THE House of Representatives Standing Committee on Industry, Innovation and Science will hold site visits and public hearings in Perth and Melbourne over the next fortnight as part of its inquiry into the current state of the Australian tyre industry, and any challenges and opportunities for the industry within the context of a circular economy.

Committee Chair, Rob Mitchell MP, said, "The committee is ready to hit the road to see the Australian tyre industry in action.

"On Wednesday (April 22), the committee will undertake site visits to assorted tyre recycling facilities in the greater Perth region. These visits will be followed by a public hearing in Perth on Thursday (April 23), where we will hear from tyre recyclers and government representatives about work underway to improve circular outcomes for end-of-life tyres in Western Australia.

"On Thursday, April 30, the committee will visit additional tyre recycling facilities in Melbourne and the National Transport Research Organisation’s recycled materials science laboratory in Port Melbourne.

"The following day, on Friday May 1, we will hear from a broad range of stakeholders with a role in driving the Australian tyre industry at a public hearing in Melbourne. Among the witnesses giving evidence at this public hearing is Tyre Stewardship Australia, who has been responsible for implementing Australia’s Tyre Product Stewardship Scheme since 2014."

Programs for each public hearing are available on the inquiry webpage.

Public hearing details

Perth public hearing

Date: Thursday, 23 April 2026
Time: 9:00 am - 12:20 pm (AWST)
Location: City West Lotteries House Conference Room, 2 Delhi Street, West Perth WA 6005

Melbourne public hearing

Date: Friday, 1 May 2026
Time: 9:00 am – 3:30 pm (AEST)
Location: Gowanbrae Community Centre, 2A Marigold Crescent, Gowanbrae VIC 3043

Public hearings are broadcast live on the Australian Parliament House Streaming Portal.

More information about the inquiry, including the terms of reference, submissions and transcripts of previous hearings, is available on the inquiry webpage.

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THE Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters will be holding hearings in Adelaide on May 4 and 5 as part of its inquiry into the 2025 Federal Election.

Committee Chair, Jerome Laxale MP said, "People across Australia have told the committee about their experiences of aggressive and confrontational behaviour at polling booths. Hearing about these experiences contributes to the committee’s efforts to ensure voting at the next election is the peaceful expression of civic pride it should be.

"When the committee visits Adelaide, South Australians are encouraged to talk about their own experiences of the 2025 Federal Election. The evidence gathered will inform the committee’s efforts to prevent poor behaviour at future federal elections," Mr Laxale said.

To register interest in making a five-minute statement at upcoming hearings, contact the Committee Secretariat at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The committee also expects to discuss South Australia’s landmark Truth in Political Advertising laws, to assess whether similar laws should apply to federal elections.

Further information on the 2025 election inquiry can be found at the inquiry webpage. Committee details can be found at the Committee’s webpage.

Public hearing details

Date: Monday 4 May and Tuesday 5 May 2026
Location: Hotel Grand Chancellor, 65 Hindley St, Adelaide SA 5000

Programs for these upcoming hearings will be advertised on the Committee’s public hearings webpage as they are finalised. The hearing will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live.

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THE Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit (JCPAA) has commenced three new inquiries. These inquiries will consider the management of client privacy by public sector entities, the administration of the age pension, and Defence procurement.

Chair of the Committee, Josh Burns MP, said, "These inquiries address important areas identified by the committee for further examination, including issues raised in recent Australian National Audit Office audits."

Inquiry into the management of client privacy in the Australian public sector

The committee will examine the frameworks used to identify and manage privacy risks, and meet the requirements of the Privacy Act 1988, in public sector entities that manage information on private individuals.

The committee will also examine the ability of public sector entities holding personal information to respond effectively to data breaches, cyber threats, and 'malicious actors'.

Inquiry into the administration of the Age Pension

The committee will examine the Department of Social Services’ and Services Australia’s administration of the Age Pension with reference to the effectiveness of oversight arrangements, processes for assessing applicant and recipient eligibility, and arrangements to communicate and manage engagement with applicants and recipients.

Inquiry into Defence’s procurement of Infantry Fighting Vehicles (Land 400 Phase 3)

The committee will examine any matters contained in and associated with Auditor-General Report No. 26 2025-26 Defence’s Procurement of Infantry Fighting Vehicles (Land 400 Phase 3) with particular reference to whether Defence conducted an effective tender process, and whether Defence established effective contracting arrangements to support the achievement of value for money outcomes.

Submissions to these inquiries addressing their terms of reference are invited by Friday, May 8, 2026.

Details of these inquiries – including terms of reference, submissions received and public hearing schedules – can be accessed on the committee’s website.

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THE House of Representatives Standing Committee on Education will hold two public hearings as a part of its inquiry into building Asia capability in Australia through the education system and beyond.

On Monday, April 13,  the committee will hear from community language organisations, language educators, and foreign policy experts to better understand how language and cultural learning builds long-term Asia capability in Australia.

On Tuesday, the public hearing will focus on perspectives from the business community, and examine the skills and capabilities needed to engage effectively with Asian economies. The committee will hear from business leaders and graduates who will discuss the linkages between the education system and successful careers and engagement in the region. 

Committee Chair, Tim Watts MP, said the hearings "will provide valuable insight into how Australia can take a more coordinated and sustained approach to building Asia capability and why this is strategically important".

