The WIPO Treaty on IP and Genetic Resources (GRATK) aims to introduce a requirement to disclose sources for patent applications based on genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge.

At this hearing, the committee examined Indigenous perspectives on the proposed disclosure framework and the potential impacts of ratification and implementation on communities.

Committee Chair, Lisa Chesters MP said, "This treaty is the first multilateral intellectual property agreement to recognise Traditional Knowledge. Its provisions are intended to provide visibility into sources of Traditional Knowledge within patent systems.

"Ratification would give Australia an opportunity to lead ongoing global discussions about the relationship between intellectual property and Traditional Knowledge."

The committee heard evidence from the Indigenous Knowledge Panel and National Native Title Council at the public hearing.

Public hearing details

Date: Monday, 6 July 2026
Time: 3:45pm – 4:30pm AEST (approximately)
Location: Committee Room 2R1, Parliament House Canberra

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

THE Housing Industry Association (HIA) has expressed deep concern over the planned closure of the CSIRO's North Ryde Fire Technology Laboratory, warning that the loss of one of Australia's most important building-product testing facilities will have significant implications for housing innovation, product development, and the delivery of new homes.

The facility is used extensively for fire-resistance testing of construction materials and systems, but is scheduled to close when its lease expires in December 2026.

The North Ryde laboratory has been a critical part of Australia's building and construction ecosystem, according to the HIA, providing independent fire testing that supports product certification, National Construction Code compliance, research and development, and the commercialisation of innovative building products. HIA's concern is that its closure would remove up to half of Australia's large scale fire-testing capacity at a time when demand for testing and certification is increasing.

HIA chief executive for industry and policy, Simon Croft, said the decision comes at the worst possible time for a nation seeking to improve housing affordability, boost productivity and accelerate the delivery of new homes.

"The closure of CSIRO's North Ryde Fire Technology Laboratory is more than the loss of a testing facility, it is the loss of nationally significant innovation infrastructure," Mr Croft said.

"Independent testing capability is fundamental to developing new building products, supporting housing delivery and accelerating modern construction methods. At a time when Australia faces a housing shortage and is seeking to boost productivity, we should be strengthening these capabilities, not reducing them."

Mr Croft said Australia's ability to adopt innovative building products and construction systems relied on access to timely, affordable and independent testing services.

"Every new building product, construction system, prefabricated solution, engineered timber product or bushfire-resistant housing component must pass rigorous testing before it can be widely adopted by the industry," Mr Croft said. "Without that capability, innovation slows, costs increase and housing delivery becomes harder.

“Industry stakeholders have warned that reduced testing capacity could result in longer approval timeframes, increased certification costs and further pressure on housing supply.

“Australia cannot afford to lose decades of specialist expertise and nationally significant testing capability without a clear replacement strategy," he said.

"If Australia is serious about building more homes, embracing innovation and improving productivity in construction, we need world-class testing and certification infrastructure. The North Ryde facility has played a vital role in providing exactly that.

"Governments, industry and CSIRO must work together to ensure independent fire-testing capability remains available in Australia and that there is no gap in the infrastructure needed to support housing innovation and research and development.

“HIA is calling for an urgent national response to preserve Australia's building testing capability and ensure researchers, manufacturers and builders continue to have access to the facilities required to bring innovative housing solutions to market,” Mr Croft said.

THE Parliamentary Joint Committee on Parliamentary Standards is launching its first inquiry into the Behaviour Codes and Standards in Commonwealth Parliamentary Workplaces.

The inquiry will inquire into and report on the operation and effectiveness of the:

1. Behaviour Standards for Commonwealth Parliamentary Workplaces;
2. Behaviour Code for Australian Parliamentarians; and
3. Behaviour Code for staff employed under the Members of Parliament (Staff) Act 1984.

This will be the committee’s first inquiry into the codes, which were adopted by each House in October 2024. The joint committee is chaired by Anne Stanley MP, with Senator Kerrynne Liddle as Deputy Chair.

"This is an opportunity for the committee to hear directly from people working in Commonwealth parliamentary workplaces about how the codes are functioning," Ms Stanley said.

Ms Stanley explained that the inquiry is limited to the examination of the behaviour codes themselves. As set out in the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service Act 2023, the committee is not authorised to investigate conduct issues, reconsider a decision made by the decision-maker for a conduct issue or give or seek advice about a particular person or conduct issue.

The inquiry fulfils the committee’s obligations under the PWSS Act to commence a review that considers the operation and effectiveness of each code within one year of the commencement of the first session of each Parliament.

For more information about the committee, visit its website. On the site, people can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. People can also track the committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.

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THE Select Committee on Cyber Security for Small to Medium Sized Businesses and Organisations has commenced work on its inquiry. 

The committee was established by the House of Representatives to inquire and report on the cyber security preparedness of small-to-medium-sized business (SMB).

Committee Chair, Sally Sitou MP, said, “Small businesses are on the frontline of cyber risk but too often they’re expected to defend themselves without the time, tools or resources they need.

“This is the first federal inquiry to take a close look at the cyber security challenges facing small-and-medium-sized businesses.”

“We want to work directly with them to understand the threats they’re up against and how we can better protect them," Ms Sitou said.

“We’re particularly keen to hear from smaller businesses - especially those with fewer than 200 employees - as well as experts across the tech sector.”

The inquiry will consider:

1. the cyber maturity of Australian small-to-medium-sized businesses and organisations, including not-for-profit organisations;
2. the adequacy, appropriateness and accessibility of guidance provided to small-to-medium-sized businesses and organisations by government in relation to cyber security;
3. whether there are appropriate standards for small-to-medium-sized businesses and organisations in relation to cyber security;
4. the ease for small-to-medium-sized businesses and organisations to procure appropriate cyber security services in Australia;
5. the importance of training for employees on good cyber security practices to the overall cyber security of small-to-medium-sized businesses and organisations;
6. the impact of cyber security maturity on the feasibility for small-to-medium-sized businesses and organisations to participate in Government and large corporate supply chains; and
7. any other related matters;

The committee has invited written submissions responding to the inquiry’s terms of reference by August 28 this year.

Further information is available on the inquiry webpage.

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