THE Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade has today presented and published its report for the inquiry into strengthening and expanding Australia’s trade and investment relations with the countries of Africa.

Chair of the Trade Subcommittee, Fiona Phillips MP, said, "The report highlights the substantial opportunities for Australia to deepen and expand its long-standing relations and economic engagement with one of the world’s fastest-growing regions.

"Africa is a diverse continent of 54 countries, and home to a rapidly expanding population, particularly its youth population, accelerating urbanisation, and regional economic integration through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)."

Mrs Phillips said, "While Australia has maintained a substantial, well-respected presence with mining investment, total trade and investment flows remain modest compared with the scale and diversity of opportunities emerging across the African continent. Australia must adopt a more strategic and coordinated approach to support Australian businesses seeking to enter and expand their presence in African markets.

"Our report makes 17 recommendations to the Australian Government to address barriers to trade and investment with African nations and unlock emerging opportunities that align with Australia’s many strengths across the resources sector, education and vocational training, agribusiness, digital technologies, supply chain logistics, and healthcare."

The committee’s recommendations include:

• strengthening government-to-government engagement, including enhancing the capacity of Australia’s current diplomatic and trade footprint across the African continent;
• a whole-of-government Australia-Africa risk differentiated trade and investment strategy, focused on priority regions and commercial sectors;
• establishing an Australia-Africa Advisory Council to provide strategic advice to the Australian Government and industry;
• implementing a formal African diaspora engagement framework with structured mechanisms for consultation and collaboration across diaspora communities and government;
• an Africa market intelligence and risk mitigation initiative to address market information gaps and de-risk market entry for Australian businesses, particularly small and medium enterprises;
• coordinated Australian Government trade promotion campaigns highlighting Australian expertise that align with African emerging opportunities and supporting regular trade missions to and from the African continent;
• developing a targeted Australia-Africa tertiary and vocational training partnership program.

The report can be accessed and downloaded here.

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THE House of Representatives Standing Committee on Primary Industries will hold public hearings in Melbourne and Horsham as part of its inquiry into factors shaping social licence and economic development outcomes for critical minerals projects across Australia.

On Monday, October 19, in Melbourne, the committee will hear from a range of stakeholders, including mining and mineral processing companies, academics, engagement professionals, and the Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations, about the social licence requirements and economic potential of critical minerals projects.

On Wednesday, October 21, in Horsham, the committee will meet with representatives of local communities and local governments in a region shaped economically and socially by agriculture to explore the challenges created by potential land-use conflict.

Committee Chair, Meryl Swanson, said, "The committee understands that for some parts of Australia critical minerals presents significant challenges as well as important opportunities. Through the upcoming hearings in Melbourne and Horsham, the Committee will explore both the challenges and the opportunities presented by the integration of critical minerals with existing industries in established farming regions."

More information on the inquiry, including the full terms of reference and details on making a submission, can be found on the inquiry website. The committee will travel to other regions across the country in the coming months.

Public hearings

Date: Monday, 19 October 2026
Time: 9am – 3.20pm (AEDT)
Location:Hearing Room 3, 55 St Andrews Place, East Melbourne.

Date: Wednesday, 21 October 2026
Time: 10.20am – 2.30pm (AEDT)
Location:Council Chambers, Horsham Rural City Council Civic Centre, Horsham.

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 House Standing Committee on Industry, Innovation and Science has today tabled its report, When the rubber hits the road: inquiry into the Australian tyre industry, recommending steps to build a stronger circular economy for tyres.

The committee’s report finds that while tyres are essential to Australia’s economy and transport networks, significant challenges remain in the management of end-of-life tyres.

The report has made 12 recommendations, including developing a nationally harmonised regulatory framework, improving the recovery and management of off-the-road tyres, auditing and strengthening tyre stewardship arrangements, and supporting the tyre retreading industry.

Committee Chair, Rob Mitchell MP, said, "End-of-life tyres are not the end of the story. This inquiry found they should be seen as the beginning of a new opportunity, with valuable materials that can be recovered, recycled, and put back to work in the economy.

"This is not simply an environmental issue. It is an economic opportunity. Australia has the chance to create jobs, support regional industries and reduce waste by making better use of the resources already at our disposal.

"The future of the industry will be defined by how successfully we turn waste into value. The committee’s recommendations are intended to help Australia seize that opportunity and build a stronger, more sustainable tyre industry for the future."

The report is available on the inquiry webpage, along with the terms of reference, submissions, and transcripts of public hearings.

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THE Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) has tabled two new reports.

The advisory report on the Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment Bill 2026 examines proposed changes to the high risk terrorist offender post-sentence order framework and control order regime. It recommends the passage of the bill, and other broader changes.

Chair of the PJCIS, Senator Raff Ciccone, said, "Post-sentence orders and control orders are serious and extraordinary mechanisms for dealing with individuals who pose a risk to the community.

"Evidence provided to the committee demonstrated that there are areas where the high risk terrorist offender framework can be improved on, while still prioritising community safety."

The PJCIS also tabled its annual Review of Administration and Expenditure that examines the administration, expenditure and financial statements of Australia's National Intelligence Community agencies in the 2024-25 financial year. The review is part of a strict oversight and accountability framework within which these agencies operate.

Both reports are available on the committee’s website: aph.gov.au/pjcis

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