Anne McEwen (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On behalf of Senator Gallacher, I move:

That the following matter be referred to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee for inquiry and report by the last sitting day in March 2016:

     The capability of Defence's physical science and engineering (PSE) workforce, with particular reference to:

(a) the importance of the PSE workforce to Defence projects;

(b) the current PSE capability within Defence, the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) and the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO);

(c) the potential risks of a skills shortage in the PSE workforce and a decline in Defence's PSE capability;

(d) the ability of Defence to have relevant PSE capabilities to meet future technological needs;

(e) the ability of new technologies discovered by the PSE workforce to be incorporated into Australia's defence capability planning;

(f) the effect of project outsourcing on Defence's PSE capability;

(g) the ability to attract and retain a highly skilled PSE workforce in Defence, DMO and DSTO; and

(h) any other related matters.

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government believes that the proposed inquiry into the capabilities of Defence's physical science and engineering workforce is poorly timed. The government has only recently released its vision for One Defence, following the First principles review of Defence, and is yet to release the Defence white paper 2015.

A key initiative of One Defence is the development of a strategic workforce plan linked into the government's strategic expectations of the ADF, to be outlined in the white paper. Defence's physical sciences and engineering workforce requirements are therefore yet to be informed by these seminal documents. The government does, however, welcome the opportunity for the Senate to examine the impact of the Rudd-Gillard-Rudd Labor government's unrelenting budget cuts on Defence's physical sciences and engineering workforce.

Question agreed to.

David Bushby (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

At the request of Senator Back, I move:

That the following matter be referred to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee for inquiry and report by 3 December 2015:

     Australia's relationship with Mexico, with particular reference to:

(a) Mexico's continued elevation in the global geo-political and economic order and its implications for Australia;

(b) opportunities for enhanced relations, including the potential for increased bilateral engagement and also through jointly held memberships such as the G20, APEC, OECD and MIKTA;

(c) potential opportunities for enhanced trade and investment ties, in particular those emanating from the proposed Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP);

(d) the scope for increased collaboration in the education sector and the potential for extending scholarship programs to Mexico;

(e) the scope for increased trade and commercial exchange in the resources sectors with particular reference to hard rock mining and the oil and gas sector in the Gulf of Mexico;

(f) the scope for cross investment and joint ventures in Australian and Mexican infrastructure projects; and

(g) any other related matters.

Question agreed to.