THE Joint Standing Committee on Treaties (JSCOT) has commenced an inquiry into the Vanuatu-Australia Nakamal Agreement.

The Nakamal Agreement proposes to develop Australia and Vanuatu’s security relationship by creating new obligations and commitments for both parties.

These proposed obligations include Vanuatu committing to prevent its territory being used for foreign military bases and Australia increasing policing, development and disaster response assistance. The committee will investigate whether the Nakamal Agreement furthers Australia’s security interests in the Pacific.

Further information about the inquiry, including the full treaty text and National Interest Analysis, is available on the inquiry website.

The committee has invited interested individuals and organisations to make submissions addressing the Nakamal Agreement and its implications. Submissions to this inquiry are open until Wednesday, July 29, and can be lodged online via the Committee website. The Committee website also has detailed guidance on preparing and submitting submissions.

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THE Joint Standing Committee on Treaties (JSCOT) has commenced inquiries into five treaty actions covering customs cooperation, space cooperation and international air services.

The committee will examine the Agreement between Australia and Canada on Cooperation and Mutual Administrative Assistance in Customs Matters, which seeks to establish arrangements for cooperation and mutual assistance between Australia and Canada’s customs authorities.

The inquiry will consider whether the agreement strengthens the Australian Border Force’s ability to manage offshore threats and risks.

The committee will also inquire into the Framework Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the United States of America on Cooperation in Aeronautics and the Exploration and Use of Airspace and Outer Space for Peaceful Purposes. 

The agreement aims to provide an overarching framework for governing cooperation between Australia and the United States on space activities. The committee will assess whether the agreement furthers Australia’s growing interests in the space sector.

Inquiries have also commenced into three separate Air Services Agreements (ASAs) between Australia and the following nations:

• Government of Kiribati
• Government of the Republic of Nauru
• Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia

The three ASAs establish new and updated frameworks for the operation of air services between Australia and its treaty partners. The committee will examine whether the Agreements benefit Australian travellers and businesses.

Further information about each inquiry, including the full treaty text and accompanying National Interest Analysis, is available on the relevant inquiry webpages.

The committee has also invited interested individuals and organisations to make submissions addressing the treaties and their implications. Submissions to all five inquiries close on Wednesday, July 22, and can be lodged online via the Committee website. Guidance on preparing and lodging submissions is also available on the website.

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THE Parliamentary Joint Committee on Defence has commenced two inquiries into the Department of Defence Annual Report 2024–25 and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs Annual Report 2024–25.

One of the committee’s core functions is to review the administration and expenditure of Australian defence agencies, including their annual reports.

Committee Chair, Senator Deborah O’Neill, said, "Robust parliamentary oversight ensures capability, accountability, and public trust in Australia’s defence agencies. The commencement of these two annual report inquiries signifies the start of the Committee’s important oversight work."

Inquiry into the Department of Defence Annual Report 2024–25

The committee has identified the following areas of focus for its inquiry into the Defence annual report:

• Uplift of Sovereign Defence industry;

• AUKUS Pillar I and Pillar II;

• Uncrewed and Autonomous Systems;

• Supersonic and hypersonic propulsion systems and related testing infrastructure.

The committee requests submissions responding to the inquiry’s areas of focus by Friday, August 14.

Inquiry into the Department of Veterans’ Affairs Annual Report 2024–25

The committee has identified the following areas of focus for the inquiry Veterans’ Affairs annual report inquiry:

• Departmental claims handling processes, outcomes and performance;

• Progress on implementation of recommendations of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide;

• Legislative harmonisation in the Veterans’ Affairs portfolio;

• Establishment and operations of the Defence and Veterans’ Service Commission;

The committee has requested submissions responding to the inquiry’s areas of focus by Friday, August 28.

More information, including the terms of reference and details on how to make a submission, can be found on the Committee’s website.

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THE Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) has commenced a review of the listing of White Australia as a prohibited hate group under the Criminal Code.

The committee said White Australia is an Australian-based nationalist and racist extremist group. It adopted that name in 2025 and has previously been known as the National Socialist Network and European Australia Movement.

White Australia’s ideology is grounded in racism and the notion of white supremacy, the committee said. White Australia is known for promoting racist and hateful propaganda about Jewish people, Asians, Muslims, Indigenous Australians and other migrant ethnicities, for the purpose of demeaning and inciting hatred against these groups.

The prohibited hate group listing framework enables the Federal Government to list organisations that promote violence or hatred. The listing activates a range of criminal offences under Division 114B of Part 5.3B of the Criminal Code, including offences relating to membership, recruitment and the provision of funds or support for the organisation.

White Australia was listed on May 15, 2026.

Under subsection 114A.8 of the Criminal Code, the PJCIS may review a listing at any time and report its comments and recommendations to both Houses of Parliament.

Chair of the PJCIS, Senator Raff Ciccone, said, “This is the second organisation listed as a prohibited hate group under laws passed by the Australian Parliament earlier this year.

“The Parliament has established a framework to ensure organisations that promote hatred, normalise extremist rhetoric and risk social cohesion are subject to strong legal consequences.

“The committee’s review is an important safeguard. It allows the Parliament and the Australian community to scrutinise the listing and ensure the framework is operating as intended.”

Members of the public are invited to make submissions to the review by July 13, 2026.