PARLIAMENT OF AUSTRALIA Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade JSCFADT membership or Senate may also ask the Committee to undertake an inquiry. Information online Introduction The Joint Standing Committee The Committee may initiate its own inquiries into annual The JSCFADT is the largest committee of the Australian reports of relevant Government departments and authorities Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Welcome from the Australian Parliament’s Joint Standing on Foreign Affairs, Defence Parliament with 32 members. Membership comprises: or reports of the Auditor-General. www.aph.gov.au/jfadt Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade. and Trade • Five Senators and 12 House of Representatives Members An inquiry is based on the terms of reference – essentially The Parliament of Australia The Committee draws its membership from both the Senate from the governing party. a statement of the topic or issues to be examined. Usually, www.aph.gov.au and House of Representatives, with members sharing a Like many other legislatures, the Australian Parliament • Five Senators and eight House of Representatives inquiries are delegated to the relevant sub-committee to Department of Defence common interest in national security, international affairs and has established a system of committees. Australian Members from the opposition party. complete on behalf of the full Committee. www.defence.gov.au Australia’s role in the world. parliamentary committees each have a defined area of interest, such as the environment or economics. The Joint • Two Senators from a minority party or who are To complete the inquiry process, the Committee (or a Through its public inquiries and reports to Parliament, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and independents. sub-committee) can call for written submissions and hold Committee provides scrutiny of Government, informs debate www.dfat.gov.au Trade (JSCFADT) has responsibility for matters relating to public hearings with witnesses. Government officials can and policy direction. The Committee’s website contains more Senators represent their home State or Territory. House Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) foreign affairs, defence and trade. The JSCFADT was first of Representatives Members each represent one of 150 be called as witnesses and asked questions about policy information about current inquiries and copies of reports. implementation, administrative decisions or program www.austrade.gov.au established in 1952 and has been reappointed in every electorates from around Australia. In addition to its formal responsibilities, the Committee performance within their area of responsibility. Parliament since, with a gradually expanding mandate. allows for consultations between parliamentarians, Australian Government Ministers do not serve on committees. Committee contact details The Committee receives regular briefings from diplomatic To undertake their work freely, all committees are granted Government officials and diplomatic representatives of representatives, departmental officials, think-tanks, policy special powers and privileges that are delegated to them by Joint Standing Committee on foreign governments. experts, and other invited guests. The Committee has the House or Houses appointing them, or are bestowed by Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Contact information for the Committee is provided below. legislation. For example, committee proceedings may not be a busy schedule. Generally, the JSCFADT will meet in PO Box 6021 Canberra during parliamentary sittings and at other times questioned or impeached in the courts and evidence can be Senator David Fawcett Parliament House or places by agreement. 17 Liberal and National Coalition heard in closed session. Chair Canberra ACT 2600 The JSCFADT is organised into four sub-committees: 13 Australian Labor Party A report is prepared at the end of an inquiry. The Committee Australia 2 Independent or Minority Party presents its report to Parliament with recommendations for • Foreign Affairs and Aid Phone +61 2 6277 2313 Senators the Government’s consideration and response. Fax +61 2 6277 2221 • Defence Recent JSCFADT inquiry Email [email protected] • Trade • Human Rights reports Each sub-committee has a Chair and Deputy Chair. The sub-committees may perform duties assigned to them by The JSCFADT has recently reported on matters including: JSCFADT inquiry powers the full Committee. • Australian defence industry and exports The Committee and its sub-committees are assisted by the The committees are an extension of the Parliament, • Australia’s overseas representation Secretary and Secretariat staff. scrutinising the government of the day