Senate Environment and Communications References Committee
30 September 2026
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Senate Environment and Communications References Committee Australian Parliament
10:46 - 13:13
Speaker 8
I declare open this hearing of the Senate Environment and Communications References Committee's inquiry into the Australia Post retail network. I note that today I will be chairing the hearing in the stead of the chair, and 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 any Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples there today. As I've noted, I'm acting in the place of Senator Hanson-Young, who is the chair of the References Committee and I'm the deputy chair. I'm also joined by Senator Dean Smith at this stage and we anticipate other senators will join as the hearing progresses.
These are public proceedings being audio streamed live by the Parliament's website and a Hansard transcript is being made. If there are no objections, the committee authorizes media recording and photography of the committee's proceedings in accordance with broadcasting resolution three. I remind media that this permission can be revoked at any time and the media must follow the directions of secretariat staff. 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 as a contempt.
It is also a contempt to give false and misleading evidence to a Senate committee. The committee generally prefers evidence to be given in public but under the Senate's resolutions witnesses have the right to request to be heard in private session. 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 should be given reasonable opportunity to refer questions asked of the officer to a superior officer or to a minister. This resolution does not preclude questioning about explanations of policies or factual questions about when and how policies were adopted. 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, 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 a claim of public interest immunity should be raised. A copy of the order is available from the secretariat. I remind all senators of their obligations under the behavior code for Australian parliamentarians to treat witnesses with dignity, courtesy, fairness and respect. Any questions taken on notice today, if answers could be provided no later than Friday 9 October 2026.
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