Public hearings continue in Melbourne and Sydney for inquiry into gender equality as a national security and economic security imperative

Parliament of Australia

The Human Rights Subcommittee of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade will hold public hearings in Melbourne and Sydney for its inquiry into gender equality as a national security and economic security imperative.

Chair of the Human Rights Subcommittee, Mr Tony Zappia MP, said, ‘the Subcommittee looks forward to hearing from scholars, policy organisations, advocacy groups and aid organisations about their first-hand experience of how gender equality supports national and economic security.’

Examples of witnesses the Subcommittee will hear from include:

the ARC Centre of Excellence for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
the Centre for International Security Studies at the University of Sydney
Women in International Security Australia
the Humanitarian Advisory Group
Plan International Australia
Dr Anna Cody, Sex Discrimination Commissioner

Mr Zappia said, ‘these individuals and groups will give the Subcommittee valuable evidence of the essential role of women in creating resilience, responding to crises and raising the alarm about emerging security threats. Knowledge of the work of women in the Indo-Pacific is essential to Australia’s foreign policy and the security of our region.’

‘The evidence we hear will also help the Subcommittee identify threats and obstacles to gender equality that are directly impacting economic and national security, and ways the Australian Government could respond to these.’

Further information, including the full terms of reference, is available on the Inquiry webpage.

Public Hearing Details

Melbourne
Date: Tuesday 5 May 2026
Time: 9:30 am–4:00 pm (AEST)
Location: Cliftons, 440 Collins St, Melbourne

Sydney
Date: Wednesday 6 May 2026
Time: 9:00 am–2:00 pm (AEST)
Location: Cliftons, 60 Margaret St, Sydney

Programs for each public hearing are available on the inquiry website.

The hearing will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live.

Media enquiries

James Peikert, Office of Mr Tony Zappia MP (Member for Makin, SA; Chair, Human Rights Subcommittee)
Ph: (02) 6277 4147 or (08) 8265 3100

For background information

Committee Secretariat
Ph: 02 6277 2313
[email protected]

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.