THE Financial Services Council (FSC) Guide on the Prevention of Elder Financial Abuse (The Guide) was launched today signalling an important step by the financial services sector towards ending the financial abuse of older Australians.

FSC CEO Sally Loane said caring for an ageing population presents society with a range of risks and challenges, and financial abuse of elderly citizens is an area becoming unacceptably prevalent in Australian society.

“The guide is a starting point for non-banking financial services organisations to identify, address and prevent the financial abuse of their older clients and customers,” Ms Loane said.

“It is vital that every sector of the wealth and asset protection industry, including those working in superannuation, advice, trustee companies and life insurance, are equipped with the guidance they need to navigate this complex but intolerable problem.

“Acknowledging the range of sensitivities with elder financial abuse, The Guide does not prescribe a one-size-fits-all framework, but rather sets out ways in which organisations can voluntarily adapt and employ aspects of best practice risk management strategies.

“Strategies range from developing protocols on how to respond to suspected financial abuse through to reviewing safeguards surrounding Powers of Attorney.”

Download a copy: https://fsc.org.au/resources/1874-the-fsc-guide-to-the-prevention-of-elder-financial-abuse-2019/file

About the Financial Services Council

The Financial Services Council (FSC) has more than 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 $3 trillion on behalf of more than 15.6 million Australians. The FSC promotes best practice for the financial services industry by setting mandatory Standards for its members and providing Guidance Notes to assist in operational efficiency. The FSC’s mission is to protect and enhance confidence in a strong, sustainable financial services sector that serves Australians with integrity.

ends

ROBOTS invaded Brisbane’s southside today, but the students taking part in a Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA) event at Yeronga State High School had them under control.

The students jumped into a Beakers.Bots.Build event, supported by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) and Queensland Resources Council (QRC) members. 

The workshop combined hands-on activities linked to engineering and the school curriculum with challenges based on chemical processing, robotics and programming, environmental practices and design.

“This is a great example of how real world skills can be implemented into classroom activities and a tip top way to welcome the students to the academy,” said QRC’s director pf education and skills, Katrina-Lee Jones. 

“Each task is designed to encourage students to pursue further studies in maths and science in preparation for a science technology engineering and maths (STEM) pathway,” she said. 

“It’s also an opportunity for them to see the wide variety of career pathways available to them in the resources sector, particularly through the lens of people working in the sector.” 

QRC is the peak representative body for Queensland ‘s resource sector. The Queensland resources sector provides one in every five dollars in the Queensland economy, sustains one in eight Queensland jobs, and supports more than 15,400 businesses and community organisations across the State, all from 0.1 percent of Queensland’s land mass. 

The QMEA is a partnership between the QRC and the Queensland Government under its Gateway to Industry Schools program. It has 74 schools throughout Queensland. 

www.qrc.org.au

ends

THE House of Representatives Standing Committee on Indigenous Affairs has launched an inquiry today into pathways and participation opportunities for Indigenous Australians in employment and business.

Committee chair Julian Leeser MP said Indigenous Australians often face tougher barriers when seeking employment or starting their own business.

"It is vital that we address this to ensure a more prosperous future for First Nations peoples," Mr Leeser said.

The committee will consult with a wide a range of stakeholders on proposals that will create better economic opportunities for Indigenous people.

"We will aim to speak with a range of stakeholders including First Nations people, Indigenous-owned enterprises, relevant peak organisations, as well as State and Federal policymakers and other people involved in employment services and small business lending," Mr Leeser said.

For more information about the inquiry, including its terms of reference and instructions on making a submission, visit the committee’s webpage.

ends

AS PART of a Federal Parliament inquiry into economic engagement with Traditional Owners, Members of Parliament are travelling to Cairns, Hope Vale and the Torres Strait.

The Northern Australia Committee is holding public hearings in Far North Queensland this week, and will hear evidence from Land Councils, Native Title holders, local councils and other stakeholders.

In its submission, the Cape York Land Council highlighted the importance of land to the economic and cultural wellbeing of Indigenous Australians and the economic development of Northern Australia. It noted that "the economic development potential of Aboriginal freehold land is yet to be fully realised because of significant constraints on utilising the rights inherent in this tenure".

It also emphasised that the "reform strategy to enhance the use of Aboriginal freehold land must maintain the communal and inalienable character of Aboriginal land ownership".

Meanwhile, the Gur A Baradharaw Kod (GBK) Sea and Land Council, representing Traditional Owners in the Torres Strait, urged the transfer of funding and administrative responsibility to Traditional Owners. It believed that "many, if not all government functions in the Torres Strait should be transferred to the Traditional Owner bodies", including Registered Native Title Bodies Corporate, Land Trusts and GBK itself.

Committee Chair Warren Entsch said it is important to engage Traditional Owners in the economic development of Northern Australia.

"The key is finding ways to use land rights and native title to create economic opportunities which benefit everyone, generating wealth without undermining land rights or native title," he said.

"The evidence presented to the committee has already suggested some useful ideas and we expect to get more as we travel to meet with Traditional Owners."

The committee will hold public hearings in Cairns, Hope Vale and on Thursday Island. Programs are available on the committee’s website.

