THE Defence Subcommittee of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade is conducting a new inquiry, focussing on important aspects of the Department of Defence Annual Report 2021–22.

Key themes of the inquiry’s focus include workforce recruiting and retention; Space Command and capability; and support to national crisis.

Chair of the Subcommittee, Julian Hill MP said, "The committee has decided to exercise its oversight powers and conduct a public review of the Department of Defence Annual Report 2021–22.

“Defence personnel is the greatest capability for the defence of Australia and its national interests. This inquiry will critically examine Defence’s approach to workforce planning, inclusive of specific recruiting and retention initiatives.

“Space is a contested domain and Defence must be able to effectively operate within it. This inquiry will review this newly formed command including key capability milestones.

“Defence is increasingly being used more as part of the national response to domestic crisis. This inquiry will examine current policy, resourcing, and the impact on the organisation from a preparation, training, retention, and capability perspective."

The subcommittee is now inviting written submissions by Friday, March 31, 2023.

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The Joint Standing Committee on Treaties has recommended the Australian Government ratifies the Joint Initiative on Services Domestic Regulation (JI-SDR).

Committee Chair, Josh Wilson MP said, “The JI-SDR is a plurilateral agreement negotiated between 69 members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) that contains a range of rules that would potentially increase the transparency and predictability of the regulatory environment in Australia’s services export markets".

The JI-SDR establishes best practice requirements for the authorisation processes that enable service exports. Provisions in the JI-SDR relate to a range of areas including transparency in fees and procedures, efficient processing of applications, evaluation based on clear and objective criteria, reasonable access to examinations where required, and the acceptance of electronic documents.

The JI-SDR would provide simple, transparent, fair, and user-friendly global rules to facilitate trade in services.

Mr Wilson said, “It is notable that because Australia has been convinced of this logic for some time, our regulatory practice already complies with these new rules, but of course Australian companies stand to benefit by their wider adoption."

The committee agreed that notwithstanding some concern about the way such plurilateral agreements sit alongside the WTO, the JI-SDR was likely to reinforce the centrality of the World Trade Organization and create momentum in multilateral rule-making.

The report can be found on the Committee website, along with further information on the inquiry.

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THE Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) has commenced a review into the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Modernisation) Bill 2022. The bill review was referred to the committee by Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus, KC, MP.

The Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Modernisation) Bill 2022 proposes amendments to the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Act 1986 to improve the ability of the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security (IGIS) to provide effective oversight of intelligence and security agencies.

The bill would improve reporting and information sharing processes, allow the IGIS to consider employment related grievances for staff employed by the Office of National Intelligence and introduce provisions preventing the head or deputy head of an agency overseen by the IGIS from being appointed to the position immediately after serving in that capacity.

The bill includes a number of technical amendments to improve clarity, modernise drafting expressions and remove redundant provisions, as well as to address certain limitations in the Inspector-General's oversight functions and powers.

In addition, the bill also amends the provisions of the National Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2022 to clarify information sharing arrangements with the IGIS.

Submissions to the inquiry are invited by Friday, February 17, 2023.

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

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Current talks around changes to industrial relations (IR) laws "should unequivocally exclude any changes to the right of Australian tradies to work as independent contractors" HIA policy and industry deputy managing director Jocelyn Martin said today.

Ms Martin’s call comes as Federal and State Governments and industry representatives meet in Canberra this week to discuss a broad range of changes to areas in the IR space.

“Independent contracting arrangements are a long-standing feature of the residential building industry. The industry relies on these work arrangements as a way of productively managing the needs of building businesses, especially smaller businesses,” Ms Martin said.

“HIA estimates that over 80 percent of the work completed in the sector is performed by independent contractors.

“For residential builders, it provides a flexible, workable and efficient model for engaging workers and managing the peaks and troughs of the home building cycle. Builders rely on access to good and reliable trade contractors to maintain competitiveness.

“Australians rely on independent contractors to build the houses that feed the desperate demand for affordable housing," Ms Martin said.

“Federal and State Governments have long held different views on what constitutes an independent contractor creating challenges for the industry but threatening the ability for a trades person to remain their own boss, by forcing them to be classified as an employee would be a backward step.

“HIA is well equipped to help all sides of politics come to a sensible based definition for independent contracting, that will not impede the right for trades people to work independently.

“HIA suggests there needs to be a single national objective test, based on the ATO’s approach, to distinguish employees from independent contractors," she said.

"The ATO considers whether a person works to produce a result, provides plant and equipment or tools of the trade (if required) and whether they are liable for rectification of any defective work to distinguish independent contractors from employees.

"The advantage of this approach is that instead of defining an ’employee’, the rules merely identify who is an independent contractor," Ms Martin said.

“The task of governments should be to preserve and enhance genuine independent contracting businesses, not force small business to become employees.

“Restricting the use of independent contracting in the residential building industry will only serve to undermine the contribution of the sector to overall economic growth and exacerbate the challenge of making housing more affordable,” Ms Martin said.

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THE Joint Standing Committee on Treaties will hold a public hearing on Friday, February 10, 2023, into the Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage and the Australia-Iceland Double Taxation Convention.

