The Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade, through the Foreign Affairs and Aid Subcommittee, is commencing public hearings for its inquiry into the role of Australia's international development program in preventing conflict today in Melbourne.
The Chair of the Foreign Affairs and Aid Subcommittee, the Hon Tim Watts MP, explained, ‘The Subcommittee received a large volume of submissions to its inquiry, which provided key insights into stakeholder views about the challenges and priorities for Australia’s development program in the context of increasing conflict.’
‘We look forward to meeting with practitioners, academics and advisory groups from the international development sector to expand on the suggested recommendations contributed by stakeholders in their submissions.’
‘Australia’s international development program is a critical component of our statecraft toolkit –working alongside diplomacy, trade and defence - to advance a peaceful, stable, and prosperous future for our region.’
Further information, including the hearing program is available on the Inquiry webpage.
Public Hearing Details
Date: Monday 23 February 2026
Time: 10:00am – 3:15 pm (AEDT)
Location: Cliftons Melbourne, 1/440 Collins St, Melbourne, Victoria
The hearing will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live.
Media inquiries
Laura Green, Office of the Hon Tim Watts MP (Member for Gellibrand, Victoria; Chair, Foreign Affairs and Aid Subcommittee)
Ph: 02 6277 4537
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.