Public hearing details

Date: Tuesday, 29 October 2019
Time: 9am to 4:30pm
Location: Council Chambers, 119-145 Spence St, Cairns
Witnesses include:

• Cairns Institute
• Cape York Land Council
• Cape York Partnership
• Balkanu
• Mandingalbay Yidinji Aboriginal Corporation MYAC RNTBC
• Gunggandji-Mandingalbay Yidinji People PBC Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC
• North Queensland Land Council
• Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council
• Torres Cape Indigenous Council Alliance
• Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC
• Western Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC
• Olkola Aboriginal Corporation

Date: Wednesday, 30 October 2019
Time: 10am to 12:30pm
Location: Council Meeting Rooms, Hope Vale
Witnesses include:

• Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire Counci
• Walmbaar Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC
• Dhubbi Warra Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC
• Hopevale Congress Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC
• Ms Dora Gibson

Date: Thursday, 31 October 2019
Time: 9:30am to 12:00pm
Location: Function Room, Grand Hotel, Victoria Parade, Thursday Island
Witnesses include:

• Torres Shire Council
• Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council
• Gur A Baradharaw Kod (GBK) Sea and Land Council
• Ugar Ged Kem Le Zeuber Er Kep Le (Torres Strait Islanders) Corporation RNTBC
• Kaurareg Native Title Aboriginal Corporation (RNTBC)

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

A PARLIAMENTARY report into the Identity-matching Services Bill 2019 and the Australian Passports Amendment (Identity-matching Services) Bill 2019 has recommended both bills be strengthened to provide protections for Australian citizens. 

Chair of the Intelligence and Security Committee, Mr Andrew Hastie MP, said the report agrees with the objectives of both bills, but supports concerns from submitters that protections for individual’s rights should be more explicitly incorporated.

"The bills have strong intentions and will become important tools, particularly in fighting identity crime," Mr Hastie said.

"Together, the bills aim to make identity-matching easier for prescribed entities whose responsibility it is to safeguard citizens and to reduce identity theft."

The report recommends that the Bills be re-drafted according to principles relating to privacy, transparency, governance, and user obligations.

ends

THE Queensland Resources Council (QRC) welcomes new laws passed by the Queensland Government to deter people from using dangerous devices that deliberately increase the risk of injury to themselves, emergency services workers and members of the public.

QRC chief executive Ian Macfarlane said the Summary Offences and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2019, passed last night in parliament, was the right step forward in ensuring the rights of all Queenslanders were upheld.

“Everyone has the right to protest but everyone also has the right to commute to work safely, operate trains without fearing they will injure or kill someone and for ambulance drivers not to be impeded by protestors connecting themselves to  concrete drums on the road,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“QRC had urged the Parliament to consider both the Government legislation and the LNP’s private members bill to address illegal trespass.

“We welcome the Parliament’s commitment to this important issue that affects every Queenslander.

“The new laws make it an offence to use attachment devices to block transport corridors and I applaud the Palaszczuk Government for acting before someone is seriously injured. We’ve seen too much illegal and unsafe behaviour with activists deploying dangerous devices on rail lines and at ports.

“Our  sector prioritises safety and these laws send a clear message to activists who use extreme actions," Mr Macfarlane said.

“The laws passed the Parliament with an overwhelming majority, including both the Government and the LNP.

“QRC welcomes this cross-Parliament commitment to uphold the safety for all Queenslanders, and especially those who work on railways, at ports or at other infrastructure projects.”

Mr Macfarlane urged all Parliamentarians to ensure the laws were operationally sufficient for the Queensland Police Service, particularly if protestors amend devices to avoid the offences the Parliament has just passed.

www.qrc.org.au

ends

THE Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Kate Carnell said there has been an overwhelming public response to the Insolvency Practices Inquiry since it was launched two weeks ago.

“My office has already received 113 survey responses and a number of submissions in relation to this inquiry and we expect that number to grow,” Ms Carnell said.

“While we are still in the early stages of the inquiry, it’s clear there’s a groundswell of public support for the work we are doing in this area.

“Primarily the Insolvency Practices Inquiry will shine a light on the insolvency system and uncover if it encourages practitioners, in the first instance, to restructure the small or family business to turn it around. We will also look at the transparency and fairness of the current system.

“We know there is a very low success rate in restructuring Australian businesses under external administration and the impact of the insolvency process is often devastating for the small business owner.

“Few small businesses that enter formal insolvency administration are able to navigate their way through the process to reach a restructuring agreement," Ms Carnell said.

“We remain very keen to hear from small and family businesses that have faced financial difficulties and restructured or wound up their business.

“I encourage these businesses to share their stories by completing our online survey or provide a submission to my office via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

“Many small businesses that have faced difficulties, felt they lost control of their business and in cases where the business was ultimately wound up, they felt the process was poorly managed," Ms Carnell said.

“This inquiry will identify areas where practices can be improved. I will also recommend changes to the system to achieve a fairer outcome for all parties involved.”

An interim report will be released in December with a final report to be handed down in February.

www.asbfeo.gov.au

ends

THE House Standing Committee on Industry, Innovation, Science and Resources today launched an inquiry into Australia’s Waste Management and Recycling Industries.

The chair of the committee, Barnaby Joyce MP, said, "The inquiry will examine different processes within Australia, and between Australia and best practice in the world. The committee will investigate innovative ways to reduce the millions of tonnes of waste discarded in landfill and waterways in Australia each year.

"Improving waste management and recycling in Australia not only provides for a cleaner and more sustainable environment, but it also presents a range of economic opportunities. New jobs and industries will be created – particularly in our regions - along with new products and services," Mr Joyce said.

The committee will consider opportunities to better manage industrial, commercial and domestic waste, as well as any current impediments to innovation in these sectors. Strategies to reduce waste in waterways and oceans will also be examined.

The committee wants to hear from interested people, organisations and agencies working to reduce, reuse and recycle waste in Australia.  Submissions to the inquiry should be received by January 31, 2020. 

The terms of reference for the inquiry can be found on the Committee’s website.

ends