The Joint Standing Committee on Treaties (JSCOT) will hold public hearings on Monday 17 August as part of its inquiries into four proposed agreements:
The NSPO Agreement is designed to allow Australia access to programmes and services offered by the NSPO and NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA). The Committee will investigate whether this access to capability acquisition, logistics and system support represents value for money. The Committee will also inquire into whether the NSPO Agreement creates opportunities for Australian defence industry.
Ms Chesters said: “Ensuring the Australian Defence Force has the capability it needs in the modern military environment is vital. Strengthening Australia’s domestic defence industry is similarly crucial. The Committee will investigate whether the NSPO Agreement benefits Australia’s defence industry and builds Australian defence capability in a cost-effective way.”
The Air Services Agreements aim to provide a legal framework for air services between Australia and Cambodia, Kiribati, and Naoero (formerly known as Nauru) respectively. At the public hearing the Committee will inquire into the agreements’ provisions on areas such as safety, security, customs and competition law. The Committee will investigate how the proposed agreements could strengthen Australia’s relationships with Cambodia, Kiribati and Nauru and expand opportunities for tourism and export industries.
Committee Chair, Ms Lisa Chesters MP, said: “It is vital for Australia to remain connected and integrated with our region. It is equally important to ensure that we do not compromise our aviation standards. The Committee will examine these Air Services Agreements and ensure they are fit for purpose.”
The Committee will hear evidence from the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts, the Department of Defence, the Australian Defence Force and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Public hearing details
Date: Monday, 17 August 2026
Time: 10:30am to 1:00pm AEST (approximately). The NATO public hearing will be held from 10.30am and the three Air Services treaties will be discussed in a combined hearing from 11.15am.
Location: Committee Room 2S1, Parliament House Canberra
The hearing will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live.
