THE Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) has tabled its report on the review of the Strengthening Oversight of the National Intelligence Community Bill 2025 (the ‘SONIC’ Bill).

The SONIC Bill expands the oversight functions of the PJCIS and the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security (IGIS) to cover all 10 agencies of the National Intelligence Community, by including:

• All of the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC); and
• The ‘intelligence functions’ of the Australian Transaction Report and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC), the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the Department of Home Affairs.

The Bill also strengthens the role of the PJCIS and broadens the own-motion powers of the Independent National Security Legislation Monitor (INSLM) in relation to all Commonwealth national security and counter-terrorism legislation.

PJCIS Chair, Senator Raff Ciccone, said, “The SONIC Bill represents the most significant reform to oversight of Australia’s intelligence community since the 1980s.

“The Bill delivers important and long-awaited reforms recommended by multiple independent reviews over successive Parliaments, ensuring Australia’s intelligence oversight framework evolves with the increasingly complex intelligence and security environment.

“The PJCIS plays a critical role in overseeing the national intelligence agencies and scrutinising national security legislation to ensure it remains necessary, proportionate and effective," Senator Ciccone said.

“The Bill also contains amendments affecting how the PJCIS operates, for example, allowing the PJCIS to bring areas of concern to the IGIS’s attention that may warrant review of particular operations.

“The committee has carefully reviewed these amendments and made several recommendations aimed at making the provisions as effective as possible," he said.

“Strong and effective oversight mechanisms are an essential part of advancing Australia’s national security interests and the measures in this Bill will ensure our intelligence oversight bodies are well placed to provide that assurance to the public – now and into the future.”

A full copy of the report and further information on the inquiry can be obtained from the committee’s website.

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Committee Chair, Tim Watts MP, said, "Australia’s multicultural identity is a national asset. Our people, their lived experiences, and cultural knowledge are tools of influence that must be represented in our institutions.

"While we have more work to do to fully break the ‘bamboo ceiling’, Asian Australians have increasingly broken through into positions of leadership in our national institutions in recent times and have directly demonstrated the Asia Capabilities latent in our diaspora communities.

"However, these diaspora communities require support to build and maintain their Asia capabilities too. Asia capabilities, particularly language fluency, tends to diminish through the generations and requires real effort to maintain. Structured learning can increase impact of all forms of tacit cultural knowledge," Mr Watts said.

"The committee is looking forward to hearing firsthand perspectives in identifying structural and societal barriers to building Asia capability. This hearing will examine not only how to make the most of the existing Asia capabilities of our diaspora communities, but also how we can maintain and develop these capabilities into the future."

Submissions to the inquiry are open until Friday, November 7, and the committee will schedule further public hearings soon.

Public hearing

Date: Wednesday, 5 November 2025
Time: 3.30pm – 4.30pm
Location: Committee Room 2R1, Parliament House, Canberra.

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

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THE Joint Standing Committee on Implementation of the National Redress Scheme has launched an inquiry into the continuing operation of the scheme and is inviting submissions to guide its findings.

With the scheme scheduled to conclude on June 30, 2028, the inquiry will primarily examine the outstanding case management load, the availability and effectiveness of support services for applicants, and the transition arrangements as the scheme approaches its end.

The committee will also assess whether the scheme is achieving its intended objectives and meeting the expectations of survivors and the broader community.

Committee Chair, Jodie Belyea MP, said, "We know the scheme matters to many people. As we move closer to its scheduled conclusion, the committee is focused on assessing its effectiveness and exploring what a thoughtful, well-managed transition looks like.

"This inquiry is an opportunity to explore how the scheme can better support survivors now and into the future."

The committee is welcoming submissions in response to the inquiry terms of reference by Friday, February 6, 2026. Submissions are encouraged from a wide range of stakeholders, including government, legal and support bodies, researchers, and survivors.

Full details of the inquiry, including the terms of reference, are available on the committee’s website.

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The Subcommittee will discuss uncrewed and autonomous systems and their integration into the Joint Force.

Chair of the Defence Subcommittee, Senator Deborah O’Neill, said, "Expert testimonies are essential to ensuring the subcommittee is best informed on contemporary and emerging issues that relate to the defence of Australia.

‘The perspectives of expert witnesses enhance the subcommittee’s ability to develop evidence-based recommendations and improve inquiry outcomes," Senator O’Neill said.

"The Subcommittee greatly appreciates the support of expert witnesses who have taken the time to appear before the inquiry."

Further information, including the full Terms of Reference, is available on the inquiry webpage.

Public Hearing Details

Date: Tuesday, 4 November 2025
Time: 5.40pm–7.30pm (AEDT)
Location: Committee Room 2R1, Parliament House, Canberra

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

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