THE Parliamentary Joint Committee on Defence has commenced a review of the Defence Legislation Amendment (Accelerating Capability and Protecting Bases) Bill 2026.

Committee Chair, Senator Deborah O’Neill, said, "In recent decades, defence capability development has become increasingly complex, involving advanced technologies and collaboration across a range of sectors and jurisdictions.

"This Bill introduces important legislative reforms that support Defence to build capability faster and protect it more effectively. The reforms are intended to ensure Australia’s Defence legislation supports current and future capability requirements under the National Defence Strategy."

The Bill would amend the Defence Act 1903 to establish a Defence Capability Framework to support capability development and preparedness activities conducted in Australia. The framework would operate through capability declarations to enable specified capability development and preparedness activities.

It would also provide a single statutory mechanism for supporting complex capability activities between Defence and its industry and international partners.

The Bill would also establish a Defence Security Zone Framework to protect Defence personnel, activities, information and capability wherever Defence operates. The proposed framework provides for permanent, temporary, mobile or emergency Defence security zones, allowing for tailored security protections.

It would also consolidate fragmented arrangements and provide common powers, safeguards, offences and oversight mechanisms, and empower Defence to respond to emerging threats from uncrewed systems.

Additionally, the Bill contains safeguards to expand the roles of the committee and the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force to include oversight of the operation of the proposed Defence Capability Framework and Defence Security Zone Framework.

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

The committee has invited submissions addressing the Bill by Tuesday, November 3.

Submissions should be prepared solely for this review and should not be published prior to being accepted by the committee.

Further information about making a submission can be found on the Parliament House website.

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THE House Select Committee on Cyber Security for Small to Medium Sized Businesses and Organisationswill hold its final public hearings for the inquiry into cyber security for small to medium sized businesses and organisations on Monday, November 2 and Wednesday, November 4.

“As we come to the end of the public hearing program, a clear message has emerged from witnesses: cyber security support should be actionable, targeted and accessible for small and medium sized businesses and organisations,” Committee Chair Sally Sitou MP said.

“The remaining hearings will continue to examine how Australia’s small to medium sized businesses and organisations can be better supported by the Australian Government, with a focus on the different needs across sectors.

“We’ll meet with representatives from the insurance, telecommunications, health, education, early childcare, finance, legal and IT sectors.”

Detailed programs for the hearings will be available on the committee’swebsite, the hearings will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live.

Public Hearing Details

Date: Monday 2 November 2026
Time: 10am – 2:30pm (AEDT)
Location: Virtual

Date: Wednesday 4 November 2026
Time: 11:30am – 2:30pm (AEDT)
Location: Virtual

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THE House of Representatives Standing Committee on Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water will hold a public hearing in Canberra with the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water on Wednesday, October 28, as part of its inquiry into solar panel reuse and recycling.

During 2026 the committee has held public hearings with stakeholders and specialists in photovoltaic research, product development, reuse and recycling and the integration of circular economy principles into Australia's solar panel industry.

Metropolitan and regional industry and research site visits have also been undertaken. The committee has explored optimising panel resource use and recovery, while optimising solar energy output, to combat the growing volume of ‘end-of-life’ solar panels.

At the December 2025 Energy and Climate Change Ministerial Council meeting, Australian jurisdictions agreed to progress a national solar panel product stewardship scheme. The Australian Government followed this by announcing, in January, a national solar panel recycling pilot.

Data and consultation feedback from the pilot is designed to inform a national product stewardship approach. At the hearing on Wednesday, the committee will discuss these initiatives with the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, and consider how evidence received throughout the inquiry may inform future policy development.

Committee Chair, Anne Urquhart MP, said, “The committee has asked the department to reappear to discuss initiatives designed to support a circular economy for solar panels. These initiatives aim to divert ever increasing volumes of solar panel waste from landfill, reduce excessive stockpiling and exporting of used panels, and recover valuable resources for reuse.

“Australia has been a global leader in the uptake of solar energy. We now have an opportunity to show similar leadership in how we manage solar panels at the end of their life, creating environmental and economic benefits for communities across the country,” Ms Urquhart said.

The inquiry was referred to the committee on January 19 his year by the Minister for the Environment and Water, Senator Murray Watt.

Public hearing details:

Date:               Wednesday, 28 October 2026
Time:               10am to 11am AEDT
Location:         Committee Room 1R6, Parliament House, ACT 2600

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

Further information, including the terms of reference, can be found on the committee’s website.

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THE Housing Industry Association (HIA) is warning that small businesses across Australia are facing mounting pressure from the combined impact of rising costs, economic uncertainty and an increasing number of regulatory and tax changes.

The proposed minimum 30% tax on discretionary trusts risks becoming the latest addition to a growing list of changes that are increasing costs and complexity for small businesses.

HIA chief executive for industry and policy, Simon Croft, said the key challenge for small business was that policy changes were too often assessed individually, rather than through the lens of their cumulative impact.

"Small business owners don't experience each policy change in isolation. They experience them all at once and together," Mr Croft said.

"Businesses are already dealing with rising operating costs, workforce shortages, economic uncertainty and softer trading conditions in many parts of the economy.

"At the same time, they are being asked to adapt to a growing range of regulatory and workplace changes. Whether it is additional payroll obligations, minimum wage increases, superannuation changes, credit card payment reforms or tax measures, every new requirement adds another layer of administration, compliance and cost."

Mr Croft said the proposed minimum tax on discretionary trusts is the latest example of a reform that needs to be considered in the context of the broader operating environment facing small businesses.

"Viewed in isolation, any one reform may appear manageable. But for a small business owner trying to run a business, employ staff and serve customers, it is the accumulation of all these changes that creates pressure.

"HIA estimates around three in five members operate through discretionary trusts. These are predominantly small and family-owned businesses including builders, tradespeople and contractors," Mr Croft said.

"The proposed trust tax would represent another cost and compliance burden for businesses that are already navigating significant economic and regulatory challenges, and disproportionately impact smaller businesses."

Mr Croft said small businesses continued to be the backbone of the housing industry and the broader economy, taking risks, investing capital, employing workers and training the next generation of skilled tradespeople.

"Every additional layer of compliance takes time away from running a business and getting on site building homes," Mr Croft said.

"Business owners consistently tell us they are spending more time dealing with paperwork and regulatory obligations and less time being on site delivering homes training their employees and growing their business.

“If governments are serious about improving productivity, increasing housing supply and supporting small business investment, they need to better understand the cumulative impact of the decisions they are making.

"HIA's concern is not just with one proposal. It is with the layering effect of multiple policy changes that, taken together, make it harder to operate a small business in Australia,” Mr Croft said.

www.hia.com.au

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