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Appointment of Secretary of the Department of Parliamentary Services, Jaala Hinchcliffe

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The Presiding Officers are pleased to announce that Ms Jaala Hinchcliffe has been appointed as the Secretary of the Department of Parliamentary Services.  Ms Hinchcliffe has led the Department as Acting Secretary since November 2024 and has been appointed following a publicly advertised merit-based selection process led by the Parliamentary Service Commissioner.  Ms Hinchcliffe is … Continued

Alcohol and Other Drug Issues paper published

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The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Sport has today published an issues paper concerning the health impacts of alcohol and other drugs (AOD) in Australia. After launching an inquiry into this topic on 22 August 2024, the Committee received more than 200 written submissions and heard from witnesses across seven days of … Continued

Committee reports on the operation of Australia’s Magnitsky-style thematic sanctions

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The Human Rights Subcommittee of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade (JSCFADT) has published its report into the operation of amendments made by the Autonomous Sanctions Amendment (Magnitsky-style and Other Thematic Sanctions) Act 2021. The Chair of the Subcommittee, Ms Maria Vamvakinou MP, stated, ‘sanctions can and do play a vital role in … Continued

Homelessness Australia welcomes funding for peak bodies

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Homelessness Australia welcomes funding for peak bodies   Homelessness Australia has welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement of $6.2 million in peak body funding over 3 years that will enable critical advocacy, research and support for the homelessness sector to continue.   “If Australia is going to solve homelessness we need to draw on the policy, … Continued

Homelessness Australia and CHIA welcome $1 billion investment in crisis and transitional housing

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Homelessness Australia and CHIA welcome $1 billion investment in crisis and transitional housing   Homelessness Australia, and the Community Housing Industry Association (CHIA), have strongly endorsed the Australian Government’s launch of $1 billion to address critical gaps in crisis housing for young people experiencing homelessness, and women and children fleeing family violence, through the National … Continued

Expert comment on cyclones and climate change

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As communities across south-east Queensland and northern NSW prepare for Tropical Cyclone Alfred’s arrival, spokespeople from the Australian Conservation Foundation are available – including in Brisbane – to discuss the links between cyclones and human-induced climate change. “The world’s oceans are warming at an alarming rate, which means cyclones are more intense, moving more slowly … Continued

Nuclear could cost households an extra $450 or more a year by 2030

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New modelling confirms a shift to nuclear power could significantly increase household electricity bills, with Australians for Affordable Energy (AFAE) urging policymakers to back the most affordable energy option. The analysis, released by the Clean Energy Council, found households could face a 30 per cent increase in power bills by 2030 under a nuclear pathway, … Continued

CHA endorses government action on private health insurers

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Catholic Health Australia (CHA) strongly endorses the Federal Government’s action to ensure private health insurers provide fair funding to patients and hospitals. Health Minister Mark Butler has asked private health insurers to outline steps to increase their payout rate, which has dropped significantly in recent years while their profits have soared.  It comes after a … Continued

ATO shifts non-compliant small businesses to monthly GST

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The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has announced that from 1 April 2025, it will be moving around 3,500 small businesses with a history of non-payment, late or non lodgment, or incorrect reporting from quarterly to monthly GST reporting to improve their compliance. Moving to a monthly reporting and payment cycle can help small businesses to … Continued