On Thursday 12 March 2026, the Foreign Affairs and Aid Subcommittee of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade will hear from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) for its inquiry into the role of Australia's international development program in preventing conflict.
The Chair of the Foreign Affairs and Aid Subcommittee, the Hon Tim Watts MP, explained, ‘Australia’s international development program provides vital assistance to help build a peaceful and stable future for the Indo-Pacific region.’
‘The Subcommittee looks forward to hearing from representatives of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in relation to their role as the primary government agency administering Australia’s overseas development program.’
‘Today’s hearing will allow the Subcommittee to hear directly from DFAT officials on a range of issues relevant to the inquiry terms of reference, including conflict prevention capability and expertise within DFAT and across government, and Australia’s approach to overseas development in a shifting global aid landscape.’
Further information, including the full terms of reference, is available on the Inquiry webpage.
Public Hearing Details
Date: Thursday 12 March 2026
Time: 8:00–9:00 am (AEDT)
Location: Committee Room 1R4, Parliament House, Canberra
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.
