THE Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade through its Trade Subcommittee will hold a public hearing with Austrade for its inquiry into strengthening Australia’s trade and investment relations with Africa. 

Chair of the Trade Subcommittee, Fiona Phillips MP, said, "Austrade plays a valuable role in the trade and investment environment by supporting Australian businesses to expand and diversify in international markets. Australian businesses rely on Austrade’s expertise to provide advice on opportunities, market entry, and local business practices to engage with African markets. Austrade is therefore positioned to provide the Subcommittee with valuable insights into its terms of reference."

Austrade’s evidence will provide important context to the subcommittee concerning the current trade and investment landscape between Australia and African nations. Crucially, Austrade's evidence will inform the subcommittee's understanding of the Australian Government’s role in assisting Australian businesses to identify opportunities to diversify to specific African markets, and the government's future policy objectives to support mutually beneficial trade and investment.

The subcommittee will continue its public hearings with a half-day hearing on Friday, March 13. The public hearing program will be released later this week.

Public Hearing Details

Date: Wednesday, 11 March 2026 
Time: 10am – 11am (AEDT)
Location: Committee Room 2S1, Parliament House, Canberra ACT

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

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THE House of Representatives Standing Committee on Primary Industries is conducting an inquiry into factors shaping social licence and economic development outcomes for critical minerals projects across Australia and is seeking written submissions to guide the inquiry’s findings.

The inquiry has already received more than 50 submissions from a range of stakeholders, but the committee is keen to hear from more individuals and organisations, especially those operating directly in the critical minerals field and communities with an interest in or who are impacted by critical mineral developments.

Committee Chair, Meryl Swanson, said. "We have heard from miners, farmers, local governments, community organisations, Indigenous organisations and academics—some highlighting the benefits of critical minerals, others raising concerns about the potential impacts of mining on other industries and communities.

‘The committee is looking to get as comprehensive a picture as possible about how to maximise the benefits of critical minerals to Australia while minimising the impacts. We need to hear from as many interested stakeholders as possible to get the clearest picture of the best way forward," Ms Swanson said.

The committee has extended the closing date for written submissions responding to the terms of reference to Tuesday, March 31 2026. Submissions are encouraged from a wide range of stakeholders, including government, peak bodies and mining companies, local communities, Indigenous bodies and academic experts.

More information on the inquiry, including the full terms of reference and details on making a submission, can be found on the inquiry website.

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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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