Defence Amendment (Parliamentary Joint Committee on Defence) Bill 2025
Mr BURNELL (Spence) (18:37): I would like to thank the member for Canning for his closing remarks. I acknowledge his service to our country. I will also give a shout-out to a colleague who is probably watching right now in my office.
Corporal Kai Edwards is doing a great job this week. The parliamentary exchange program, I think, is an absolutely fantastic way for both parliamentarians and our ADF personnel to get an insight into each other's worlds. So, well said, Member for Canning.
I rise to speak in support of the Defence Amendment (Parliamentary Joint Committee on Defence) Bill 2025. This bill represents a step forward in our commitment to ensuring transparency, accountability and robust oversight within our national defence framework and a step toward bringing about recommendations made by a number of inquiries—namely, as part of the inquiry into international armed conflict decision-making, the report of which was tabled by the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade in March 2023.
The proposal of a parliamentary joint committee on defence is not by any means new. Its creation was also made as a recommendation of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade in its report titled Contestability and consensus during the 45th Parliament in 2018. Though diverse in their reasoning, these reports held some constants as to the reasoning behind recommending such a committee be established.
The rapidly changing nature of our strategic environment has certainly necessitated thorough parliamentary review to ensure our defence policies align with Australia's national interests. The Defence Strategic Review of 2023 underscored the rapidly evolving security environment, characterised by intense competition among major powers, and the increasing likelihood of conflict impacting our national interests.
As stated in the review, intense China-US competition is the defining feature of our region and our time. Australia now faces the prospect of major conflict directly threatening its national interest. Effective national defence is not solely the remit of the defence department or the Australian Defence Force.
It requires the involvement and oversight of all branches of government, including the parliament, to ensure our strategies and expenditures are carefully considered and aligned with the national interest. This bill seeks to establish the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Defence, a statutory committee designed to provide rigorous oversight and scrutiny of defence related decisions.
This committee will play a role in enhancing public trust in our defence policies by ensuring they are transparent, accountable and subject to comprehensive parliamentary review. The PJCD will be tasked with reviewing high-level policy documents, capability development programs, acquisition and sustainment initiatives, defence personnel and veterans affairs, and other matters referred by the minister or parliament.
This purview extends to monitoring the government's response to the findings of any royal commission that is germane to the defence of Australia, the Department of Defence, the ADF or another Australian defence agency. One of the key features of the PJCD is its authority to access classified information akin to the powers held by the PJCIS, which is similarly provided for within provisions of the Intelligence Services Act.
This will ensure that committee members are well informed and capable of making decisions based on comprehensive and accurate information. The PJCD will also have the power to conduct hearings and inquiries, providing a platform for stakeholders to present their views and for the committee to gather comprehensive insights into defence matters. The establishment of the PJCD addresses current gaps in parliamentary oversight by providing a dedicated forum for examining defence issues.
As the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade has noted, robust parliamentary oversight is essential for ensuring that our defence policies are not only effective but also aligned with the national interest. This efficacy starts by addressing expenditure both on a micro and a macro level. Given the size of Australia's defence expenditure, establishing a robust oversight mechanism through the PJCD will promote fiscal responsibility within our defence framework.
By scrutinising defence expenditures and procurements, thus ensuring that they are not only justified but remain aligned with our strategic priorities, the PJCD will help optimise our defence investments. This fiscal oversight is particularly important in the context of the significant increases in defence funding outlined in the 2024 National defence strategy.
Moreover, the PJCD will play a crucial role in safeguarding the human rights of defence personnel and civilians affected by defence policies. By examining matters relating to defence personnel and veterans, the PJCD, with increased powers, will ensure that our defence strategies uphold those values and principles our Defence establishment is tasked with protecting.
This aspect of the committee's work is particularly important in light of recent inquiries into international armed conflict decision-making, which have highlighted the need for greater transparency and accountability in this area. The strategic context for this bill is defined by the rapidly changing nature of our security environment. Australia now faces the prospect of playing a part in the maintenance of the global rules based order, particularly within the bounds of our neighbouring Indo-Pacific region.
In response to these challenges, the 2024 National defence strategy outlined a series of strategic adjustments and investments designed to enhance our defence capabilities. The establishment of the PJCD is a critical component of our response to these strategic challenges. By providing a dedicated forum for examining defence issues, the PJCD will ensure that our defence policies are informed by comprehensive analysis and debate.
This will enhance the effectiveness of our national defence strategy and those proposed and released by government moving forward, ensuring that we are better prepared to meet the challenges of the future. In addition to its oversight responsibilities, the PJCD will also facilitate greater engagement between the defence department and parliament. This engagement is essential for fostering a deeper understanding of defence issues among parliamentarians and for ensuring that defence policies reflect the perspectives and priorities of the broader Australian community.
By providing a platform for dialogue and collaboration, the PJCD will help bridge the gap between the defence department and parliament, promoting a more cohesive and coordinated approach to national defence. This shift promotes a culture of accountability within the defence department, encouraging better decision-making and more efficient use of resources. The PJCD's role in facilitating greater engagement between the defence department, other agencies and the parliament is essential for fostering a deeper understanding of defence issues among parliamentarians.
