A screenshot from a February 2025 JSCFADT subcommittee hearing. Photo: Screenshot.
Apart from the swearing in of new members and senators and the first sitting of both houses, one of the key tasks of July’s first meeting of the 47th parliament in Canberra was the forming of several parliamentary committees.
These committees are established by resolution or legislation that is agreed to by both houses, and their membership comprises members of the House of Representatives and senators.
Parliament says committees may be statutory, select or standing committees. Joint statutory committees are established by an act of parliament, whereas joint select or standing committees are established under the standing orders of each house, and the powers and proceedings of these committees are determined by resolution of both houses.
One of the key committees is the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade (JSCFADT).
Parliament says the JSCFADT is tasked “to consider and report on such matters relating to foreign affairs, defence and trade as may be referred to it by either house of the parliament or a minister”.
“The committee may also inquire into matters raised in annual reports of relevant Australian government departments and authorities or in reports of the Australian government auditor-general.”
For the 47th parliament, the JSCFADT was established under a resolution of appointment passed by the House of Representatives on 23 July, and the Senate the following day.
The committee consists of 32 members, comprising 20 from the House of Representatives and 12 senators.
The returning chair of the committee is Queensland Labor MP Shane Newman, and his deputy is Western Australian Liberal MP Dean Smith.
The balance of the committee includes Labor MPs Claire Clutterham, Steve Georganas, Luke Gosling, Madonna Jarrett, Sam Lim, Alicia Payne, Fiona Phillips, Tim Watts, Susan Templeman, Kate Thwaites and Tony Zappia, and Labor senators Raff Ciccone, Lisa Darmanin, Deborah O’Neill, Jana Stewart and Ellie Whittaker.
Opposition members include Liberal MPs Garth Hamilton, Leon Rebello, Queensland LNP MPs David Batt, Colin Boyce, Phillip Thompson, and Andrew Wallace, Liberal senators Richard Colbeck and Andrew McLachlan and Nationals MP Michael McCormack and Senator Ross Cadell.
The balance of the committee is made up of Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price from the Country Liberal Party, Senator Ralph Babet from the United Australia Party, the Greens’ Senator David Shoebridge, and Teal independent MP Allegra Spender.
Various subcommittees within the JSCFADT will carry over from the last parliament, and will include Defence, Trade, Human Rights, Foreign Affairs, and Aid, and members have nominated for these subcommittees.
James Baker, director of defence communications advisory group Burbank Marshall, said the JSCDFAT was an important committee.
“This is one of the few forums where federal parliamentarians get the chance to dive deep into Australia’s place in the world, including global and national security, human rights and our approach to trade, including our $670 billion worth of exports,” he said.
“It’s also where positions start to form; positions that often go on to shape policy or influence government decisions down the track.”
