The Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade (JSCFADT), through the Foreign Affairs and Aid Subcommittee, has commenced an inquiry into the role of Australia's international development program in preventing conflict.

Media release issue date: Thursday, 6 November 2025

The Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade (JSCFADT), through the Foreign Affairs and Aid Subcommittee, has commenced an inquiry into the role of Australia's international development program in preventing conflict. The inquiry was referred by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong with the below terms of reference. The Chair of the JSCFADT, the Hon Shayne Neumann MP, stated, ‘we are operating in a geopolitical context of change and uncertainty, and we are deeply concerned at how conflicts around the world are exacerbating existing humanitarian crises in many regions.’ The Chair of the Foreign Affairs and Aid Subcommittee, the Hon Tim Watts MP, said, ‘in an increasingly complex and contested international environment the challenge of conflict prevention is becoming more acute.’ The inquiry will consider the role of Australia's international development program in preventing conflict, with particular reference to: the role of Australia's international development program in building resilience in fragile states, including by strengthening community and civic participation, governance, security reform and human capital; the strategic use of Australia's international development program to prevent conflict in the Indo-Pacific; options for effective support through Australia's aid program in pre-conflict and/or post-conflict zones; the impact of international development in the maintenance of peace and prevention of conflict, including for early identification and mitigation of conflict; and any related matters. The Subcommittee is now inviting written submissions responding to the inquiry’s terms of reference by 20 January 2026. Media inquiries Laura Green, Office of the Hon Tim Watts MP (Member for Gellibrand, Victoria; Chair, Foreign Affairs and Aid Subcommittee) Ph: 02 6277 4537 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.