Pursuant to paragraph two of its resolution of appointment, the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade is empowered to consider and report on the annual reports of government agencies, in accordance with a schedule presented by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
The Speaker’s schedule lists annual reports from agencies within Defence and Foreign Affairs portfolios as being available for review by the Committee.
On 9 November 2016, the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade resolved to review the Department of Defence Annual Report 2015-16 and referred the Inquiry to the Defence Sub-Committee to undertake.