This appendix contains information on the department’s engagement with parliamentary committtees of inquiry during the reporting period.
Departmental officers appeared as witnesses before the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties (JSCOT) in relation to ten proposed treaty actions. This figure does not include occasions on which the department’s International Law: Advising and Treaties Section staff attended JSCOT hearings in an advisory or observer capacity.
On 21 June 2018 the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade released its report on Australia’s trade and investment relationships with the countries of Africa. The report can be found at:
The department coordinated the government response, which was tabled in parliament on 14 February 2019.
On 22 August 2018 the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties tabled its report on the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. The department coordinated the government response to the report which was tabled on 12 April 2019. The report and the government response can be found at:
On 18 September 2018 the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee tabled its report on the Proposed Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. The department coordinated the government response which was tabled on 12 April 2019. The report and the government response can be found at:
On 20 September 2018 the Joint Standing Committee on Trade and Investment Growth tabled its report Trade and the Digital Economy. The report can be found at:
In March 2019 the department took over responsibility for coordinating the government response from the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science.
On 10 October 2018 the Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs tabled its report on Customs Amendment (CPTPP Implementation) Bill 2018 [Provisions] and Customs Tariff Amendment (CPTPP Implementation) Bill 2018 [Provisions]. The department coordinated the government response to the report which was tabled on
12 April 2019. The report and the government response can be found at:
On 14 February 2019 the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee released its report United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). The report can be found at:
The department is working with other government departments, coordinated by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, to provide a government response to the report recommendations.
On 14 February 2019 the Trade Sub-Committee of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade tabled the report of its inquiry into Access to free trade agreements by small and medium sized enterprises
The department is coordinating the government response to the inquiry.
On 4 May 2016 the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade released its report on Australia’s trade and investment relationships with countries of the Middle East.
On 22 March 2019 the government tabled its response to the report, coordinated by the department.
On 26 March 2019 the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee released the report of its inquiry into the provisions of the Export Finance and Insurance Corporation Amendment (Support for Infrastructure Financing) Bill 2019. The report can be found at:
The department is coordinating the government response to the report.
In April 2019 the Foreign Affairs and Aid Sub-Committee of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade released its interim report Inquiry into Australia’s aid program in the Indo Pacific. The interim report can be found at:
The committee recommended that the inquiry continue in the next parliament.
On 8 May 2018 the Joint Committee on Public Accounts and Audit tabled in parliament its report into the department’s provision of security to diplomatic missions, Security of Overseas Missions: Inquiry based on Auditor-General’s Report No. 5.
The department responded to the report’s recommendations on 5 April 2019. The response can be found at: