting industry action towards net-zero supply chains. 

Independent, not-for-profit bodies ClimateWorks Australia and Climate-KIC Australia are conveners of the Australian Industry ETI, in collaboration with the Energy Transitions Commission. 

It has been developed with the generous support of philanthropic donations, company contributions and funding from the Australian Government, through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA). It is supported by the Australian Industry Group and the Australian Industry Greenhouse Network, with research partners including CSIRO and the Rocky Mountain Institute.

The initiative aims to set Australian industry up for a success in a decarbonised global economy, by harnessing industry knowledge to develop pathways and actions that can accelerate emissions reductions across whole supply chains – in sectors where abatement has traditionally faced structural challenges. 

Specifically, it will focus on opportunities across five supply chains which collectively contribute more than a quarter of Australia’s annual greenhouse gas emissions and generate exports worth around $160 billion. These include steel, aluminium, liquified natural gas, other metals (such as lithium, copper and nickel) and chemicals (including explosives and fertiliser).

The Australian Industry ETI is chaired by Simon McKeon AO, chancellor of Monash University, former CSIRO chairman and former Australian of the Year. He said collaboration, experimentation and shared knowledge would all sit at the heart of the initiative’s work.

“We know that we can find solutions more quickly, and start implementing them, if we’re encouraging collaborative learning and knowledge sharing, especially when it comes to new technology,” Mr McKeon said.

“This initiative provides a platform to generate knowledge and test action through on-the-ground projects that support industry to realise the opportunities of a decarbonising global economy.” 

As global efforts to reduce emissions to net zero by 2050 continue and become more urgent, there is an increasing awareness that companies must understand their broader supply chains and help shape the decarbonisation approach across them.

Supply chains embody the highly complex and interconnected nature of the global economy, and include finance, investment and customer decisions, as well as operations such as the extraction of raw materials, processing and distribution. Tackling these complex systems presents additional challenges to industry.

The Australian Industry ETI is a collaborative effort to collectively learn, develop research and find actions that move broader industry sectors toward net zero emissions in supply chains. 

“Emissions aren’t contained within national borders and aren’t confined to what happens within a company’s four walls. That’s why a supply chain approach is vital,” ClimateWorks CEO Anna Skarbek said.

“Globally, many countries and businesses are already moving to decarbonise supply chains in heavy industry sectors. There are huge opportunities for Australian businesses if they take a proactive approach to getting into this race.

“The good news is that the Energy Transitions Commission and others have shown that technologies can eliminate the emissions from our heavy industry supply chains. Better understanding these opportunities for Australian industry will be a key focus of the initiative.

"We’re pleased to be working with Australian industry participants to develop pathways and actions to support net zero emissions across critical supply chains of the economy.”

In addition to considering opportunities across the Australian economy, the Australian Industry ETI will also have a particular focus on Western Australia.

“With mining and heavy industries driving the economy in Western Australia, focusing some of our effort there will really demonstrate what is achievable nation-wide,” said Chris Lee, CEO of Climate-KIC Australia.

“Taking a systems approach and joining up players within and across supply chains will help move past barriers that individual companies face when reducing emissions as well as support the realisation of new opportunities.”

ARENA CEO Darren Miller welcomed the initiative’s role in uniting some of Australia’s big players in industry towards a common goal of reducing emissions.

“Accelerating the uptake of renewable energy for the industrial sector is a critical part in Australia meeting its long term emissions reductions commitments,” he said. “A fast transition to renewables and alternative fuels will also help industry meet market needs as a global demand for low carbon products grows, which will produce lower energy costs and continue to support jobs in the sector.”

The Australian Industry ETI’s identification of supply chain opportunities will complement the work of other emissions reduction initiatives and programs, including the federal Technology Investment Roadmap, and international collaborations for clean energy and industry transitions. 

Other industry leaders have been invited to join the project by contacting ClimateWorks Australia or Climate-KIC Australia. Updates will be available online at www.energytransitionsinitiative.org  

Other companies in active discussion with the initiative operate across steel, aluminium, other key metals, chemicals, LNG, finance and superannuation.

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