On 4 November 2025, the Defence Subcommittee of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade will hear from Dr Oleksandra Molloy and Major General (Ret’d) Mick Ryan AM as part of its inquiry into the Department of Defence Annual Report 2023–24.
The Subcommittee will discuss uncrewed and autonomous systems and their integration into the Joint Force.
The Chair of the Defence Subcommittee, Senator Deborah O’Neill, said ‘Expert testimonies are essential to ensuring the subcommittee is best informed on contemporary and emerging issues that relate to the defence of Australia.’
‘The perspectives of expert witnesses enhance the subcommittee’s ability to develop evidence-based recommendations and improve inquiry outcomes’, Senator O’Neill said.
‘The Subcommittee greatly appreciates the support of expert witnesses who have taken the time to appear before the inquiry’.
Further information, including the full Terms of Reference, is available on the inquiry webpage.
Public Hearing Details
Date: Tuesday, 4 November 2025
Time: 5.40pm–7.30pm (AEDT)
Location: Committee Room 2R1, Parliament House, Canberra
The hearing will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live.
Media inquiries
Senator Deborah O’Neill, Chair
Shane McLeod, Chief of Staff
[email protected]
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 Committee’ button in the bottom right-hand corner of the page.
