Defence Committee to inquire into national civil preparedness and resilience
Parliament of Australia
National civil preparedness and resilience will be the focus of a new inquiry by the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Defence.
Committee Chair, Senator Deborah O’Neill, said ‘There is no more important task than the defence of the nation. We live in a time of geostrategic contest that grows more complex by the day. The task of defending the nation and deterring assaults on our sovereignty falls not only to armed service men and women but to every Australian, and engages every sector of the economy and our civil society. The task of readying for the security of Australia impels us to assess the civil preparedness and resilience of our nation.
‘Recent conflicts overseas have exposed how quickly Australia’s reliance on the interconnected global economy, and its trade networks, can make us vulnerable to supply chain shocks,’ Senator O’Neill explained.
The inquiry will consider whole-of-nation support for national defence, continuity of government, and the availability of essential goods and services (including fuel) during times of crisis or conflict. In doing so, the Committee will examine opportunities to work with state, territory and local governments in response to crises and conflict, as well as the private sector and Australian communities.
Deputy Chair, Senator Dave Sharma, said ‘Australia's deteriorating strategic environment and heightened geopolitical risk requires a greater degree of resilience, preparedness and self-reliance, so Australia can withstand global shocks. This inquiry will contribute to that effort.’
Through this inquiry, the Committee aims to identify the strengths and gaps in Australia’s national civil preparedness and resilience, as it currently stands.
The inquiry will also explore international best practice on national civil preparedness and opportunities to adapt these practices to the Australian context.
The Committee invites submissions responding to the inquiry’s terms of reference by Friday, 6 November 2026. More information, including the terms of reference and details on how to make a submission, can be found on the Committee’s website.
Media enquiries
Senator Deborah O’Neill, Chair
Shane McLeod, Chief of Staff
[email protected]
For background information
Committee Secretariat
02 6277 4504
[email protected]
