Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee (part 1 of 3)
9 February 2026
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Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee Australian Parliament
10:11 - 13:00
Speaker 21
This hearing of the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee into the twenty, twenty five, twenty six additional estimates. I'll begin by acknowledging the traditional custodians of the land on which we meet today, and I pay my respects to elders both past, present, and emerging. I extend that respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples here today. The committee is due to report to the senate on Tuesday, 03/31/2026, and it has fixed Friday, 04/10/2026 as the date for the return of answers to questions taken on notice. The committee's proceedings today will begin with corporate matters of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry.
Now understanding order 26 of the committee must take all evidence in public session, and this includes answers to questions on notice. I remind all witnesses that in giving evidence to the committee, they are protected by parliamentary privilege. It is unlawful for anyone to threaten or disadvantage a witness on account of evidence given to a committee, and such action may be treated by the senate as a contempt. It is also a contempt to give false or misleading evidence. The senate has endorsed the following test of relevance of questions at estimates hearings.
Any questions going to the operations or financial positions of the departments and agencies which are seeking funds in estimates are relevant questions for the purpose of estimates hearings. I remind officers that the senate has resolved that there are no areas in connection with the expenditure of public funds where any person has a discretion to withhold details or explanations from the parliament or its committees unless the parliament has expressly provided otherwise. The senate has resolved also that an officer of a department of the Commonwealth shall not be asked to give opinions on matters of policy and shall be given reasonable opportunity to refer questions asked of the officer to superior officers or to a minister. This resolution does not preclude questions asking for explanations of policies or factual questions about when and how policies were adopted. Witnesses are reminded of the senate order specifying the process by which a claim of public interest immunity should be raised.
I incorporate the public immunity statement into the Hansen. I remind senators of their obligations under the behavior code for Australian parliamentarians to treat witnesses with dignity, courtesy, fairness, and respect. An officer called to an ants... To answer a question for the first time should state their full name and the capacity in which they appear. I now welcome senator, the honorable Anthony Chisholm, assistant minister for agriculture, fisheries, and forestry, representing the minister for agriculture, fisheries, and forestry.
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