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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THE Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) has tabled a report regarding proposed reforms to the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) compulsory questioning warrants framework.

First introduced in 2003, ASIO’s compulsory questioning powers have been subject to recurring sunset provisions. The ASIO Amendment Bill (No.2) 2025 seeks to make these powers permanent, and further reform them, including expanding the grounds on which ASIO can seek a warrant.

The committee’s report makes four recommendations to further strengthen safeguards and accountability in relation to the granting and use of the powers, and their oversight by the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security. 

PJCIS Chair, Senator Raff Ciccone, said, “The committee is satisfied that the compulsory questioning framework is necessary and is also largely fit for purpose, and therefore endorses the proposal in the Bill to repeal provision for the periodic sunsetting of the powers.”

“With the entrenchment of the compulsory questioning powers, regular review is more important than ever.

"As per the proposed amendment in Part 1 of the Bill, the committee considers that it is appropriate for the committee to undertake another statutory review within three years of the commencement of the amendments.” Sen. Ciccone said.

A full copy of the report and further information on the inquiry can be obtained from the committee’s website.

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