The Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade through its Trade Subcommittee will hear from African Heads of Mission on Friday, 6 March 2026 in roundtable discussions as part of its inquiry into strengthening Australia’s trade and investment relations with Africa.

Media release issue date: Thursday, 5 March 2026

The Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade through its Trade Subcommittee will hear from African Heads of Mission on Friday, 6 March 2026 in roundtable discussions as part of its inquiry into strengthening Australia’s trade and investment relations with Africa. Chair of the Trade Subcommittee, Mrs Fiona Phillips MP, said “for Australia to develop its trade and investment ties with the African continent, it is integral that we listen to the valuable insights of its residents. “As such, the Subcommittee has invited diplomatic representatives from across the African continent to share their perspectives. “Trade and investment relationships rely on countries working together. It is therefore important to understand what African nations want from Australia for us to understand what opportunities exist across the African continent. “These roundtable sessions will examine how we can make the most of the opportunity to strengthen trade and investment relations between Australia and African Nations. The Trade Subcommittee is grateful to the Heads of Mission and other representatives who have agreed to participate in the Subcommittee’s inquiry.” The Subcommittee will schedule further public hearings soon. Public Hearing Details Date: Friday, 6 March 2026  Time: 9:00am – 12:10pm (AEDT) Location: Committee Room 1R2, Parliament House, Canberra ACT The hearing will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live. Media inquiries Katrina Condie, office of Mrs Fiona Phillips MP (Member for Gilmore; Chair, Trade Subcommittee) Ph: 0437 662 967 For background information Committee Secretariat Ph: 02 6277 2313 jscfadt@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right-hand corner of the page.

The Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade through its Trade Subcommittee will hold its first public hearing for its inquiry into strengthening Australia’s trade and investment relations with Africa on 4 March 2026 at 10am.

Media release issue date: Tuesday, 3 March 2026

The Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade through its Trade Subcommittee will hold its first public hearing for its inquiry into strengthening Australia’s trade and investment relations with Africa on 4 March 2026 at 10am. Chair of the Trade Subcommittee, Mrs Fiona Phillips MP, said “the first Subcommittee public hearing will be with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. In this public hearing, the Subcommittee will seek to gather evidence on its five terms of reference. “The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade plays a key role in Australia’s trade and investment policy, as its responsibilities involve working with international partners to increase trade and investment opportunities. DFAT’s insights will, therefore, be of great value to the Subcommittee as it initiates its public hearings. “Evidence provided by DFAT will serve to provide the Subcommittee a strong basis of understanding of the issues this inquiry seeks to examine. This will be important to the Subcommittee as it continues its evidence gathering in future public hearings’” The Subcommittee will schedule further public hearings soon, commencing with a Roundtable with African diplomatic representatives on Friday, 6 March. Media inquiries Katrina Condie, office of Mrs Fiona Phillips MP (Member for Gilmore; Chair, Trade Subcommittee) Ph: 0437 662 967 For background information Committee Secretariat Ph: 02 6277 2313 jscfadt@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right-hand corner of the page.

The Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade has adopted a new inquiry into the potential to expand Australia’s trade and investment relations with Africa.

Media release issue date: Friday, 17 October 2025

The Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade (JSCFADT) has adopted a new inquiry into the potential to expand Australia’s trade and investment relations with Africa. The Chair of the JSCFADT, the Hon Shayne Neumann MP, said ‘Australia’s trading relationship with the countries of Africa has strongly focused on the extractives and tourism sectors. Africa is a diverse continent of 54 countries, spanning vastly different resources and development. It is important to recognise that Africa is not a single market, but comprises discrete economies with separate and diverse opportunities.’ The Chair of the Trade Subcommittee, Mrs Fiona Phillips MP, said ‘Australia has long-standing relations with countries of Africa, with a two-way goods and services trade valued at $12.7 billion in 2024. Over recent years, several African nations have experienced strong economic and population growth and this trend is projected to continue. The Committee is keen to examine the opportunities to expand and diversify trade and investment with African nations, including enhancing engagement through the African Continental Free Trade Area. There is great potential for Australia to strengthen its economic and diplomatic relations in the region.’ Key themes of the inquiry’s focus include: the nature of Australia’s existing trade and investment relations with the region identifying barriers and impediments to trade and investment identifying opportunities for Australian businesses to diversify exports to specific African markets. assessing the potential for the African Continental Free Trade Area to stimulate greater economic engagement between Australia and Africa the role of the Government in identifying new opportunities and assisting Australian companies to access existing and potential economic opportunities in Africa. The Subcommittee is now inviting written submissions by Friday, 19 December 2025. Media inquiries Katrina Condie, office of Mrs Fiona Phillips MP (Member for Gilmore; Chair, Trade Subcommittee) Ph: 0437 662 967 For background information Committee Secretariat Ph: 02 6277 2313 jscfadt@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right-hand corner of the page.