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Lived experience witnesses, international experts to appear at domestic, family and sexual violence and suicide inquiry hearing

REPRESENTATIVES of those with lived experience of domestic, family and sexual violence (DFSV) will appear at the upcoming public hearing on Friday, 26 June 2026 for the House Social Policy and Legal Affairs Committee’s inquiry into the relationship between DFSV and suicide.

"When considering the frameworks surrounding the intersection between DSFV and suicide, it is critically important to hear the voices of those who have lived through these horrific circumstances," Committee Chair, Louise Miller-Frost MP said.

‘The committee values the opportunity to hear from these witnesses to fully appreciate the impact of systemic issues that are felt by those most in need of support, and will bring focus to the evidence provided so far by experts, governments, and support organisations," Ms Miller-Frost said.

The committee is also scheduled to hear from international experts in DFSV and suicide at the hearing, providing an international comparison with reporting systems in the United Kingdom. Parts of this hearing may be conducted in private and not broadcast.

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

For more information about this committee, visit its website. On the site, people can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. The public can also track the committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right-hand corner of the page.

Public hearing details

Date: Friday, 26 June 2026
Time: 8.30am to 4pm
Location: Committee Room 1R5, Parliament House, Canberra ACT

The hearing program is available on the inquiry website.

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

Observers are reminded that these hearings will cover material that may be distressing. Please note the committee and secretariat are unable to provide counselling, advice, or support for individuals. If you are in immediate danger, please 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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Upcoming public hearing on arts and cultural philanthropy

THINK TANKS, peak bodies, and community support services will appear as witnesses at public hearings this Friday to discuss boosting arts and cultural philanthropy.

Chair of the House Standing Committee on Communications, the Arts and Sport, Susan Templeman MP, said, “The committee has heard directly from a range of arts organisations about the challenges they face in accessing philanthropy.

“The submissions we’ve received have told us that there are a range of levers available to increase the flow of philanthropic and private support for our arts and culture sector," Ms Templeman said.

“These upcoming hearings will assist the committee in identifying the most effective means of unlocking that support.”

More information about the committee, including membership, may be found on the Committee’s website.

Public hearing details

Date: Friday, 26 June 2026
Time: 12.30pm – 2pm (Canberra time)
Location: Committee Room 2R2, Parliament House, Canberra

Watch on YouTube @AUSParliamentLive or ParlView.

 

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Scathing UN report confirms Australia cannot outsource responsibility for offshore detention

A NEW UNITED NATIONS REPORT has confirmed that under international law, Australia cannot avoid legal responsibility for the people it sends offshore by outsourcing its obligations to Nauru, private contractors or international organisations.

The report of the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants states that governments “cannot avoid responsibility by contracting out their obligations to other States, international organisations or private entities".

The finding goes to the heart of Australia’s offshore detention regime, which has relied for more than a decade on successive governments attempting to shift responsibility for people seeking asylum to Nauru.

People seeking asylum continue to be sent to Nauru under Australia’s offshore processing policy, where they are held without any clear pathway to safety, freedom or resettlement. The ASRC continues to support men currently trapped on Nauru who are experiencing serious harm, deprivation and deteriorating physical and mental health.

The UN report also raised concerns about the persistent lack of transparency surrounding offshore processing and other externalisation arrangements, warning that opaque agreements, limited oversight and the involvement of multiple actors can obscure responsibility and weaken accountability.

The Special Rapporteur noted that externalisation arrangements often rely on informal or non-public agreements that avoid parliamentary scrutiny and public debate, and warns that this lack of transparency increases the risk of human rights abuses and undermines democratic accountability.

The ASRC has long raised concerns about the secrecy surrounding Australia's offshore processing regime, including the lack of public information about contractual arrangements, decision-making processes and conditions experienced by people sent offshore.

The Special Rapporteur’s report also:

  • Noted with concern the Australian Government’s expanded arrangements with Nauru for third country reception of people Australia deports;
  • Identified Australia’s arrangements with Nauru as part of a concerning global trend towards migration externalisation;
  • Raised concerns about the risk of family separation under Australia’s arrangements with Nauru; and
  • Confirmed that these types of arrangements heighten the risk of human rights abuses, especially for the most vulnerable.

Following the release of the UN report, the Senate this week confirmed an extension to the reporting date for its inquiry into Australia’s offshore processing and resettlement arrangements. The inquiry report was originally due to be tabled on June 17, 2026 and will now be delivered on July 2, 2026.