"These hearings will help the committee understand how education, language skills and community ties can better support Australia’s economic, social and strategic interests," Mr Watts said.

Public hearings

Date: Monday, 13 April 2026
Time: 10.30am – 4.15pm
Location: Committee Room 2R1, Parliament House, Canberra

Date: Tuesday, 14 April 2026
Time: 11.00am – 2.15pm
Location: Committee Room 2R1, Parliament House, Canberra

A program for the public hearing is available on the inquiry website. A live broadcast of the hearing will also be available on the APH website.

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THE Joint Standing Committee on Implementation of the National Redress Scheme will hold a public hearing in Canberra today (April 8) for its inquiry into the continuing operation of the scheme.

Committee Chair, Jodie Belyea MP, said the committee was grateful for the contributions made in support of the inquiry to date.

"The committee has received a substantial number of submissions in support of our current inquiry and heard evidence from a range of stakeholders," Ms Belyea said.

"On Wednesday, the committee will hear from Redress Support Services, lived experience advisers, and participating institutions. This evidence will help the committee understand issues from a range of perspectives as the scheme enters its final operational stage."

The committee will continue to hear evidence from a wide range of stakeholders and individuals as it examines issues related to the effective, safe and equitable management of the scheme.

More information about the inquiry, including the terms of reference and submissions, can be found on the inquiry webpage.

Public hearing details

Date: Wednesday, 8 April 2026
Time: 9:15am – 4pm (AEST)
Location: Committee Room 1R3, Parliament House, Canberra and via videoconference

A program for the public hearing is available on the inquiry webpage.

Public hearings are broadcast live on the Australian Parliament House Streaming Portal.

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THE Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) has commenced a review of the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) reform package, consisting of the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission Bill 2026 and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (National Policing Information Charges) Bill 2026.

The bills, which were introduced into the Parliament on March 25, would establish the ACIC under a new Act, aiming to clarify its role and enhance its ability to obtain, analyse, evaluate and communicate intelligence relevant to serious and organised crime.

The bills are intended to give effect to the Australian Government’s response to the 2024 Independent Review of the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission and associated Commonwealth law enforcement arrangements (the Independent Review of ACIC). The Independent Review of ACIC found that the ACIC’s current legislative framework is no longer fit for purpose and inhibits it from fulfilling its criminal intelligence mandate.

Chair of the PJCIS, Senator Raff Ciccone, said, “The Independent Review of the ACIC found that the ACIC needed to be more clearly defined as Australia’s national criminal intelligence agency, focused on producing unique and incisive intelligence on serious and organised crime.

“This inquiry will aim to ensure the reform package achieves this objective, avoids unintended consequences and provides the ACIC with a secure footing to adapt and respond to the rapidly evolving landscape of serious and organised crime."

The committee has invited written submissions to be provided by Friday, June 5, 2026.

Further details on the review are available on the committee’s website: aph.gov.au/pjcis

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THE Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) has commenced a review of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Amendment Bill 2026.

The Bill, which was introduced into the Parliament on March12,  2026, would enable the chief executive officer of the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) to restrict or prohibit reporting entities from using high-risk mechanisms to provide designated services; amend the meaning of financing of terrorism to reference new offences for financing a state sponsor of terrorism; and make technical amendments..

Chair of the PJCIS, Senator Raff Ciccone, said, “Transnational serious and organised crime networks continue to evolve, finding new ways to exploit communities and economic systems for illegal gain and to conceal the proceeds of crime.

"As governments strengthen protections across parts of the legitimate economy, criminals are increasingly turning to emerging technologies and changes in financial sector infrastructure to bypass safeguards.

"This inquiry seeks to ensure the Bill is well‑suited to today’s rapidly changing financial crime landscape.

"This is an important review given the ongoing risks posed by money laundering and serious crime to both Australia’s financial system and the broader community, and the importance of maintaining an anti‑money laundering and counter‑terrorism financing (AML/CTF) framework that can respond effectively to emerging threats, now and into the future.”

The committee is inviting written submissions to be provided by Friday, May 8, 2026.

Further details on the review are available on the committee’s website: aph.gov.au/pjcis

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THE Joint Standing Committee on Treaties (JSCOT) has tabled a report recommending the ratification of the Papua New Guinea-Australia Mutual Defence Treaty (the Pukpuk Treaty).

The Pukpuk Treaty strengthens Australia’s defence partnership with close neighbour Papua New Guinea by elevating the status of the defence relationship to a formal Alliance. Once ratified, the Pupuk Treaty will form Australia’s third Alliance, following on from the signing of the Security Treaty between Australia, New Zealand and the United States of America (ANZUS), more than 70 years ago.

Committee Chair, Lisa Chesters MP said, “The Pukpuk Treaty marks a significant achievement in Australia’s relationship with Papua New Guinea. This treaty ties our two countries closer together and enables enhanced diplomatic and defence coordination and collaboration.

“Papua New Guinea is one of Australia’s most important partners and we are proud to call them our ally.”

Throughout the inquiry process, the committee held a public hearing where it heard from stakeholders about some of the mutual benefits of the treaty, including the two-way military training and skills exchange in areas of specialist jungle warfare and increased interoperability.

The committee found that the Pukpuk Treaty was well aligned with Australia’s strategic focus on relationship building, regional stability, prosperity and sovereignty in the Pacific.

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

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