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Two days of hearings into Australia’s Defence partnership with various Pacific island nations has kicked off in Canberra. The defence sub-committee of the joint standing committee on foreign affairs, defence and trade will hear from academics, government departments and non-government agencies.
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One of 10 joint committees administered by the House of Representatives, the joint standing committee is established by a resolution of appointment, which was passed by the House of Representatives on 4 July 2019 and the Senate on 22 July 2019.
Investigation by the sub-committee into defence relationships will be coupled with an inquiry into strengthening Australia’s relationships with countries in the Pacific region in the days to come.
Sub-committee chair Andrew Wallace called the hearings "a chance for us to hear in more depth from some of the best-informed experts in the field", adding that they represent an important opportunity to build on the evidence already received through written submissions.
Wallace hopes that submissions received will help the sub-committee make a real contribution to understanding the effectiveness of Australia’s defence engagement with the region at a complex time.
"In addition to the Departments of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Defence, we are looking forward to hearing from academic witnesses from institutions including the Australian National University and Western Sydney University," he said.
"Combined with the evidence we have already received from governments including those of Tonga, New Zealand and the Philippines, and the information we have from agencies on the ground, I believe this sub-committee will have all the insight we need to help the government to make the most of Australia’s defence work with our Pacific partners."
Further details about the about the inquiry, including terms of reference, details on how to contribute a submission and, when available, details of public hearings and roundtable discussions, can also be obtained from the committee’s website.
