THE Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit has commenced an inquiry into the Auditor-General report on Defence Major Projects 2022-23 (Auditor-General Report No. 14 of 2023-24).

Chair of the Committee, Julian Hill MP, said, "This annual inquiry enables a critical review of major Defence acquisitions, which is the main objective of the Major Projects Report.

"The committee’s principal role is to ensure continued transparency and assurance to Parliament and the public on the management of Defence projects."

The committee has invited submissions to the inquiry addressing the terms of reference by Friday, April 19. Details on the inquiry – including the terms of reference, submissions received, and upcoming public hearings – will be available on the Committee website.

ends

TOMORROW, March 1, the Defence Subcommittee of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade will conduct its second public hearing into the Department of Defence Annual Report 2022–23.

The subcommittee will hear evidence from the Department of Defence, government departments, non-government organisations and the Australian public across the inquiry’s focus items:

• Assistance to Ukraine
• Defence Health System
• Capability assurance mechanism
• Artificial intelligence and autonomous weapons related issues, and
• Armaments manufacture, procurement and inventory.

Chair of the subcommittee, Julian Hill MP said, “Parliamentary committees are an important mechanism parliament uses to keep a check on government activities and government departments and to hear from experts and public interest groups.

“This year’s inquiry is focussing on immediate priorities such as assistance to Ukraine, the Defence Health System, capability assurance, and armaments manufacture and procurement in a rapidly changing strategic environment. In addition, the inquiry will examine the potential benefits, risks and concerns of transformative technologies such as artificial intelligence and autonomous weapons and their role in future conflict.”

Further information is available on the inquiry webpage with the hearing broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live.

Public hearing details

Friday, 1 March 2024, 8:30am – 3pm (AEDT)
Committee Room 1R1, Parliament House, Canberra

ends

THE Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Sport will hold three public hearings this week across Alice Springs and Darwin as part of its inquiry into diabetes.

Chair of the Committee, Mike Freelander MP said, "As part of this broad inquiry, we are looking at all forms of diabetes including type 1, type 2, gestational diabetes, and other rarer forms such as cystic fibrosis-related diabetes."

This week the committee will hear from a range of stakeholders including:

• Aboriginal health services and peak bodies.
• Doctors and other health professionals from Alice Springs Hospital and Royal Darwin Hospital.
• The Menzies School of Health Research.

"The committee looks forward to speaking with these stakeholders to better understand diabetes prevention, diagnosis and management in regional and remote locations," Dr Freelander said.

Deputy Chair of the Committee, Melissa McIntosh MP, said, "The committee will also hear from individuals with lived experience of diabetes. We anticipate that this will offer a better understanding of the daily realities of living with diabetes in the Northern Territory, including interactions with the healthcare system."

The committee intends to hold further public hearings throughout March 2024. Details and dates for further public hearings will be available on the Committee’s website as they are announced.

Public hearing

Date: Wednesday, 6 March 2024
Time: 8.45am – 4.45pm ACST (Alice Springs time)
Location: Ballroom C, DoubleTree by Hilton, 82 Barrett Drive, Alice Springs.

Date: Thursday, 7 March 2024
Time: 8.45am – 5.30pm ACST (Darwin time)
Location: Dining Room, Parliament House, 15 Mitchell Street, Darwin City.

Date: Friday, 8 March 2024
Time: 8.30am – 10.30am ACST (Darwin time)
Location: Dining Room, Parliament House, 15 Mitchell Street, Darwin City.

Programs for the public hearings are available on the inquiry website. A live audio stream of the hearings will also be available on the APH website.

ends

THE Australian Parliament’s Agriculture Committee has today commenced an inquiry into the role of Australian agriculture in Southeast Asian markets and is calling for submissions from interested stakeholders.

Committee Chair, Meryl Swanson MP, said the Australian Government had prioritised a deepening engagement with Southeast Asia, and noted from the recently released Invested: Australia’s Southeast Economic Strategy to 2040 that Southeast Asia was at the centre of global growth and remained a development and economic success story.

"Agriculture plays a critical role in sustaining the region’s economic growth," Ms Swanson said. "With its continuing population growth, rapid urbanisation, rising incomes and increasing food security requirements, Southeast Asia is one of the fastest growing markets for Australian agricultural exports."

The committee will examine the role of Australian agriculture in Southeast Asian markets in the context of the recommendations in the economic strategy. It will focus on how Australian agriculture can support Southeast Asia’s food security, improving market access and trade systems, and building capability in the region to improve agricultural sustainability, technology and innovation.

The committee is also interested in identifying new mechanisms and emerging opportunities and challenges for Australian agriculture to address key priorities in the Southeast Asia region.

"The strategy identified agriculture and food as one of the ten key sectors offering the most potential for greater commercial activity between Australia and Southeast Asia," Ms Swanson said.

Submissions to the inquiry will be open until May 31, 2024. Further information, including the Terms of Reference can be found on the Committee’s website.

ends