THE House of Representatives Standing Committee on Industry, Innovation and Science will hold public hearings in Canberra on Wednesday, 4 March 2026 and Wednesday, 11 March 2026 as part of its inquiry into the current state of the Australian tyre industry, and any challenges and opportunities for the industry within the context of a circular economy.

Committee Chair, Rob Mitchell MP, said, "The Committee appreciates all who made a submission to the inquiry. We look forward to unpacking the issues raised in submissions in more detail at public hearings over the coming months.

"At our first public hearing on 4 March, the Committee will hear from two key Commonwealth government agencies: Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, as the Australian Government lead on supporting the transition to a circular economy; Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, as the agency responsible for authorising Tyre Stewardship Australia to deliver the Tyre Product Stewardship Scheme.

"The following week, on 11 March, we will hear from the Australian Tyre Recyclers Association, the Product Stewardship Centre of Excellence and the Australian Local Government Association, with the aim of getting a broad understanding of the current issues facing the Australian tyre industry, product stewardship schemes and local governments."

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

Public hearing details

Date: Wednesday, 4 March 2026
Time: 8:15am – 10am (AEDT)
Location: Committee Room 2R2, Parliament House, Canberra

Date: Wednesday, 11 March 2026
Time: 8am – 10am (AEDT)
Location: Committee Room 2R2, Parliament House, Canberra

Programs for each public hearing are available on the inquiry website.

Public hearings are broadcast live on the Australian Parliament House Streaming Portal.

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Chair of the Trade Subcommittee, Fiona Phillips MP, said, “The first Subcommittee public hearing will be with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. In this public hearing, the Subcommittee will seek to gather evidence on its five terms of reference.

“The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade plays a key role in Australia’s trade and investment policy, as its responsibilities involve working with international partners to increase trade and investment opportunities. DFAT’s insights will, therefore, be of great value to the Subcommittee as it initiates its public hearings.

“Evidence provided by DFAT will serve to provide the Subcommittee a strong basis of understanding of the issues this inquiry seeks to examine. This will be important to the Subcommittee as it continues its evidence gathering in future public hearings.’”

The Subcommittee will schedule further public hearings soon, commencing with a Roundtable with African diplomatic representatives on Friday, 6 March.

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THE Housing Industry Association (HIA) today told the Senate Select Committee on the Operation of the Capital Gains Tax (CGT) Discount that targeting property investors will do nothing to ease the pressure on homeowners or renters.

“Housing supply is the core issue driving Australia’s housing crisis. The only real solution is to build enough homes to meet demand,”  HIA managing director, Jocelyn Martin said.

“Whether you are concerned about home ownership, rental affordability, government revenue or fairness between investors and owner occupiers, the answer is the same: build more homes. 

“If you want lower prices, you need more homes.

“If you want lower rents, you need more rental stock.

“If you want stronger public finances, you need more construction activity.”

Ms Martin said new housing already carries a significant tax burden, meaning every additional home built generates around $200,000 in direct tax revenue.

“If governments want more revenue from housing, they should focus on building more homes. More homes mean more revenue and slower house price growth. More homes also reduce returns to investors and will see them leave the housing market for other opportunities in an orderly way," Ms Martin said.

HIA’s submission to the inquiry sets out modelling showing that removing or restricting negative gearing or the CGT discount would reduce dwelling starts, reduce GDP, reduce construction employment and increase rents over time.

“With investors financing around one‑third to 40 per cent of all new dwellings in Australia, they are part of the supply solution – not the problem," Ms Martin said.

“There is a tendency to assume that raising taxes on investors will improve opportunities for younger Australians. But restricting supply only locks in capital gains for existing owners and limits entry for those who come after. It would entrench today’s inequities for decades.

“Fewer homes mean fewer jobs, fewer taxpayers, higher rents and a greater reliance on investors in the housing market,” Ms Martin said.

Read HIA’s opening statement. 

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THE Office for the Arts is giving evidence this Thursday at a public hearing for an inquiry into boosting arts and cultural philanthropy.

Chair of the House Standing Committee on Communications, the Arts and Sport, Ms Susan Templeman MP, said, "Philanthropy is critical for the arts and cultural sector in Australia. The Committee hopes to gain insights into how the Office for the Arts is working to encourage and incentivise philanthropic giving."

Written submissions to the inquiry are being accepted. Submissions close on March 2.

The inquiry terms of reference include looking into:

• new and emerging funding mechanisms, including digital fundraising platforms;
• the effectiveness of government policies and programs;
• incentives and disincentives for philanthropic giving and private support, including tax and regulatory settings;
• potential government initiatives to increase philanthropic participation.

Public hearing details are below. Information about making submissions and the full terms of reference available on the inquiry webpage.

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

Public hearing details

Date: Thursday, 26 February 2026
Time: 12pm – 1pm (Canberra time)
Location: Committee Room 1R3, Parliament House, Canberra

Watch on YouTube @AUSParliamentLive or ParlView

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THE Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade, through the Foreign Affairs and Aid Subcommittee, is commencing public hearings for its inquiry into the role of Australia's international development program in preventing conflict today in Melbourne.

