The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) has commenced an inquiry into Australia’s Foreign Relations (State and Territory Arrangements) Amendment Bill 2026.
The Bill overhauls the Foreign Arrangements Scheme – the regime requiring states, territories, local governments and public universities to notify, or seek approval, from the Minister for Foreign Affairs before entering into arrangements with foreign entities. The Scheme exists to stop subnational deals undermining Australia’s foreign relations or foreign policy.
The amendments proposed by the Bill primarily seek to respond to recommendations made in a 2025 Independent Review of the Foreign Arrangements Scheme by Rosemary Huxtable AO PSM.
The Bill also seeks to amend the review framework for advice provided by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) to the Foreign Minister as part of the Foreign Arrangements Scheme.
Additional information on the Committee’s review is available here.
The Committee invites submissions to this review by Monday, 27 July 2026. Submissions should be prepared solely for this inquiry and should not be published prior to being accepted by the Committee.
Further information about making a submission can be found at this link.
Media enquiries
Office of Senator Raff Ciccone, Chair of the PJCIS
Contact: Giulio Di Giorgio, 0422 622 760
For background information
Committee Secretariat, Parliamentary Joint Committee on intelligence and Security
(02) 6277 2360
[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.
About us:
Committee Secretariat, Parliamentary Joint Committee on intelligence and Security
(02) 6277 2360
[email protected]
Contact details:
Office of Senator Raff Ciccone, Chair of the PJCIS
Contact: Giulio Di Giorgio, 0422 622 760
