Chair of the Trade Subcommittee, Fiona Phillips MP, said, “The first Subcommittee public hearing will be with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. In this public hearing, the Subcommittee will seek to gather evidence on its five terms of reference.

“The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade plays a key role in Australia’s trade and investment policy, as its responsibilities involve working with international partners to increase trade and investment opportunities. DFAT’s insights will, therefore, be of great value to the Subcommittee as it initiates its public hearings.

“Evidence provided by DFAT will serve to provide the Subcommittee a strong basis of understanding of the issues this inquiry seeks to examine. This will be important to the Subcommittee as it continues its evidence gathering in future public hearings.’”

The Subcommittee will schedule further public hearings soon, commencing with a Roundtable with African diplomatic representatives on Friday, 6 March.

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THE Housing Industry Association (HIA) today told the Senate Select Committee on the Operation of the Capital Gains Tax (CGT) Discount that targeting property investors will do nothing to ease the pressure on homeowners or renters.

“Housing supply is the core issue driving Australia’s housing crisis. The only real solution is to build enough homes to meet demand,”  HIA managing director, Jocelyn Martin said.

“Whether you are concerned about home ownership, rental affordability, government revenue or fairness between investors and owner occupiers, the answer is the same: build more homes. 

“If you want lower prices, you need more homes.

“If you want lower rents, you need more rental stock.

“If you want stronger public finances, you need more construction activity.”

Ms Martin said new housing already carries a significant tax burden, meaning every additional home built generates around $200,000 in direct tax revenue.

“If governments want more revenue from housing, they should focus on building more homes. More homes mean more revenue and slower house price growth. More homes also reduce returns to investors and will see them leave the housing market for other opportunities in an orderly way," Ms Martin said.

HIA’s submission to the inquiry sets out modelling showing that removing or restricting negative gearing or the CGT discount would reduce dwelling starts, reduce GDP, reduce construction employment and increase rents over time.

“With investors financing around one‑third to 40 per cent of all new dwellings in Australia, they are part of the supply solution – not the problem," Ms Martin said.

“There is a tendency to assume that raising taxes on investors will improve opportunities for younger Australians. But restricting supply only locks in capital gains for existing owners and limits entry for those who come after. It would entrench today’s inequities for decades.

“Fewer homes mean fewer jobs, fewer taxpayers, higher rents and a greater reliance on investors in the housing market,” Ms Martin said.

Read HIA’s opening statement. 

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THE Office for the Arts is giving evidence this Thursday at a public hearing for an inquiry into boosting arts and cultural philanthropy.

Chair of the House Standing Committee on Communications, the Arts and Sport, Ms Susan Templeman MP, said, "Philanthropy is critical for the arts and cultural sector in Australia. The Committee hopes to gain insights into how the Office for the Arts is working to encourage and incentivise philanthropic giving."

Written submissions to the inquiry are being accepted. Submissions close on March 2.

The inquiry terms of reference include looking into:

• new and emerging funding mechanisms, including digital fundraising platforms;
• the effectiveness of government policies and programs;
• incentives and disincentives for philanthropic giving and private support, including tax and regulatory settings;
• potential government initiatives to increase philanthropic participation.

Public hearing details are below. Information about making submissions and the full terms of reference available on the inquiry webpage.

More information about the Committee, including membership, may be found on the Committee’s website.

Public hearing details

Date: Thursday, 26 February 2026
Time: 12pm – 1pm (Canberra time)
Location: Committee Room 1R3, Parliament House, Canberra

Watch on YouTube @AUSParliamentLive or ParlView

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THE Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade, through the Foreign Affairs and Aid Subcommittee, is commencing public hearings for its inquiry into the role of Australia's international development program in preventing conflict today in Melbourne.

Chair of the Foreign Affairs and Aid Subcommittee, Tim Watts MP, said, "The subcommittee received a large volume of submissions to its inquiry, which provided key insights into stakeholder views about the challenges and priorities for Australia’s development program in the context of increasing conflict.

"We look forward to meeting with practitioners, academics and advisory groups from the international development sector to expand on the suggested recommendations contributed by stakeholders in their submissions," he said.

"Australia’s international development program is a critical component of our statecraft toolkit –working alongside diplomacy, trade and defence - to advance a peaceful, stable, and prosperous future for our region."

Further information, including the hearing program is available on the Inquiry webpage.

Public Hearing Details

Date: Monday 23 February 2026
Time: 10am – 3:15pm (AEDT)
Location: Cliftons Melbourne, 1/440 Collins St, Melbourne, Victoria

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

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