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Defence Committee to inquire into national civil preparedness and resilience

NATIONAL civil preparedness and resilience will be the focus of a new inquiry by the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Defence.

Committee Chair, Senator Deborah O’Neill, said, "There is no more important task than the defence of the nation. We live in a time of geostrategic contest that grows more complex by the day.

"The task of defending the nation and deterring assaults on our sovereignty falls not only to armed service men and women but to every Australian, and engages every sector of the economy and our civil society. The task of readying for the security of Australia impels us to assess the civil preparedness and resilience of our nation.

"Recent conflicts overseas have exposed how quickly Australia’s reliance on the interconnected global economy, and its trade networks, can make us vulnerable to supply chain shocks," Senator O’Neill said.

"The inquiry will consider whole-of-nation support for national defence, continuity of government, and the availability of essential goods and services (including fuel) during times of crisis or conflict. In doing so, the committee will examine opportunities to work with state, territory and local governments in response to crises and conflict, as well as the private sector and Australian communities."

Deputy Chair, Senator Dave Sharma, said, "Australia's deteriorating strategic environment and heightened geopolitical risk requires a greater degree of resilience, preparedness and self-reliance, so Australia can withstand global shocks. This inquiry will contribute to that effort."

Through this inquiry, the committee is aiming to identify the strengths and gaps in Australia’s national civil preparedness and resilience, as it currently stands.

The inquiry will also explore international best practice on national civil preparedness and opportunities to adapt these practices to the Australian context.

The committee has invited submissions that respond to the inquiry’s terms of reference by Friday, November 6. More information, including the terms of reference and details on how to make a submission, can be found on the Committee’s website.

 

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Racism inquiry heads to Hobart and Melbourne

THE Joint Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs will hold public hearings in Hobart (Wednesday, August 5) and Melbourne (Thursday August 6 and Friday August 7) for its inquiry into racism, hate and violence directed at Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Committee Chair, Mutthi Mutthi and Wamba Wamba woman Senator Jana Stewart, said, “The upcoming hearings will allow the committee to hear from further national stakeholders as well as a range of Tasmanian and Victorian organisations and individuals.

"We look forward to hearing from national sporting organisations and leading media voices about the challenges of addressing racism in public life and the practical measures that can help prevent harmful behaviour and improve accountability. We are keen to explore what further action is needed to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are treated with respect both on and off the field, and across Australia's media landscape.

"The Committee also welcomes the opportunity to hear directly from the Tasmanian Government, including the Tasmanian Department of Health, the Tasmanian Department of Justice and the Tasmanian Department for Education, Children and Young People. We will be interested to hear about the policies, programs and practical measures being implemented across government to prevent and respond to racism and support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.”

The inquiry is examining the prevalence, impacts and drivers of racism, hate and violence, with a strong focus on online racism, reporting mechanisms, and how governments and institutions can better respond. Evidence gathered during the hearings will inform the Committee’s final report to Parliament.

In Hobart, witnesses scheduled to appear include the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (APHRA), the Tasmanian Regional Aboriginal Communities Alliance (TRACA), the First Peoples (Tasmania) Aboriginal Corporation (FPTAC) and several Tasmanian Government departments as well as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals with lived experience of racism. In Melbourne, witnesses include national sporting federations, media organisations (SBS, NITV and the ABC) and several media personalities including John Paul Janke, Narelda Jacobs, Brooke Blurton and Brooke Boney.

Information on the inquiry, including the terms of reference and the public hearing program, is available on the committee’s website.

If you would like to attend the hearing as an observer, please contact the secretariat via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (02) 6277 4559.

Please note the committee and secretariat are unable to provide counselling, advice, or support for individuals. Help is available:

For First Nations people:

  • 13YARN: 13 92 76
  • Brother to Brother: 1800 435 799
  • Yarning SafeNStrong: 1800 959 563

For all people:

  • Lifeline: Call 13 11 14
  • Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636
  • MensLine Australia: 1300 789 978
  • Kids Helpline: 1800 551 800
  • Headspace: 1800 650 890
  • Suicide Call Back Service:1300 659 467
  • 1800 Respect: 1800 737 732

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Committee on Communications, the Arts and Sport holds hearing on art and cultural philanthropy

THE Productivity Commission, Creative Australia and other arts organisations will give evidence at a public hearing on Tuesday to discuss boosting arts and cultural philanthropy.

Chair of the House Standing Committee on Communications, the Arts and Sport, Susan Templeman MP, said the inquiry had uncovered significant opportunities to strengthen private investment in the arts:

"The evidence we've received points to several recurring issues, from tax settings and access to philanthropic networks to support for regional artists and the effectiveness of existing government programs.

"There is strong interest in finding new ways to encourage giving to the arts. This hearing will help us examine those ideas in greater detail and hear how government agencies believe Australia can build a stronger culture of arts philanthropy."

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

Public hearing details

Date: Tuesday, 4 August 2026
Time: 10am to around 2pm (Canberra time)
Location: Committee Room 2R1, Parliament House, Canberra

Watch on YouTube @AUSParliamentLive or ParlView.

 

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Electoral Matters Committee calls for community input at upcoming Hobart public hearing

THE Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters will be conducting a public hearing in Hobart as part of its ongoing inquiry into the 2025 Federal Election.

Chair of the Committee, Jerome Laxale, said, "Over the course of this inquiry, the committee has heard from communities about their experiences at the 2025 Federal Election. At these upcoming hearings, we want to continue hearing evidence relating to conduct at the 2025 election, and we are also looking to gain further insight into the views of Tasmanians on the composition and size of the Australian Parliament.

"We are also interested to hear further evidence about political communications and the frameworks that underpin authorisations, as well as the threat of interference in the electoral process," Mr Laxale said.

The hearing will be held on Wednesday, August 5. Members of the public have been invited to contribute to the committee’s inquiry by making short verbal statements of up to five minutes.

To register interest in making a statement, people can contact the Committee Secretariat at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Respondents should include their name, contact details, the capacity in which they participated in the 2025 election (for example, as a voter or volunteer), and what they would like to discuss.

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: Wednesday, 5 August 2026
Location: Parliament House, Hobart TAS 7000

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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Climate Change Committee to examine the state of solar panel reuse and recycling in Australia

The committee will hear from industry representatives, recycling businesses and local government about the growing challenge of managing end-of-life solar panels, and the opportunities to build a circular economy that supports reuse, recycling and the recovery of valuable materials.

Committee Chair, Anne Urquhart MP, said, “The committee will examine how Australia can manage the increasing volume of solar panels reaching the end of their lives, while capturing the environmental and economic benefits of reusing and recycling valuable materials.

“We are interested in hearing evidence on the barriers currently facing the sector, including the high cost of recycling compared to landfill disposal, the absence of a national product stewardship scheme, inconsistent regulations across jurisdictions, and the challenges of attracting investment in recycling infrastructure,” Ms Urquhart said.

Public hearing details

Date:               Monday, 3 August 2026
Time:               9am to 2pm AEST (Canberra)
Location:         Committee Room 1R4, Parliament House, Canberra and online (audio only).

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

The committee will hear evidence from:

  • Professor Andrew Blakers

  • Australian Local Government Association

  • Circular PV Alliance

  • Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering

  • Environmental Solar Recycling Australia

  • Australian Aluminium Council

  • Tindo Solar

Further information, including the terms of reference, can be found on the committee’s website.

 

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