THE Department of the House of Representatives has announced the winners of the inaugural Yarning Competition.

The Yarning Competition aims to provide a platform for young First Nations Australians to connect with the work of the Australian Parliament by inviting them to share their unique stories and experiences through creative mediums such as written words, videos, photos, audio recordings and art.

Students were able to choose from one of four themes on which to base their work: country and connection; identity and culture; family and community; reconciliation.

The competition was developed by Department of the House of Representatives with support from the Parliamentary Services Indigenous Employee Network and the APS Indigenous Senior Executive Service Network.

The competition attracted entries from across Australia. The four winners of the 2025 competition are:

Lincoln Frid

Age group: Year 7/8
Title: Family Foundations
Theme: Family and Community
Medium: Art
"Family Foundations portrays a story that represents my grandmother (Big Nan). My grandmother Theresa was a descendant of the Mandandanji People they’re the traditional owners of Roma and surrounding. I am her grandson my name is Lincoln, I’m 13 years old, the artwork I painted was inspired by a snapshot of me and my grandmother out on country learning about our culture heritage."

Brooke Dobson Age group: Year 7/8

Title: The Magpie and The Crow
Theme: Country and Connection
Medium: Art
"The story of the Magpie and the Crow is a story of two greedy brothers. The way I was told the story was that the two brothers amongst a tribe refused to help out for an upcoming ceremony. Whilst everyone was hunting or preparing things for this ceremony, the two brothers ran off to eat berries."

Jedah-Rose Morea Age group: Year 9/10

Title: My Saltwater Country
Theme: Identity and Culture
Medium: Text
"This is my version on what being Indigenous means to me. ‘My Saltwater Country’ talks about how being a First Nations persons runs deep, that it runs deeper than my blood, but being Indigenous means that I have a connection and caring for my Country."

Cleo Doyle

Age group: Year 11/12
Title: Ochre – Contemporary Aboriginal Dance
Theme: Country and Connection
Medium: Video
"My name is Cleo Doyle, and I am a proud Kamilaroi performer and choreographer with a deep passion for Aboriginal contemporary dance, based on Awabakal Country (Lake Macquarie/ Newcastle). My choreographic work ‘Ochre’ is a deeply personal and powerful reflection of my journey, reconnecting to culture and identity as a proud Aboriginal woman."

Later this month, the winners will attend a presentation ceremony at Parliament House hosted by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Milton Dick MP. 

Their works will be on public display at Parliament House from Thursday October 30 to Sunday November 9, 2025. Full details of the competition are available at yarning.houseofrepresentatives.gov.au.

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THE Joint Standing Committee on Treaties will hold a public hearing on October 23 for its inquiry into the Amendments to the International Health Regulations (2005).

This inquiry lapsed on March 28, 2025, with the prorogation of Parliament, and was re-referred to the committee for continued consideration in the 48^th Parliament.

The inquiry will consider the amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR) which were unanimously adopted at the 77^th World Health Assembly in Geneva on June 1, 2024.

At the public hearing, the committee will examine how the Amended IHR define countries’ obligations and rights in responding to public health emergencies of international concern, and their focus on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. This includes provisions which increase Member States’ access to essential health products and financing required in public health emergencies.

Committee Chair, Lisa Chesters MP said, "The inquiry will consider how the Amendments to the International Health Regulations aim to facilitate greater cooperation between Australia, and our international partners, in future high-risk health events, by encouraging collective action, and clarifying the rights and responsibilities of Member States during public health emergencies."

The committee will hear evidence from:

• The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing;
• The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade;
• Australian Medical Professionals Society;
• Australians for Science and Freedom;
• Australian Multicultural Action Network;
• Australian Institute for Infectious Diseases.

Further information is available on the committee’s website.

Public hearing details

Date: Thursday 23 October 2025
Time: 14:45 to 17:00.
Location: Committee Room 2R1, Parliament House Canberra and online

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

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THE Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade (JSCFADT) has adopted a new inquiry into the potential to expand Australia’s trade and investment relations with Africa.

The Chair of the JSCFADT, Shayne Neumann MP, said, "Australia’s trading relationship with the countries of Africa has strongly focused on the extractives and tourism sectors. Africa is a diverse continent of 54 countries, spanning vastly different resources and development. It is important to recognise that Africa is not a single market, but comprises discrete economies with separate and diverse opportunities."

The Chair of the Trade Subcommittee, Fiona Phillips MP, said, "Australia has long-standing relations with countries of Africa, with a two-way goods and services trade valued at $12.7 billion in 2024. Over recent years, several African nations have experienced strong economic and population growth and this trend is projected to continue.

"The Committee is keen to examine the opportunities to expand and diversify trade and investment with African nations, including enhancing engagement through the African Continental Free Trade Area. There is great potential for Australia to strengthen its economic and diplomatic relations in the region."

Key themes of the inquiry’s focus include:

• the nature of Australia’s existing trade and investment relations with the region;
• identifying barriers and impediments to trade and investment;
• identifying opportunities for Australian businesses to diversify exports to specific African markets;
• assessing the potential for the African Continental Free Trade Area to stimulate greater economic engagement between Australia and Africa;
• the role of the government in identifying new opportunities and assisting Australian companies to access existing and potential economic opportunities in Africa.

The subcommittee is now inviting written submissions by Friday, December 19, 2025.

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THE Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) will hold a public hearing with the Attorney-General’s Department and the Department of Home Affairs on Thursday for its review of the Criminal Code Amendment (State Sponsors of Terrorism) Bill 2025 (the Bill).

The Bill would amend Schedule 1 to the Criminal Code Act 1995 (the Criminal Code) to allow the Commonwealth to list foreign state entities that have engaged in a state terrorist act, or otherwise supported or advocated terrorist acts targeted at Australia.

The Bill would enable the Governor-General to make regulations listing foreign state entities as state sponsors of terrorism on the advice of the Minister for Home Affairs, with agreement from the Foreign Affairs Minister.

The Bill would create new offences which would criminalise conduct engaged in by these entities, as well as conduct engaged in by persons who would seek to assist or support these activities.

PJCIS Chair, Senator Raff Ciccone, said, “It is important that there is a mechanism to list state sponsors of terrorism targeting Australia and an ability to hold such entities and their members to account via the criminal law.

“The Committee is seeking to discuss with Government witnesses how the Bill will operate in practice, including oversight and accountability via the PJCIS.”

Public Hearing Details

Thursday, 16 October 2025
4pm – 6pm (AEDT)
Committee Room 2R1, Parliament House, Canberra

A program for the hearing can be found here and the hearing will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live.

Further information on the inquiry can be obtained from the Committee’s website.

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