Joint Select Committee on Northern Australia (part 1 of 2)
5 March 2026
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Joint Select Committee on Northern Australia Australian Parliament
14:16 - 16:25
Speaker 9
So are we ready? I declare open that this meeting of the joint standing committee on Northern Australia. I begin by acknowledging the traditional custodians of the land in which we meet, the Ngunnawal Namburi people of the Ngunnawal country, and pay my respects to their elders past and present. And I extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people today. The committee will be conducting hearings in person and by video conferencing.
And online, we have, Matt Smith, the MP for LICARD. In attendance in the room is myself as the chair, senator Orman Payne, mister Gosling, the member of Solomon, senator Smith will be joining us, and also senator MacDonald at some stage. Senator Whitaker is also here. Thank you. And as I said, Matt Smith, our member for LICARD, is joining us by video conferencing.
And, Matt, I got your message. Given the cyclonic conditions in your region, you'll be in and out. But, hopefully, all your mob and you in Far North Queensland are going to be okay. These are public proceedings being video streamed by the parliament's website, and a hands on transcript is being made. I remind 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, as such, may be treated as contempt. It is also a contempt to give false or misleading evidence. Witnesses also have a right to request to be heard in camera. If a witness objects to answering a question, they should state the ground upon which the objection is made, and the committee will determine whether it will insist on an answer having regard to the ground which is claimed. If the committee determines to insist on an answer, witness may request that the answer be given in camera.
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