PJCIS to scrutinise changes to the Foreign Arrangements Scheme

THE Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) has commenced an inquiry into Australia’s Foreign Relations (State and Territory Arrangements) Amendment Bill 2026.

The bill overhauls the Foreign Arrangements Scheme – the regime requiring states, territories, local governments and public universities to notify, or seek approval, from the Minister for Foreign Affairs before entering into arrangements with foreign entities. The scheme exists to stop subnational deals undermining Australia’s foreign relations or foreign policy.

The amendments proposed by the bill primarily seek to respond to recommendations made in a 2025 Independent Review of the Foreign Arrangements Scheme by Rosemary Huxtable AO PSM.

The bill also seeks to amend the review framework for advice provided by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) to the Foreign Minister as part of the Foreign Arrangements Scheme.

Additional information on the committee’s review is available here.

The committee has invited submissions to this review by Monday, July 27. Submissions should be prepared solely for this inquiry and should not be published prior to being accepted by the committee.

Further information about making a submission can be found at this link.

ends