People currently subjected to offshore processing, former detainees, medical experts, advocates and whistleblowers have provided submissions and evidence to the inquiry detailing the harms caused by Australia’s offshore detention regime and the ongoing conditions faced by people trapped on Nauru.

The ASRC urges the committee to make strong recommendations when the upcoming inquiry report is finally released, and to require meaningful transparency about the operation, cost and human impact of offshore detention. The report "must reflect the evidence provided in over 120 submissions, along with the testimony of whistleblowers and those who have experienced offshore detention, given the risks they have taken to get this information on the public record".

Jana Favero, Deputy CEO of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre said,  “This report confirms what we have long said, that Australia remains responsible for the harm caused by offshore detention and is yet again more condemnation of a cruel system. The Albanese Government cannot wash its hands of the people it has sent to Nauru by paying another government or private contractors to carry out its policies. 

"While many of the atrocities occurred under the previous government, over the past four years the Albanese Government has continued to maintain the harmful practise of banishing people offshore with no oversight or transparency. They are responsible for every person they have sent and kept offshore," Ms Favero said.

"The UN has made it clear that States cannot contract out their human rights obligations. That is exactly what Australia has been doing through offshore processing for more than a decade and they know it. It is almost impossible to get any information as to what is happening offshore, what is the government trying to hide?

"Over the past decade, and continuing today, it is only through whistleblowers, advocates, lawyers and refugees that the harm and abuses offshore have been exposed. This UN report makes clear that transparency and accountability about offshore detention is not optional.”

www.asrc.org.au

 

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Committee examines National Redress Scheme as eight-year review approaches

THE Joint Standing Committee on Implementation of the National Redress Scheme will hear from representatives of the Department of Social Services at a public hearing in Canberra on Thursday, June 25, as part of its inquiry into the continuing operation of the scheme.

Committee Chair, Jodie Belyea MP, acknowledged the department’s ongoing engagement with the inquiry, and said the committee was looking forward to discussing a range of key issues as the National Redress Scheme enters its final stage of operation.

"For many survivors, the National Redress Scheme is an important avenue for acknowledgment, recognition and justice," Ms Belyea said. "As the scheme enters its final years of operation, it is vital that eligible survivors are aware of their options and are supported to engage with the redress process.

Ms Belyea said, "The committee is keen to examine how the department is managing current application volumes and communicating the scheme’s forthcoming closure, while ensuring the scheme remains focused on the needs of survivors."

Ms Belyea noted that the hearing comes at a significant time for the scheme, with the statutory eight-year review due to commence.

"As the scheme moves towards its closure, it is important to consider how outstanding challenges can be addressed and what lessons have been learned. The forthcoming eight-year review provides a valuable opportunity to examine the scheme’s effectiveness and ensure it delivers the best possible outcomes for survivors."

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

Public hearing details

Date: Thursday, 25 June 2026
Time: 9:30am – 11am (AEST)
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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Exploring the Australian Government’s role in promoting trade 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.

Chair of the Trade Subcommittee, Fiona Phillips MP, said, "The subcommittee will hold follow-up hearings with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and Austrade to discuss key findings from the inquiry evidence."

Mrs Phillips said, "The subcommittee has heard evidence from a range of stakeholders throughout the inquiry about key challenges and opportunities to expanding trade relations with Africa, including the role of the Australian Government’s key agencies.

"The hearing will provide the subcommittee the opportunity to further explore the roles of DFAT and Austrade and consider avenues to inform its inquiry report and recommendations. Evidence provided by the witnesses will assist the subcommittee’s understanding of the breadth of issues under the inquiry."

Further information, including the inquiry terms of reference, is available on the inquiry website.

Public Hearing Details

Date: Wednesday, 24 June 2026 
Time: 10:10am – 11am (AEST)
Location: Committee Room 2S1, Parliament House, Canberra ACT and via videoconference

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

 

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Local government funding inquiry to hear from councils in the NT and WA’s Kimberley region

THE House of Representatives Standing Committee on Regional Development, Infrastructure and Transport will hold a roundtable hearing with councils from the Northern Territory and the Kimberley region of Western Australia this week as part of its inquiry into local government funding.

The committee wants to better understand the funding challenges faced by local government across the Northern Territory and remote Western Australia, particularly those councils that are providing services and infrastructure to regional and remote Australians.

