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Treaties Committee recommends ratification of three Air Services Agreements

 
The actions are:

These agreements establish the first treaty-level air services relationships between Australia and the countries of Saudi Arabia, Colombia and Peru.

Each agreement will enable the development and operations of international air services between Australia and the respective countries. They outline provisions relating to safety, security, regulatory compliance and commercial arrangements. These Agreements will benefit Australian travellers and businesses and will expand opportunities in tourism and export sectors.

Committee Chair, Lisa Chesters MP said, “Air Services Agreements play an important role in enhancing Australia’s global connectivity. The committee found these three agreements are expected to deliver economic benefits, particularly in tourism, education and trade.”

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

 

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Tyre industry inquiry gets rolling

THE Australian tyre industry, and its challenges and opportunities in the circular economy, will be the focus of a new inquiry by the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Industry, Innovation and Science.

Australia generates more than 67 million end-of-life tyres each year, with many ending up in landfill, stockpiles, or exported without adequate oversight.

Improving innovation in the Australian tyre industry presents major opportunities to reinforce domestic manufacturing capabilities and facilitate the development of new markets for recycled materials, contributing to waste reduction and improved resource efficiency.

Committee Chair, Rob Mitchell MP, said, "It’s time for the rubber to hit the road. We want to understand the full lifecycle of a tyre, and how circular economy practices in reuse, retreading and resource recovery can be improved.

"A key focus for the committee will be the development of high-value uses for tyre-derived materials, including tyre designs, recycling processes and alternative materials," Mr Mitchell said.

The inquiry will also consider product stewardship schemes, infrastructure needs, regulatory settings, and environmental and community impacts.

"We are seeking input from all parts of the sector, from manufacturers and recyclers to researchers and community organisations," Mr Mitchell said.

"This is a critical part of our economy with huge potential for innovation. We want to hear about how the Australian Government can support the tyre industry to become more sustainable into the future."

The committee invited written submissions addressing the inquiry terms of reference by Friday, January 23, 2026.

Further 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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New inquiry into gender equality as a national security and economic security imperative

THE Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade (JSCFADT) has adopted a new inquiry into gender equality as a national security and economic security imperative.

Chair of the JSCFADT, Shayne Neumann MP, said, “Gender equality is important on so many fronts. We’ve talked about how important it is for productivity, but this inquiry is a great opportunity to have a broader conversation about the role it plays in Australia’s economic and national security, and international security as a whole.”

Chair of the Human Rights Subcommittee, Tony Zappia MP, said, “We know that when a crisis happens, whether conflict or climate disaster, women and girls are disproportionately impacted and gender equality suffers.

"This was acknowledged 25 years ago when the United Nations Security Council adopted the Women, Peace and Security Agenda. The committee hopes to explore how Australia can better contribute to efforts by the international community in advancing and implementing this agenda.”

Key themes of the inquiry’s focus include:

  • The economic security and national security benefits of realising gender equality for every person, and how the integration of gender equality across foreign policy supports this objective;
  • Evidence and data that demonstrates the links between gender equality and economic growth and prosperity, including in food security and labour markets;
  • The international and national security implications of undermining gender equality, including in the context of humanitarian crises and climate change;
  • The role of locally-led leadership and decision making in advancing gender equality and the Women, Peace and Security Agenda;
  • The Australian government's efforts to advance gender equality and the human rights of women and girls across all aspects of foreign policy, defence and national security;
  • The Women, Peace and Security agenda internationally and Australia's role in promoting and implementing it.

The subcommittee is now inviting written submissions by Tuesday, 20 January 2026.

 

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Electoral Matters calls for community input at November hearings in Dapto and Parramatta

THE Electoral Matters Committee is inviting community input on the recent Federal Election at its upcoming hearings.

Committee Chair, Jerome Laxale MP said, "I’m excited to be bringing these hearings home to New South Wales. The committee has already learned a lot from some of the eye-opening submissions coming out of the State.

"We really want to keep hearing from community members about their experiences during the 2025 Federal Election. These community statements can tell you so much about how our elections can leave an impact on people’s lives."

The committee will be holding hearings in Dapto (November 19, 2025) and Parramatta (November 20, 2025). As part of these hearings, members of the public will be invited to get on the record by making short verbal statements of up to five minutes.

"We want to hear from you about your 2025 election experience, whether you have put in a submission or not," Mr Laxale said.

"You will just need to tell us what you wish to talk to the committee about and a bit about how you participated in the election. The more people we hear from on the day, the better informed the committee will be," he said.

