On Thursday 7 May and Friday 8 May 2026, the Foreign Affairs and Aid Subcommittee of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade will hold public hearings as part of its inquiry into the role of Australia’s international development program in preventing conflict.
The Chair of the Subcommittee, the Hon Tim Watts MP, said the hearings are an opportunity to hear from stakeholders about how Australia’s development program contributes to conflict prevention, particularly in fragile and conflict‑affected contexts across the Indo‑Pacific.
‘Australia’s development program plays a critical role in preventing conflict and supporting peace and stability in our region. These hearings will provide valuable insights into what works on the ground, where the challenges lie, and how Australia can strengthen its approach to conflict prevention,’ said Mr Watts.
Over the two days, the Subcommittee will hear evidence from Australian Government agencies, international and Australian non‑government organisations, multilateral institutions, academics and research organisations, and development practitioners with experience in conflict‑affected settings.
The Subcommittee expects to hold further public hearings during May and June.
Further information, including the full terms of reference, is available on the inquiry webpage.
Public Hearing Details
Thursday 7 May 2026
Time: 9.00 am–1.15 pm (AEST)
Venue: Virtual and Committee Room 1R4, Parliament House, Canberra
Friday 8 May 2026
Time: 9.00 am–12.45 pm (AEST)
Venue: Virtual and Committee Room 1R4, Parliament House, Canberra
The hearings will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live.
Media enquiries
Laura Green, Office of the Hon Tim Watts MP
Phone: (03) 9687 7661
For background information
Committee Secretariat
Phone: (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.