Chair of the Foreign Affairs and Aid Subcommittee, Tim Watts MP, said, "The subcommittee received a large volume of submissions to its inquiry, which provided key insights into stakeholder views about the challenges and priorities for Australia’s development program in the context of increasing conflict.

"We look forward to meeting with practitioners, academics and advisory groups from the international development sector to expand on the suggested recommendations contributed by stakeholders in their submissions," he said.

"Australia’s international development program is a critical component of our statecraft toolkit –working alongside diplomacy, trade and defence - to advance a peaceful, stable, and prosperous future for our region."

Further information, including the hearing program is available on the Inquiry webpage.

Public Hearing Details

Date: Monday 23 February 2026
Time: 10am – 3:15pm (AEDT)
Location: Cliftons Melbourne, 1/440 Collins St, Melbourne, Victoria

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

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TOMORROW, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works (the committee) will conduct a site inspection at Blamey Barracks, Kapooka NSW, and shortly after question officials from the Department of Defence about proposed works at the site.

The proposed works seek to invest in modern, contemporary, and fit-for-purpose facilities for soldiers and reserve offices undertaking their initial training at the base, as part of the 2024 National Defence Strategy. The works propose to upgrade site-wide infrastructure, build new living-in accommodation, training facilities, a health and wellbeing facility, logistics facilities, and demolish redundant facilities.

The proposed works have a total estimated cost of $889.2 million.

The committee will hear from relevant officers from the Department of Defence at the hearing. 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: Tuesday, 17 February 2026
Time: 1pm–1:40pm
Location: Quality Inn Carriage House, 7 Eunony Bridge Road, East Wagga Wagga NSW 2650

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

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THE House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs has reopened submissions until March 13, 2026 for its inquiryinto the relationship between domestic, family and sexual violence (DFSV) and suicide.

Committee Chair, Louise Miller-Frost MP, said, “The committee wants to ensure that the community and the sector have ample opportunity to contribute to this inquiry and can provide the Committee with a deeper understanding of these issues and how more accurate DFSV data and trends can be obtained.”

Ms Miller-Frost said, "Due to the high level of interest received to date, the committee has agreed to reopen submissions for another six weeks from the original deadline and is now accepting submissions until Friday 13 March 2026. The committee appreciates the high level of interest in contributing to this important inquiry and is seeking to gather as many perspectives as possible ahead of upcoming public hearings.

“Those considering making a submission to the inquiry are asked to direct their input to the terms of reference. The committee is focussed on systemic issues and cannot investigate or assist with individual cases. The committee will not be publishing contributions that provide personal details or include information relating to individual circumstances.”

Public hearings for the inquiry will commence in February 2026. Further information about the inquiry, including the full terms of reference, is available on the inquiry page.

Ms Miller-Frost said the committee was unable to intervene or provide advice in relation to individual circumstances. If people are in immediate danger, contact 000.

If you or someone you know needs help, please contact the services below:

• Suicide Call Back Service:1300 659 467
• 1800 Respect: 1800 737 732
• Lifeline: Call 13 11 14
• Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636
• MensLine Australia: 1300 789 978
• 13YARN: 13 92 76
• Kids Helpline: 1800 551 800
• Headspace: 1800 650 890

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THE UNION representing teachers in early childhood education and care (ECEC) in NSW and the ACT has called for urgent action to address the staffing crisis in the sector as new data reveals ongoing child safety issues.

A Productivity Commission report shows there were 9430 serious incidents at early childhood services in NSW in 2024-25, a rate of 154 incidents reported per 100 centres. A serious incident is one that has a grave impact on the health, safety or wellbeing of a child.

It also reveals NSW's use of staffing waivers, which allow services a temporary exemption from some quality regulations, has more than doubled from 316 in 2019 to 658 in 2024 – the highest in the country.

“This data shows the sector needs urgent changes to rebuild a strong child safety culture,” said Independent Education Union of Australia NSW/ACT Branch Secretary Carol Matthews. “Well-trained, properly paid staff are key to solving this safety crisis.”

Ms Matthews said children attending centres with staffing waivers are at greater risk of serious harm. The reduction in the proportion of staff who have qualifications also directly impacts the safety of children.

“When there aren’t enough staff, children aren’t properly supervised, and that’s when safety breaches occur,” she said. “Serious incidents are often the result of inadequate supervision and that is a direct consequence of understaffing.”

Ms Matthews said better pay and conditions were key to improving the quality of services and solving the sector’s staffing shortages. Early childhood teachers should have pay parity with their colleagues who teach in primary schools, she said.

“Our members are constantly telling us that employers and governments need to take child safety seriously by addressing the staffing crisis in the sector,” Ms Matthews said.

The Productivity Commission’s report also shows the importance of adequate staffing ratios to effectively protect the safety and best interests of young children attending early learning centres.

“Staff-to-child ratios must be reviewed; for example, to ensure that one adult is never left alone with a group of children,” Ms Matthews said. “If one staff member leaves a group of 20 children to assist one child in the bathroom, that leaves one adult alone with 19 children.”

www.ieu.asn.au

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