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. Witnesses for the Subcommittee’s public hearing will include the Australian Border Force under the Department of Home Affairs portfolio, the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, an African nation Head of Mission representative, peak bodies and African community groups, and experts.
Chair of the Trade Subcommittee, Mrs Fiona Phillips MP, said ‘the Subcommittee will be hearing from witnesses with a range of insights across Australia and Africa’s trade and investment footprint. We look forward to exploring both opportunities and challenges in emerging industries such as agribusiness and climate resilience, and the important role of our African communities, NGOs, and education sector in fostering collaborative and enduring partnerships. The hearing will also examine the role of Australia’s tariff preference system in facilitating trade, opportunities to expand economic engagement under the Africa Continental Free Trade Area, and the importance of policy frameworks to underpin Australia’s economic engagement.’
‘There is increasing global interest in African nations as economic partners, and it is vitally important for Australia to understand the varying aspects of the trade and investment landscape between our two continents at the regional level, the regulatory environments, emerging markets, existing levers, and the integral role of the African diaspora communities and education sector in shaping and facilitating trade. We look forward to expanding on the suggested recommendations presented in the submissions.’
Evidence provided by the witnesses will be integral to informing the Subcommittee’s understanding of the breadth of issues under the inquiry.
The Subcommittee will be scheduling further public hearings over the coming months.
Public Hearing Details
Date: Friday, 13 March 2026
Time: 9:00 am – 1:20 pm (AEDT)
Location: Committee Room 2R1, Parliament House, Canberra ACT and via videoconference
The hearing will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live.
Media inquiries
Katrina Condie, office of Mrs Fiona Phillips MP (Member for Gilmore; Chair, Trade Subcommittee)
Ph: 0437 662 967
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.