and considering • Care of Australian Defence Force personnel wounded or proposed laws in detail. The Committee may convene at any injured on operations time or place in Australia for meetings or public hearings. • Australia’s trade relations with the Middle East The Committee may conduct inquiries into matters referred • The private sector’s role in promoting development and from a Minister of the Government. For the JSCFADT, this economic growth in the Indo-Pacific region usually means Ministers responsible for matters related to • The human rights of women and girls foreign affairs, trade or defence. The House of Representatives • Australia’s advocacy for the abolition of the death penalty 1 Ms Sharon Claydon MP 3 The Hon Warren Snowdon MP 6 Mr Graham Perrett MP 10 Senator Bridget McKenzie 14 Mr Chris Crewther MP 17 Mr Nick Champion MP 20 Ms Madeleine King MP 24 The Hon Dr John McVeigh MP 27 Mrs Ann Sudmalis MP 30 Senator Anthony Chisholm Other members: Member for Newcastle, New South Member for Lingiari, Northern Deputy Chair, Trade Sub- Chair, Trade Sub-Committee Chair, Foreign Affairs and Deputy Chair Member for Brand, Western Australia Member for Groom, Queensland Member for Gilmore, New South Senator for Queensland Senator Scott Ludlam Wales Territory Committee Senator for Victoria Aid Sub-Committee Member for Wakefield, South Australian Labor Party Liberal Party Wales Australian Labor Party Senator for Western Australia Australian Labor Party Australian Labor Party Member for Moreton, Queensland The Nationals Member for Dunkley, Victoria Australia First elected to the House of First elected to the House of Liberal Party First elected to the Senate 2016 Australian Greens First elected to the House of Shadow Assistant Minister for the Australian Labor Party First elected to the Senate 2010 Liberal Party Australian Labor Party Representatives 2016 Representatives 2016 First elected to the House of Adviser, Queensland ALP State Co-Deputy Leader of the Australian Representatives 2013 Centenary of ANZAC Opposition Whip High school teacher and university First elected to the House of Shadow Assistant Minister for Solicitor and political adviser Agribusiness consultant, Local Representatives 2013 Secretary Greens Anthropologist, researcher and Shadow Assistant Minister for First elected to the House of lecturer Representatives 2016 Manufacturing and Science Government Councillor, Queensland High school teacher, university First elected to the Senate 2007 community support worker External Affairs Representatives 2007 CEO, international lawyer and small First elected to the House of 21 Mr Rowan Ramsey MP State Parliamentarian and Minister tutor and small business owner 31 Senator Chris Ketter Graphic designer and electorate Shadow Assistant Minister for Solicitor, high school teacher, union 11 Mr Trent Zimmerman MP business owner Representatives 2007 Member for Grey, South Australia Senator for Queensland officer 2 Dr Anne Aly MP Indigenous Health organiser and policy adviser Member for North Sydney, New Union official and policy adviser Liberal Party 25 Mr Andrew Hastie MP 28 Senator Deborah O’Neill Australian Labor Party Deputy Chair, Human Rights Shadow Assistant Minister for South Wales 15 Mr David Littleproud MP Government Whip Member for Canning, Western Senator for New South Wales First elected to the Senate 2013 Sub-Committee Northern Australia 7 Senator the Hon Ian Macdonald Liberal Party Member for Maranoa, Queensland 18 Mr Jerome Brown First elected to the House of Australia Australian Labor Party Research officer and union official Member for Cowan, Western First elected to the House of Senator for Queensland First elected to the House of The Nationals Committee Secretary Representatives 2007 Liberal Party Shadow Assistant Minister for Australia Representatives 1987 Liberal Party Representatives 2015 First elected to the House of Farmer First elected to the House of Innovation 19 The Hon David Feeney MP Australian Labor Party Teacher, university researcher and First elected to the Senate 1990 Public affairs consultant and Representatives 2016 Representatives 2015 Shadow Assistant Minister for 22 The Hon Damian Drum MP First elected to the House of project officer Solicitor political adviser Business manager Deputy Chair, Defence Sub- Army officer Mental Health Representatives 2016 Committee Member for Murray, Victoria Elected to the House of Senator Claire Moore 8 Mr Jason Wood MP 12 Senator Chris Back 16 Senator David Fawcett 26 Senator Linda Reynolds CSC Professor and public servant 4 Member for Batman, Victoria The Nationals Representatives 2010 Senator for Queensland Member for La Trobe, Victoria Senator for Western Australia Chair Australian Labor Party First elected to the House