GERALDTON will host the first of two public hearings next week, as the Select Committee on Regional Development and Decentralisation heads to Western Australia.

Kalgoorlie-Boulder will host the second public hearing.

The Chair of the Committee, John McVeigh MP said, “these public hearings will provide the Committee with a valuable opportunity to engage with regional Western Australia.”

“The West is of particular interest to the Committee.  Members are keen to learn more about what initiatives are being taken regionally, particularly now that the mining boom has plateaued.  How regions are adjusting to this change, and observing what initiatives are being taken to ensure that local towns and their surrounding regions remain prosperous and its people engaged will be of particular interest.” said Dr McVeigh.

The Committee will hear from a range of witnesses including community and business leaders, regional development specialists, the arts, and health care providers.

Public hearing details:

Geraldton 
9.00 am to 3.30 pm, Monday 30 October 2017
Ocean Centre Hotel, The Abrolhos Room, Cathedral Ave & Foreshore Drive, Geraldton, WA

Kalgoorlie
10.30 am to 4.30 pm, Tuesday 31 October 2017
Quest Yelverton Kalgoorlie, 210 Egan Street, Kalgoorlie, WA

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

For the full programs of these public hearings, see the Committee’s website.

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FARMERS, fishers, community and industry groups can apply for grants of between $5,000 and $100,000 to assist them to protect and improve the condition of soil, vegetation and biodiversity and support agricultural systems to adapt to change.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Barnaby Joyce, called for applications for the competitive $50 million Smart Farms Small Grants, through the National Landcare Program, which opens on 24 October 2017.

"Our farmers take immense pride in managing their land to ensure they can pass on productive and healthy land to the next generation of farmers," Minister Joyce said.

"Significant technological advances are taking place in land management and the Smart Farms Small Grants will provide grant funding to develop and extend new tools, methods and technology for farmers to continue to be at the forefront of land management.

Under the program these grants will:

• protect and improve the condition of natural resources (in particular soils and vegetation and biodiversity)
• increase land managers' awareness, knowledge, capability and adoption of tools and management practices that will deliver productive and profitable agriculture, fishing, aquaculture and farm forestry industries
• protect Australia's biodiversity
• assist Australia to meet its obligations under relevant international treaties.

"Our farmers manage 61 percent of Australia's land and have a long-held reputation for sustainable and innovative land management. These Smart Farms Small Grants will help farmers to come up with, or take advantage of the next great idea."

Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister, Luke Hartsuyker, said the projects supported by a Smart Farms Small Grant can make a real difference to local communities and deliver results that will be beneficial for farmers and consumers.

"I strongly encourage people who have a good idea about how to improve soils, vegetation and biodiversity in their communities to apply for one of these small grants and make that idea a reality," Minister Hartsuyker said.

"These Smart Farms Small Grants support the adoption of on‑the-ground innovative practices that improve the management and quality of our natural resources and increase on-farm productivity."

Fast facts

• The Coalition Government is investing more than $1 billion for the next phase of the National Landcare Program.
• In Australia, there are around 5400 Landcare groups and 100,000 active volunteers in those groups.
• Over 80 percent of Australian farmers are involved in Landcare. $50m is part of the $134 million over six years for the Smart Farms Program through the next phase of the $1 billion National Landcare Program.
• Smart Farms Small Grants are available between $5,000 and $100,000—applications for Round One opened 24 October and close 7 December 2017.

www.nrm.gov.au​

THE Queensland Resources Council (QRC) has welcomed the action by Australia Pacific LNG to supply a further 41 petajoules (PJ) of natural gas to the Australian domestic market.

"Today’s announcement is yet another sign the Queensland gas industry is leading the nation with a proactive approach to easing the east coast gas squeeze," QRC chief executive Ian Macfarlane said.

"Queensland’s neighbours must take a leaf out of our book, instead of relying on our state to meet the gap caused by their failure to develop their own gas industries. Gas exploration has stalled in New South Wales, Victoria and the Northern Territory, despite the fact all jurisdictions have their own reserves in the ground.

"It’s also important that Queensland continues its exploration program to pinpoint new reserves and new opportunities for jobs and investment," he said.

"Therefore, it's critical that the Palaszczuk Government does not restrict exploration acreage and ban further gas exploration in the Cooper Basin, which has been one of the most productive gas development areas, by pushing through new Pristine Rivers regulations without consultation."

www.qrc.org.au

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THE House of Representatives Environment and Energy Committee will hear from the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) and the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) at the final public hearing tomorrow for the inquiry into modernising Australia’s electricity grid.

The Chair of the Committee, Andrew Broad MP, said the Committee was looking forward to hearing from the Australian Energy Market Commission about its plans for supporting the grid during this period of modernisation.

“The Australian Energy Market Commission is the ruler maker for Australian electricity and gas markets.  The Committee is keen to hear about the kinds of new rules the Commission thinks will best support a modern grid,” Mr Broad said.

The Committee will also hear from the Australian Energy Regulator. The Australian Energy Regulator regulates wholesale and retail energy markets, and energy networks, under national energy legislation and rules.