The committee will hear from the representatives of the Alice Springs Town Council, Barkly Regional Council and the Roper Gulf Regional Council from the Northern Territory and also from the West Australian Shire of Wyndham on behalf of the Kimberley Regional Group.

These councils submitted to the inquiry that the sustainability of local governments in the Kimberley and also in regional Northern Territory was challenging. This is due to extreme remoteness, high service delivery costs, constrained revenue-raising capacity and expanding responsibilities that are not matched by funding.

The councils often operate across vast distances servicing highly disadvantaged communities, often providing essential services such as health access, childcare and community safety where other levels of government may be absent.

Committee Chair, Fiona Phillips MP, said, “The committee is looking forward to learning more about the fiscal sustainability of local government across the Northern Territory and also the Kimberley region, the different challenges these councils are facing, and the opportunities for enhancing services and infrastructure.”

A program for the public hearing and further information on the inquiry, including the terms of reference and how to contribute, is available on the committee’s website.

Public hearing details

Date: Thursday, 25 June 2026
Time: 11am – 12.30pm
Location: Committee Room 1R3, Parliament House, Canberra

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

Details for upcoming public hearings and more information about the inquiry, including the terms of reference, submissions and transcripts of previous hearings, is available on the inquiry webpage.

 

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Treaties Committee to examine Australia-Spain Classified Defence Information Treaty

THE Joint Standing Committee on Treaties (JSCOT) will hold a public hearing for its inquiry into the Agreement between Australia and the Kingdom of Spain for the Mutual Protection of Classified Information of Defence Interest at 11.20am on 22 June 2026.

The committee will examine whether the agreement ensures classified information shared between Australia and Spain is used appropriately, and why the 2012 treaty of the same name has become outdated.

The committee will also examine if this agreement establishes reciprocal obligations for protecting classified defence information, including rules governing the access, transfer, use and disclosure of this information and the mechanisms for security incident reporting, inspections and visits, while not obliging either party to share classified information.

Committee Chair, Lisa Chesters MP, said, "Australia’s growing defence relationship with Spain is increasingly important. Our collaboration across various projects contributes to Australia’s defence capabilities, and it is essential that the exchange of classified information underpinning that cooperation is properly safeguarded.

"The committee wants to understand not just how the agreement works on paper, but how risks will be managed in real‑world settings—particularly where contractors, subcontractors and international partners are involved."

The committee will hear evidence from the Department of Defence and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade at the public hearing.

Public hearing details

Date: Monday, 22 June 2026
Time: 11:20am - 12.30pm AEST (approximately)
Location: Committee Room 2R1, Parliament House Canberra

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

 

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Trade and Investment Committee explores sustainable economic growth in South Australia

THE Joint Standing Committee on Trade and Investment Growth (JSCTIG) will hold public hearings on Tuesday, June 16, and Wednesday, June 17 in Mount Gambier and Adelaide, South Australia, as part of its inquiry into creating sustainable economic growth in rural and regional Australia.

The committee will hear from stakeholders across the agriculture, tourism, and food and drink sectors.

Committee Chair, Senator Marielle Smith, said, ‘The committee will be bringing this inquiry to small and medium businesses in our regions to ensure that those impacted are part of this important conversation. The committee looks forward to discussing the challenges and opportunities facing these enterprises, and how they and their communities can be better supported to build long-term economic growth.

"We are also interested in how we can attract more tourism to rural and regional Australia, make export markets more accessible, and identify potential strategies to promote Australia’s clean and green brand globally.," Senator Smith said.

Programs for the public hearings are available on the inquiry website. An audio broadcast of the hearings will be available on the APH website.

Further information about the committee’s inquiry, including the terms of reference and how to make a submission, is available on the Committee’s website. Submissions are open until June 30, 2026.

Public hearings continue into aid and conflict prevention

THE Foreign Affairs and Aid Subcommittee of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade will hold public hearings for its Inquiry into the role of Australia’s international development program in preventing conflicton Wednesday, June 17 and Thursday, June 18.

Chair of the Subcommittee, Tim Watts MP, said, "The subcommittee continues to take evidence on how Australia’s development program supports peace and stability in our region. We are looking forward to hearing more from stakeholders about where the challenges and solutions lie, and how Australia can strengthen its approach to conflict prevention in the Indo-Pacific region.