To register your interest in making a statement at upcoming hearings, contact the committee secretariat at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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, 19 November 2025
Location: Berkeley Neighbourhood Centre, 40 Winnima Way, Berkeley NSW 2506

Date: Thursday, 20 November 2025
Location: Mantra Parramatta, Cnr Parkes St and Valentine Ave, Parramatta NSW 2150

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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New inquiry on the role of Australia's international development program in preventing conflict

THE Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade (JSCFADT), through the Foreign Affairs and Aid Subcommittee, has commenced an inquiry into the role of Australia's international development program in preventing conflict.

The inquiry was referred by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong with the below terms of reference.

Chair of the JSCFADT, Shayne Neumann MP, said, "We are operating in a geopolitical context of change and uncertainty, and we are deeply concerned at how conflicts around the world are exacerbating existing humanitarian crises in many regions."

Chair of the Foreign Affairs and Aid Subcommittee, Tim Watts MP, said, "In an increasingly complex and contested international environment the challenge of conflict prevention is becoming more acute."

The inquiry will consider the role of Australia's international development program in preventing conflict, with particular reference to:

  1. the role of Australia's international development program in building resilience in fragile states, including by strengthening community and civic participation, governance, security reform and human capital;
  2. the strategic use of Australia's international development program to prevent conflict in the Indo-Pacific;
  3. options for effective support through Australia's aid program in pre-conflict and/or post-conflict zones;
  4. the impact of international development in the maintenance of peace and prevention of conflict, including for early identification and mitigation of conflict; and
  5. any related matters.

The subcommittee is now inviting written submissions responding to the inquiry’s terms of reference by January 20, 2026.

 

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Audit Committee hearing into Defence Major Projects Report

THE Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit (JCPAA) will be holding a hearing on Friday for its inquiry into the 2023–24 Defence Major Projects Report.

Date:               Friday, 7 November 2025

Time:              9am – 11am (AEDT)

Venue:            Committee Room 2S3, Parliament House

Witnesses:     Department of Defence; Australian National Audit Office  

The hearing will be broadcast live and will be accessible from the Parliament House website at https://www.aph.gov.au/live.

Details on the inquiry—including terms of reference and submissions—are available on the Committee’s website.

 

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Public Works Committee to question the CSIRO, Australian Taxation Office, and Services Australia

THE Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works (the committee) will be holding a site inspection and a series of public hearings on Friday (November 7) for three of its current inquiries.

The inquiries are:

The committee will conduct a site inspection at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisations (CSIRO) Black Mountain site in Canberra, with a public hearing at Australian Parliament House to follow.

The proposed works seek to replace critical infrastructure, including greenhouses, on Black Mountain which were damaged during the January 2020 hailstorm. The proposed works have a total estimated cost of $37.9 million.

The committee will conduct a public hearing into the Australian Taxation Office’s (ATO) proposed works which seek to fit-out levels 5 to 10 of its office at 152 Wharf St, Brisbane, Queensland. The proposed works have a total estimated cost of $29.17 million.

The committee will also conduct a public hearing into Services Australia’s proposed works which seek to fit-out its office at 90 Crown St, Wollongong, NSW. The proposed works have a total estimated cost of $22.34 million.

Mr Zappia MP said, "These public hearings will provide the committee with greater clarity about how the government continues to pursue the best value for taxpayer money in an evolving construction market."

The committee will hear from relevant officers from CSIRO, the ATO, and Services Australia at the hearings. Interested members of the public are encouraged to listen in to the public hearing via the APH website or attend the hearing in person at the location listed below.

Public hearing details

Date: Friday, 7 November 2025
Time: 10:15am–10:55am – CSIRO (AEDT)
Time: 12:05pm–12:45pm – ATO (AEDT)
Time: 2:20pm–3pm – Services Australia (AEDT)
Location: Committee Room 1R4, Australian Parliament House

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

Note: The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works is not involved in the tendering process, awarding of contracts or details of the proposed works. Enquiries on these matters should be directed to the relevant Commonwealth entities.

 

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Submissions open for Treaty inquiries - Pacific Resilience and Sports Integrity

THE Joint Standing Committee on Treaties has commenced inquiries into the Agreement to Establish the Pacific Resilience Facility and the Council of Europe Convention on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions.

The Pacific Resilience Facility agreement proposes a regional financing mechanism aimed at supporting disaster preparedness and resilience initiatives in Pacific Island countries. The committee will examine the potential implications of Australia’s participation in this initiative.

The Convention on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions sets out a framework for international cooperation to address match-fixing and related threats to the integrity of sport. The committee will assess the treaty’s relevance and potential impact on Australia’s existing legal and regulatory frameworks.

Further information about the inquiries, including the full treaty text and National Interest Analysis for both treaties are available on the inquiry website.

Submissions to each inquiry are open until Friday, November 21, 2025, and can be lodged online via the Committee website.

 

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PJCIS supports reform to strengthen oversight of Australia’s intelligence agencies

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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Education Committee to hear firsthand perspectives on Asia capability

 

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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New inquiry into the National Redress Scheme

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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