The Deputy Chair of the Committee, Mr Pat Conroy MP, said the Committee was looking forward to hearing about the challenges a modern regulator faces.

“We want to ensure that the modern grid operates in accordance with the rules, and the Australian Energy Regulator’s role is an essential part of this,” Mr Conroy said.

As part of the inquiry, the Committee is encouraging members of the community to share their views on the electricity system via an online questionnaire.

Further information about the inquiry, including submissions from organisations appearing at the hearings, is available on the inquiry website.

Public hearing details: 

10.00 am – 11.15 am, Thursday, 26 October 2017
Committee Room 1R4, Parliament House, Canberra

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

Interested members of the public may wish to track the committee via the website. 

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PARTNERS in the digital transformation of Australia’s taxation and payment systems will meet with the House Committee on Tax and Revenue tomorrow.

The hearing will be one of the last for the Committee’s inquiry into taxpayer engagement with Australia’s tax system.

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has been a leading agent of change in the digital transformation of Australian government services. In partnership with banks, telecommunications providers and global accounting software firms, the ATO has been working to design and build compatible lodgement systems for small businesses, tax agents and all general taxpayers.

Chair of the Committee Kevin Hogan MP said that, as well as the ATO, MYOB Australia and Xero Australia, the Committee will also hear from the Digital Transformation Agency, overseer of the Government’s Digital by Default agenda, and the Reserve Bank of Australia to discuss the launch this year of Australia’s New Payment Platform. 

“The digital revolution is changing the way we communicate information, conduct business and provide government services. The challenge for the Australian Tax Office and its partners is to ensure that tax engagement is easier, faster and more secure, despite the new opportunities the digital economy also provides for tax avoidance,” Mr Hogan said.

Public hearing details: 

9.00 am to 1.15 pm, Friday 27 October 2017
Committee Room 1R4, Parliament House, Canberra

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

Interested members of the public may wish to track the committee via the website. 

THE impacts on local Australian businesses from global internet-based competition will be the focus of a new inquiry by the House Industry, Innovation, Science and Resources Committee.

The Committee will examine how Australian businesses, particularly in the retail and small business sectors, have responded to growing competition from global online companies and what effect this change has already had and will continue to have. The Committee welcomes submissions to the inquiry addressing the terms of reference.

Committee Chair Michelle Landry MP said that the inquiry is both timely and important: “Online sales currently make up a small but noticeable proportion of Australia’s total retail spending. While that will grow, it is vital that Parliament understands the effects it will have on local Australian businesses.”

The inquiry will also examine the effects of global internet-based competition on the broader Australian economy, as well as on the employment levels and conditions for those in the sector.

“Approximately 10 percent of Australians are employed in the retail industry, and around 40 percent of Australia’s private-sector employment is in small businesses”, Ms Landry noted, “so changes in how those sectors operate will have a significant impact on Australia’s economy as a whole”.

The Committee is calling for submissions by 1 December and will schedule public hearings to further examine issues in detail.

The Committee will inquire into the impacts of global internet-based businesses on local Australian business, particularly in the retail and small business sectors and will consider the following:

• How has/will the existing retail industry cope with changes to the sector’s landscape brought about by the existence of global online retail business?
   
• What are the consequences for small businesses in terms of new competition and access to digital platforms?
   
• How are small businesses responding to digital change and what is their uptake of new digital business services?
   
• What impacts do the above have on employment, including employment levels and conditions?
   
• What roles can the Commonwealth Government and Parliament play in fostering innovation for Australian businesses to respond to these challenges?

 Interested members of the public may wish to track the committee via the website.

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THE Federal Government has today released exposure draft legislation and regulations to create an enhanced regulatory sandbox to support innovation in financial services.

THE Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit report has found that much work remains for cybersecurity compliance and cyber resilience to be achieved across the Commonwealth.

The inquiry focused on the Auditor-General’s cybersecurity follow-up audit.

The Committee was most concerned to find that the Australian Taxation Office and Department of Immigration and Border Protection were still not compliant with the Government’s mandatory mitigation strategies, despite the Government setting a target date to achieve compliance by 30 June 2014.

The report makes 10 recommendations aimed at strengthening the cybersecurity posture of Government entities, including making it mandatory for all Commonwealth entities to:

• comply with the Essential Eight cybersecurity strategies;
• join the Internet Gateway Reduction Program; and
• participate in the Australian Signals Directorate’s annual cybersecurity survey.

The Committee also recommended that both the Attorney-General’s Department and Australian Signals Directorate report annually to the Parliament on the Commonwealth’s cybersecurity posture.

Committee Chair Senator Dean Smith said cybersecurity should be a top priority for all Government entities.

“Achieving compliance with the mandatory cyber mitigation strategies is one way entities improve their cyber resilience and mitigate cyber-incidents, alongside good governance and a strong culture of prioritising cybersecurity within the context of entity-wide strategic objectives.”

Interested members of the public may wish to track the committee via the website. 

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