The committee's mandate will extend to reviewing the defence white paper, the defence strategic update and other pivotal strategic documents that guide our national defence posture. By thoroughly examining these documents, the PJCD will ensure that our defence strategies are not only well founded but also adaptable to the rapidly changing global security environment.
This level of scrutiny is essential for maintaining a defence posture that is both resilient and responsive. Furthermore, the PJCD's role in overseeing capability development programs is particularly crucial. The acquisition of advanced defence capabilities is a complex and often contentious process involving significant financial investments and strategic considerations, from the initial decision to commence a procurement process, throughout the delivery and beyond.
Across those stages, PJCD will provide a critical oversight function, ensuring that these investments are made judiciously and that the capabilities acquired align with our long-term strategic objectives. This oversight will help prevent cost overruns, delays and other issues that have historically plagued defence procurement processes. The committee's mandate also extends to the oversight of acquisition and sustainment initiatives.
Ensuring that our defence assets are not only acquired efficiently but also maintained and sustained effectively is vital for our national security. The PJCD will scrutinise these initiatives, providing a layer of accountability that will help ensure that our defence forces are always ready and capable of responding to threats. This oversight is particularly important in the context of the significant investments outlined in the 2024 National defence strategy, which include advanced technologies and critical infrastructure.
Defence personnel and veterans affairs are another critical area under the PJCD's purview and the broader remit of work and investigatory and oversight activities that the committee can be empowered to undertake, both at its discretion and at the discretion of the minister from time to time. Our ADF personnel are the backbone of our national security, and their welfare and wellbeing must be a top priority and remain a priority once they have concluded their service to our nation.
The PJCD will play a key role in examining policies and programs related to defence personnel management, training and support services. This includes ensuring that our veterans receive the care and support they need after their service. By providing robust oversight in this area, the PJCD will ensure that our defence personnel and veterans are treated with the respect and dignity that should always be afforded them.
The operational procedures and powers of the PJCD are designed to ensure that it can carry out its mandate effectively. The ability to summon witnesses, request documents and hold in camera sessions will provide the committee with the tools it needs to conduct thorough and comprehensive reviews. The support of the secretariat and staff with the necessary security clearances to handle classified information will ensure that the committee can access all relevant information while maintaining the integrity of our national security.
The operational procedures and powers of the PJCD include the ability to summon witnesses, request documents and hold in camera sessions to discuss sensitive information. The PJCD will also enhance the transparency of defence operations by providing regular reports to parliament and the public. These reports will detail the committee's findings and recommendations, providing a clear and comprehensive overview of defence activities and policies.
This transparency is essential for maintaining public trust in our defence policies and ensuring that the Australian people are informed about the decisions that impact their security and wellbeing. In addition to its oversight and transparency functions, the PJCD will also play a key role in promoting a culture of accountability within the defence department.
By scrutinising decisions and holding officials accountable for their actions, the committee will help foster a culture of responsibility and integrity within the department. This will encourage better decision-making and more ethical behaviour, ultimately enhancing the effectiveness and credibility of our defence policies. The establishment of the PJCD is also an important step in strengthening our democratic institutions.
By involving parliament more directly in defence oversight we are ensuring that our defence policies are subject to the same rigorous scrutiny as other areas of government policy. This will help ensure that our defence strategies are not only effective but also democratic and accountable to the Australian people. This integrated approach will enhance the coherence and effectiveness of our national policies and help ensure our defence strategies contribute to the overall wellbeing and prosperity of Australians.
Effective parliamentary oversight ensures that defence policies are not only strategically sound but also transparent and accountable to the Australian people. It promotes a culture of accountability within the defence department, encouraging better decision-making and more efficient use of resources. It aligns with international best practices and reflects a commitment to upholding the high standards of transparency and accountability in our defence policies.
By providing a dedicated forum for examining defence issues, the PJCD will ensure that our defence strategies are robust, effective and aligned with our national interest. PJCD will ensure that our defence policies are subject to continuous review and improvement. In a rapidly changing strategic environment, it is essential that our defence strategies remain flexible and responsive to new challenges and opportunities.
We'll play a crucial role in this process by regularly reviewing defence policies and recommending adjustments as needed. This continuous oversight will help ensure that our defence strategies remain relevant and effective in the face of evolving threats and challenges. Transparency in defence operations is crucial for maintaining public trust.
The PJCD will enhance this transparency by providing regular reports to parliament and the public, detailing its findings and recommendations. This transparency will ensure that the Australian people are informed about the decisions that impact their security and wellbeing, fostering greater trust in our defence policies' framework and apparatus. The PJCD is also a significant step in strengthening democratic institutions.
By involving parliament more directly in defence oversight, we are ensuring that our defence policies are subject to the same rigorous scrutiny as other areas of policy. In closing, this week we saw a delegation from the House of Commons Defence Committee come to parliament. I had the great pleasure of meeting the committee chair and the five other participants that were part of the trip.
It is clear to me that the ability of our parliament to have something of the same ilk will definitely do as the member for Canning indicated—that is, strengthen the trilateral involvement between the three countries: the UK, the US and Australia.