House of Representatives Committees

Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade

Committee activities (inquiries and reports)

Inquiry into Australia's Defence Relations with the United States

Inquiry home | Submissions | Public hearings | Media releases | Report

Terms of Reference

The Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade shall examine and report on Australia's Defence Relations with the Unted States. Since World War Two, Australia and the United States (US) have developed strong defence relations. In particular, the last decade has seen a new level of defence relations encompassing Australian involvement in the first Gulf War, the invoking of the ANZUS Treaty, and Australian involvement in US led coalitions in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The Defence Update 2003 commented that Australias alliance with the US remains a national asset and the United States current political, economic, and military dominance adds further weight to the alliance relationship.

How should the Australian-US alliance be developed to best meet each nations' security needs both in the Asia Pacific region and globally focusing on but not limited to:

Referred by the Minister for Defence 2003.

Back to top

We acknowledge the traditional owners and custodians of country throughout Australia and acknowledge their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to the people, the cultures and the elders past, present and emerging.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this website may contain images and voices of deceased people.