Committee Chair, Josh Wilson MP said, “Australia has a precious trove of underwater cultural heritage, from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander underwater cultural heritage in Australian waters, to the remains of Australian ships lost in wars across the globe.”

Mr Wilson said the convention would provide a legal basis for Australia to protect underwater cultural heritage in its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, as well as areas outside of Australia’s jurisdiction where it has an interest. The convention also represents a contemporary international standard for protecting underwater cultural heritage.

In addition, the convention would provide a framework for the Australian Government to negotiate uniform Commonwealth, state and territory rules for protecting underwater cultural heritage.

“Having taken a significant role in drafting the Convention, it is welcome that Australia is now moving to ratify it”, Mr Wilson said.

“Eminent Australians involved in underwater cultural heritage who have supported and called for this treaty action over several years, have been invited to discuss the convention with the committee.

"Their input will shed further light on contemporary challenges of protecting underwater cultural heritage, what final steps would be required by Australia for ratification, and the benefits it would bring in working with other nations who have a common interest in protecting these historic sites.”

Public hearing details

Date:        Friday, 10 February 2023
Time:       9am – 10.30am AEDT - Australia-Iceland Double Taxation Convention
                10.40am – 4.30 pm AEDT - Underwater Cultural Heritage Convention
Location: Main Committee Room (1R0), Parliament House

​The hearing can be accessed online and the programs for this hearing is available on the Committee website, along with further information about the inquiries.

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THE Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) has welcomed the announcement of new banking initiatives that seek to address the scourge of scams.

“We see every day, in our work with consumers and banks, the devastating impact scams can have on people,” AFCA’s chief ombudsman and chief executive, David Locke said.

“We welcome any initiatives by banks to seek to protect their customers, including the innovative use of technology.”

The Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) today announced it is introducing 'NameCheck' technology for money transfers along with caller verification via the CommBank app.

AFCA is an ombudsman service that works with consumers and financial firms when they find themselves in dispute.

In 2021-22, AFCA received 4,131 complaints in relation to scams, an average of around 340 a month. That was up 28 percent on the previous year.

In the current financial year, this has increased to an average of 400 scam-related complaints a month.

“It’s not just the volume of complaints involving scams that is increasing, but also the sums involved,” Mr Locke said. "People are losing home deposits and retirement savings. We know that vulnerable people can be just as devastated by the loss of money they’d set aside for bills.

“This mustn’t continue, and we encourage all banks to consider what further steps they can take.”

Mr Locke said AFCA would continue to engage with industry, consumer groups and regulators, sharing its complaints data and insights, in the joint effort to reduce scam transactions.

About AFCA

The Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) is a non-government ombudsman service providing free, fair and independent help with financial disputes. AFCA is a one-stop-shop for consumers and small businesses who have a dispute with their financial firm, over things such as banking, credit, insurance, advice, investments or superannuation. Where an agreement cannot be reached between parties, AFCA can issue decisions that are binding on financial firms.

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THE HOUSE of Representatives Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Training is currently examining the perceptions and status of vocational education and training (VET).

Lisa Chesters MP, Committee Chair, reminded interested stakeholders that submissions to the inquiry remain open for another few weeks. Education and training choices of students, as well as employer views and practices are some among the matters being considered.

Ms Chesters said, “The committee recognises the importance of the VET sector and hopes that this inquiry will identify ways to improve perceptions and opportunities available to students.”

She said the committee was interested in hearing from anyone with a view to share, whether from potential students, employers, parents, career advisers, educators or industry bodies and unions.

Submissions to the inquiry close on March 1, 2023. Ms Chesters said comments would be welcomed on one or more of the terms of references.

More information on the inquiry, including the full terms of reference and details on making a submission, can be found on the committee website.

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THE Select Committee on Workforce Australia Employment Services will conduct its final public hearing relating to ParentsNext today, February 1,  2023 in Perth. 

The committee will hear from policy and advocacy bodies, service providers, and Western Australia Government agencies.

The hearing follows two days of meetings with stakeholders in Perth and regional WA. The committee will explore current service models and gain insights from employers, local business, and members of First Nations communities.

Committee chair, Julian Hill MP, said, "As the committee finalises the first major component of its inquiry, it is important that we hear about the services and supports available at the state level, and the challenges of service delivery in a state as large and geographically isolated as WA. The involvement of stakeholders in all sectors, and in all states and territories, will be critical to ensuring that pre-employment services meet the needs of our community."

The committee will make recommendations relating to ParentsNext by the end of February 2023, as part of its larger inquiry into Workforce Australia Employment Services.

Information about the inquiry, including Terms of Reference, future public hearings, published submissions and hearing transcripts, is available on the inquiry website.

Public hearing details

Time               
8.15am – 11.45am (Perth Time)
Location         
Duxton Room 1, Duxton Hotel, 1 St Georges Terrace, Perth
Witnesses     
Western Australian Council of Social Service
Anglicare WA
Women’s Health and Family Services
atWork Australia
Training Alliance Group
WA Department of Training and Workforce Development
WA Department of Communities
Office of the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, WA Department of Health           

An audio broadcast of the hearing will be available via the Watch, Read, Listen website.

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