THE Foreign Affairs and Aid Subcommittee of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade will hear from the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) as part of its Inquiry into the role of Australia's international development program in preventing conflict on Thursday March 26.

Chair of the Foreign Affairs and Aid Subcommittee, the Tim Watts MP, said the subcommittee looked forward to hearing from ACFID, Australia’s peak body for international development NGOs.

"ACFID represents organisations working at the frontline of peacebuilding, humanitarian response and community resilience across our region," Mr Watts said. "Their on‑the‑ground experience will give the subcommittee critical insights into the effectiveness of Australia’s development program in conflict settings."

Witnesses from ACFID will be joined by representatives from Conciliation Resources and Action Aid Australia, two ACFID member organisations who contributed to the submission from ACFID as well as providing their own submissions to the inquiry.

Mr Watts said the hearing would provide an opportunity for the subcommittee to explore the practical realities of conflict‑prevention work in fragile and conflict‑affected states.

Further information, including the full terms of reference, is available on the Inquiry webpage.

Public Hearing Details

Date: Thursday 26 March 2026

Time: 8am–9am (AEDT)

Location: Committee Room 1R4, Parliament House, Canberra

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

ends

THE House of Representatives Standing Committee on Employment, Workplace Relations, Skills and Training will hold a public hearing on Thursday, March 26, as part of its inquiry into the operation and adequacy of the National Employment Standards (NES).

The inquiry was referred to the committee on November 27, 2025, by Employment and Workplace Relations Minister, Amanda Rishworth MP.

The NES set out the minimum terms and conditions of employment for all national system employees, alongside modern awards. Together, they form the safety net that underpins Australia’s workplace relations system.

At the public hearing, the committee will examine how effectively the NES protect employee entitlements, how well the standards are understood and complied with in practice, and the role of government agencies in administering and enforcing the framework.

Committee Chair, Dr Carina Garland MP, said the hearing would provide an important opportunity to hear directly from the federal government.

"The committee seeks to examine how the National Employment Standards (NES) are operating for Australian workers, employers, and the broader economy. In particular, it aims to understand the government’s perspective on whether the NES remain fit for purpose in 2026, and to identify any gaps or challenges affecting employees’ access to their minimum entitlements."

The committee will hear evidence from:

• the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations;
• the Fair Work Ombudsman.

Further information is available on the committee’s website.

Public hearing details

Date: Thursday 26 March 2026
Time: 9am to 10am
Location: Committee Room 2R2, Parliament House Canberra and online.

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

ends

CREATIVE AUSTRALIA will give evidence this Wednesday at a public hearing for an inquiry into arts and cultural philanthropy.

The Standing Committee on Communications, the Arts and Sport is inquiring into opportunities to increase philanthropic giving for Australia’s cultural sector and the role the government could play in boosting private support for the arts.

Chair of the House Standing Committee on Communications, the Arts and Sport, Susan Templeman MP, said,

"Arts and culture are crucial to the vitality of Australian society and the wellbeing of our communities. Public funding will always provide a bedrock of support, but philanthropy can help take creative ambition to the next level.

"Recent reforms to Creative Australia have brought public funding and philanthropic support together into one organisation.

"The committee looks forward to hearing Creative Australia’s views on opportunities to better support cultural activity through increased philanthropic giving," Ms Templeman said.

Public hearing details are below, along with 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: Wednesday, 25 March 2026
Time: 12pm up to 1pm (Canberra time)
Location: Committee Room 2R1, Parliament House, Canberra

Watch on YouTube @AUSParliamentLive or ParlView

ends

THE Joint Standing Committee on Treaties will hold a public hearing for its inquiry into the Papua New Guinea – Australia Mutual Defence Treaty (the Pukpuk Treaty) at 11.00am on March 23, 2026.

The Treaty aims to expand and modernise Australia and Papua New Guinea’s security and defence ties through creating mutual defence and consultation obligations, allowing for the conduct of Defence Cooperation Activities in each other’s territory, and providing frameworks to govern visiting forces.

The committee will examine how the Treaty will impact the security, defence and domestic circumstances of both countries.

Committee Chair, Lisa Chesters MP, said, "Australia and Papua New Guinea share deep historical and cultural ties, and also a strong defence partnership. As our closest neighbour, Australia’s relationship with Papua New Guinea is one of our most important.

‘The committee is interested in whether the Treaty contributes to Australia’s national interests and security, including how the Treaty could enhance our role as a trusted partner of the Pacific."

The committee will hear evidence from the Department of Defence and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade at the public hearing.

Public hearing details

Date: Monday, 23 March 2026
Time: 11am - 1pm AEDT (approximately)
Location: Committee Room 2R1, Parliament House Canberra

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

ends