Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee
1 July 2026
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Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee Australian Parliament
10:21 - 11:50
Speaker 10
K. Good evening, everybody. I declare open this hearing of the Senate Foreign Affairs Defense and Trade References committee's inquiry into the management of defense estate assets. I begin by acknowledging the traditional custodians of the land on which we meet and pay my respects to their elders past and present. I extend that respect to the aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples here today.
The committee will be conducting today's hearing in person. I am senator Collins, chair of the committee, and I'm joined in the room by deputy chair senator Ciccone and senator McLaughlin. These are public proceedings being video streamed live by the parliament's website, and a hands... Hand side transcript is being made. I remind all witnesses that in giving evidence to the committee, they are protected by parliamentary privilege, and it is unlawful for anyone to threaten or disadvantage a witness on account of evidence being 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. Witnesses also have a right to request to be heard in camera. The senate has resolved that an officer of a department of the Commonwealth or of a state 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. If a witness objects to answering a question, 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.
11:51 - 12:15
Speaker 13
If the committee determines to insist on an answer, a witness may request that the answer be given in camera. Commonwealth officers appearing today are also reminded of the senate order specifying the process by which claim of public interest immunity should be raised. A copy of the order is available from the secretariat. Remind senators of the obligate... Their obligations under the Pavia code for Australian parliamentarians to treat witnesses with dignity, courtesy, fairness, and respect.
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