On 1 March 2024, 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, Mr Julian Hill MP, explained “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, 8:30pm – 3:00pm (AEDT)
Committee Room 1R1, Parliament House, Canberra
Media inquiries
Laura Hooper, office of Julian Hill, MP (Member for Bruce; Chair, Defence Subcommittee)
Ph: 03 9791 7770 / 0422 85 11 27
For background information
Committee Secretariat
Ph: 02 6277 2313
[email protected]
For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track this Committee’ button in the bottom right-hand corner of the page.