"The disproportionate impacts of conflict on women will be examined. This includes gender-based violence and inequality, and the critical roles that women play, both in supporting their communities during crises and in conflict prevention," Mr Watts said.

The subcommittee will hear evidence over two days from international and Australian non‑government organisations, researchers, academics and development practitioners with experience in conflict‑affected settings.

The subcommittee expects to hold further hearings in late June and early July.

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

Public Hearing Details

Wednesday 17 June 2026
Time: 1pm–4.30pm (AEST)
Venue: Virtual/Committee Room 1R4, Parliament House, Canberra

Program: https://www.aph.gov.au/DocumentStore.ashx?hearingid=32367&submissions=false

Friday 18 June 2026
Time: 9.30am–11.30am (AEST)
Venue: Virtual/Committee Room 1R4, Parliament House, Canberra

Program: https://www.aph.gov.au/DocumentStore.ashx?hearingid=32440&submissions=false

Both hearings will be broadcast live (audio only) at aph.gov.au/live.

 

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Tyre inquiry takes the wheel in Brisbane

THE House of Representatives Standing Committee on Industry, Innovation and Science will hold site visits and a public hearing in Brisbane this week as part of its inquiry into the current state of the Australian tyre industry, and any challenges and opportunities for the industry within the context of a circular economy.

Committee Chair, Rob Mitchell MP, said, "The committee is looking forward to getting back on the road to speak with businesses across the Australian tyre industry working towards more sustainable outcomes.

"On Thursday, June 11, the committee will visit tyre recycling and retreading facilities across the greater Brisbane region.

"The following day, on Friday, June 12, we will hear from a broad range of tyre industry stakeholders, including collectors, manufacturers, importers and distributors. Among the witnesses giving evidence at this public hearing is Bridgestone Australia, a major tyre importer and manufacturer of retreaded truck tyres in Australia."

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

Public hearing details

Date: Friday, 12 June 2026
Time: 9:15 am – 2:15 pm (AEST)
Location: Committee Room 2, Parliament House, Cnr George and Alice Streets, Brisbane, Queensland

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

More information about the inquiry, including the terms of reference, submissions and transcripts of previous hearings, is available on the inquiry webpage.

 

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Public hearings in Townsville, Roma and Brisbane for the local government funding inquiry

THE House of Representatives Standing Committee on Regional Development, Infrastructure and Transport will hold hearings with over 30 witnesses across the state of Queensland this week as part of its inquiry into local government funding.

The committee wants to better understand the funding challenges faced by local government across Queensland, particularly those councils that are providing services and infrastructure to regional and rural Australians.

Committee Chair, Fiona Phillips MP, said, “The committee is looking forward to learning more about the fiscal sustainability of local government across the state of Queensland, the challenges that councils are facing, and the opportunities for enhancing services and infrastructure.”

Hearings will begin in Townsville on Wednesday June 10 where the committee will hear from the North Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils and the North West Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils. A range of individual regional councils will also appear, including the Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council and the Torres Strait Island Regional Council, alongside Regional Development Australia (RDA) Tropical North.

The committee will then travel to Roma for hearings on Thursday June 11 to hear from the South West Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils and the Western Queensland Alliance of Councils. The Queensland Farmers’ Federation and the Royal Flying Doctors Service (Queensland Section) will also appear to provide an alternative perspective on local government in the area.

The committee then travels to Brisbane on Friday June 12 to hear from a range of council, associations and organisations. This includes the Local Government Association of Queensland, the Queensland Local Government Grants Commission and the Services Union.

Programs for each public hearing are available on the inquiry webpage.

Further information on the inquiry, including the terms of reference and how to contribute, is available on the committee’s website.

Public hearing details

Date: Wednesday, 10 June 2026
Time: 9am – 3.30pm
Location: Grand Chancellor Hotel, Castle Hill Room, 334 Flinders Street, Townsville

Date: Thursday, 11 June 2026
Time: 9am – 2.50pm
Location: U3A – Senior Citizens Building, 53 Bungil St, Roma, Queensland

Date: Friday, 12 June 2026
Time: 9am – 3.15pm
Location: Queensland Parliament, Committee Room 1, Cnr George and Alice Streets, Brisbane

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

Details for upcoming public hearings and more information about the inquiry, including the terms of reference, submissions and transcripts of previous hearings, is available on the inquiry webpage.

 

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