THE House of Representatives Standing Committee on Regional Development, Infrastructure and Transport will hear from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water and constitutional law expert, Professor Anne Twomey, as part of its inquiry into local government funding.

The committee said it was keen to learn more about how the department manages its responsibilities in relation to the financial sustainability of local government. This includes how local governments are responding to climate change, and managing environmental, heritage, energy and water issues.

Committee Chair, Fiona Phillips, said, “Following our recent hearings in South Australia and listening to coastal councils struggling with the cost of maintaining and rebuilding local jetties, the Committee wants to hear more about the impact of climate change on local governments and the support available to them.”

The Department manages a range of programs accessed by councils such as the Local Environmental Projects Program and the Urban Rivers and Catchments Program.  The committee will explore the barriers to accessing funding and how the Commonwealth can improve the effectiveness and coordination of funding provided to local governments.

The committee will also hear from Prof. Twomey, who is an Australian academic and lawyer specialising in Australian constitutional law. The committee will explore how the lack of constitutional recognition affects the financial sustainability of local governments.

Further information on the inquiry, including the terms of reference and how to contribute, is available on the committee’s website.

Public hearing

Date: Thursday, 10 September 2026
Time: 11am – 12.30pm
Location: Committee Room 1R3, Parliament House, Canberra

THE Joint Standing Committee on Implementation of the National Redress Scheme will hear from representatives of the Department of Social Services at a public hearing in Canberra on Friday, September 11, as part of its inquiry into the continuing operation of the scheme.

Committee Chair, Jodie Belyea MP, said the hearing comes at a pivotal time for the scheme, with the statutory Eighth Anniversary Review underway and less than a year remaining before applications to the scheme are due to close.

"With only 10 months until applications close, the committee is seeking to understand how the Department is preparing for what is expected to be an intensive final phase of the Scheme," Ms Belyea said. "This evidence will be particularly important as the committee finalises its hearings and prepares its report and recommendations for tabling in October."

Ms Belyea noted that the National Redress Scheme is vast in complexity and scale.

"The committee recognises that the scheme is one of the most significant redress pathways available to victim-survivors, and is keen to ensure the Department has clear plans in place to manage what is likely to be a demanding period ahead," she said.

Issues relating to the experience of applicants, barriers to submitting applications, and access to the Scheme for vulnerable cohorts have emerged as key themes during the inquiry.

The committee is also closely examining processing times and the Department's capacity to manage a possible surge in applications as the Scheme approaches its closing date.

"The committee is particularly interested in the strategies that have been implemented to ensure applications are determined in a manner that is safe, trauma-informed, respectful and dignified," Ms Belyea said.

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

Public hearing details

Date: Friday, 11 September 2026
Time: 9am – 10am (AEST)
Location: Committee Room 1R4, Parliament House, Canberra

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 Joint Standing Committee on Treaties (JSCOT) has tabled a report recommending ratification of three major treaty actions that will strengthen Australia's security partnerships, support international cooperation, and improve recognition of traditional knowledge in the global intellectual property system.

The committee has recommended binding treaty action be taken in respect of the:

• Treaty between the Government of Australia and the Government of the Republic of Indonesia on Common Security (The Jakarta Treaty);
• Agreement between Australia and the Kingdom of Spain for the Mutual Protection of Classified Information of Defence Interest; and
• WIPO Treaty on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge.

The Jakarta Treaty establishes mutual consultation obligations for Australia and Indonesia, requiring regular consultation at leader and ministerial level as well as consultation in the event of challenges to individual or common security. The Treaty also commits both countries to promoting mutually beneficial defence cooperation activities.

The committee also supports ratification of an updated agreement with Spain to ensure classified information exchanged between Australia and Spain is protected at equivalent classification levels in each country. The new agreement replaces a 2012 treaty that became outdated following changes to the Australian Government Security Classification System (AGSCS).

In addition, the committee recommended ratification of the WIPO Treaty which establishes a framework for countries to introduce ‘disclosure of source’ requirements for applicants seeking patent protections. This would require applicants for patents to disclose any non-human ‘Genetic Resources’ or ‘Associated Traditional Knowledge’ related to their claimed inventions. The committee found that the Treaty would improve transparency within the international patent system and support recognition of the value of traditional knowledge.

The report also included a minor treaty action relating to the Amendments to Appendices I and II of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals. These amendments add 40 species or subspecies to the Convention’s appendices, creating obligations for certain Parties with respect to their conservation and supporting international efforts to protect migratory wildlife.

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

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At the public hearing the committee will hear evidence from Australian Border Force and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Further information about the inquiry, including the treaty text, National Interest Analysis and submissions received by the committee, is available on the inquiry webpage.

Public hearing details

Date: Monday, 7 September 2026
Time: 10:30am to 11:30am AEST (approximately)
Location: Committee Room 2R1, Parliament House Canberra

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

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