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JCPAA reports on Sport Integrity Australia’s management of the National Anti-Doping Scheme

THE Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit has released its report on its inquiry into Sport Integrity Australia’s (SIA) management of Australia’s National Anti-Doping Scheme. The inquiry reviewed and further examined issues raised in Auditor-General Report No. 27 of 2024-25.

Chair of the Committee, Josh Burns MP, said, "SIA plays a critical role in safeguarding the integrity of Australian sport. As a regulator of the National Anti-Doping Scheme, SIA must operate with effective governance and management arrangements, a risk-based regulatory approach, and effective safeguards against regulatory capture.

"Evidence presented to the inquiry aligned with the audit findings, and the Committee identified several concerns with SIA’s regulatory practices," Mr Burns said. "In particular, SIA’s approach for sports that fund their own anti-doping testing was not consistently risk-based. The committee was also not satisfied that SIA has adequate controls to mitigate regulatory capture risks or ensure consistency in its regulatory activities.

"When a regulator’s performance of its legislated responsibilities is found to only be partly effective, it undermines confidence in its work — both for the Parliament and among the public."

The committee made three recommendations to address some of its concerns:

  • that SIA develop effectiveness and efficiency performance measures for anti-doping testing and investigations as required by the Commonwealth Performance Framework;
  • that SIA establish a formal policy on the acceptance of gifts and benefits, with the policy to be actively communicated to all regulated individuals and entities and be published on SIA’s website;
  • that SIA establish a template for athlete lists provided by regulated entities that includes documented risk factors, and information provided in this format should be made a requirement.

The report is available for download on the inquiry website.

 

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Public hearing concerning the National Redress Scheme

THE Joint Standing Committee on Implementation of the National Redress Scheme will hold a public hearing in Canberra on Friday, March 13, for its inquiry into the continuing operation of the Scheme.

Committee Chair, Jodie Belyea MP, said the committee is grateful for the contributions made in support of the inquiry to date.

"The National Redress Scheme plays a central role in Australia’s response to institutional child sexual abuse," Ms Belyea said. "It is an important program for a significant number of people.

"The committee has received a substantial number of submissions in support of our current inquiry, and public hearings over the coming months will allow us to explore some of the issues raised in these contributions."

Ms Belyea said the hearing would enable the committee to gather evidence from a range of key stakeholders.

‘The committee will hear from the Department of Social Services, as well as Redress Support Services and legal stakeholders. This evidence will help the Committee consider key issues as the Scheme enters its final operational stage."

The committee will schedule further public hearings soon and will hear evidence from a wide range of stakeholders and individuals as it examines issues related to the effective, safe and equitable management of the scheme.

More information about the inquiry, including the terms of reference and submissions, can be found on the inquiry webpage.

Public hearing details

Date: Friday, 13 March 2026
Time: 9:15am – 1:45pm (AEDT)
Location: Committee Room 1R4, Parliament House, Canberra and via videoconference

A program for the public hearing is available on the inquiry webpage.

Public hearings are broadcast live on the Australian Parliament House Streaming Portal.

 

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PJCIS backs terrorism listing of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps

THE Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) has tabled a report reviewing the listing of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a state sponsor of terrorism under the Criminal Code.

The IRGC is a hybrid military-security organisation that operates independently from Iran’s conventional armed forces and reports directly to the Supreme Leader. It has a long record of conducting internal security operations and hostile activities overseas.

The Australian Government listed the IRGC as a state sponsor of terrorism in November 2025 following assessments by Australia’s security agencies that the organisation orchestrated at least two terrorist attacks on Australian soil in 2024, including attacks targeting the Jewish community in Sydney and Melbourne.

The committee received more than 180 submissions to its review and held a public hearing with a wide range of organisations representing the Australian-Iranian community. Participants strongly supported maintaining the IRGC’s listing.

Chair of the PJCIS, Senator Raff Ciccone, said, “The evidence before the Committee is clear, the IRGC has supported terrorist activity abroad and in 2024 that threat reached Australia.

“Security agencies assessed that the organisation was responsible for attacks targeting the Jewish community here at home. No Australian should accept foreign state-directed terrorism on our streets.

“I want to acknowledge the extraordinary courage of individuals who came forward to share their experiences and speak out against the IRGC’s activities.”

The committee has also tabled its advisory report on the Royal Commissions Legislation Amendment (Protections for Providing Information) Bill 2026.

Both reports are available on the committee’s website: aph.gov.au/pjcis

 

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Exploring economic engagement with African nations

THE Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade through its Trade Subcommittee is continuing its public hearing program for its inquiry into strengthening Australia’s trade and investment relations with Africa.

Witnesses for the subcommittee’s public hearing will include the Australian Border Force under the Department of Home Affairs portfolio, the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, an African nation Head of Mission representative, peak bodies and African community groups, and experts.

Chair of the Trade Subcommittee, Fiona Phillips MP, said, "The subcommittee will be hearing from witnesses with a range of insights across Australia and Africa’s trade and investment footprint. We look forward to exploring both opportunities and challenges in emerging industries such as agribusiness and climate resilience, and the important role of our African communities, NGOs, and education sector in fostering collaborative and enduring partnerships.

"The hearing will also examine the role of Australia’s tariff preference system in facilitating trade, opportunities to expand economic engagement under the Africa Continental Free Trade Area, and the importance of policy frameworks to underpin Australia’s economic engagement," she said

‘There is increasing global interest in African nations as economic partners, and it is vitally important for Australia to understand the varying aspects of the trade and investment landscape between our two continents at the regional level, the regulatory environments, emerging markets, existing levers, and the integral role of the African diaspora communities and education sector in shaping and facilitating trade. We look forward to expanding on the suggested recommendations presented in the submissions."

Evidence provided by the witnesses will be integral to informing the subcommittee’s understanding of the breadth of issues under the inquiry.

The subcommittee will be scheduling further public hearings over the coming months.

Public Hearing Details

Date: Friday, 13 March 2026 
Time: 9am – 1:20pm (AEDT)
Location: Committee Room 2R1, Parliament House, Canberra ACT and via videoconference

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

 

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DFAT to give evidence at public hearing for conflict prevention inquiry

TODAY (Thursday March 12 2026) the Foreign Affairs and Aid Subcommittee of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade will hear from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) for its inquiry into the role of Australia's international development program in preventing conflict.

Chair of the Foreign Affairs and Aid Subcommittee, the Tim Watts MP, said, "Australia’s international development program provides vital assistance to help build a peaceful and stable future for the Indo-Pacific region.

"The subcommittee looks forward to hearing from representatives of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in relation to their role as the primary government agency administering Australia’s overseas development program.

‘Today's hearing will allow the subcommittee to hear directly from DFAT officials on a range of issues relevant to the inquiry terms of reference, including conflict prevention capability and expertise within DFAT and across government, and Australia’s approach to overseas development in a shifting global aid landscape."

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

Public Hearing Details

Date: Thursday 12 March 2026
Time: 8–9am (AEDT)
Location: Committee Room 1R4, Parliament House, Canberra

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

 

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