COVID-19 inquiry to hear from Home Affairs

A parliamentary inquiry into the impact of COVID-19 on Australia’s defence, trade and international relations

will hear from the Department of Home Affairs at its next public hearing on Thursday.

Senator David Fawcett, Chair of the Parliament’s Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee, says Home Affairs has played a central role in the Australian government’s response the COVID-19 pandemic.

Senator Fawcett said “Home Affairs has a wide-reaching portfolio and the committee looks forward to hearing about its management of the pandemic and the contributions it plans to make to Australia’s recovery and future resilience, especially through the management of Australia’s critical infrastructure.”

Witnesses from Home Affairs will give evidence on the Department’s work coordinating Australia’s pandemic response as well as its functions in immigration and border security.

Full terms of reference for the inquiry are on the Committee website.

Public hearing details

Date: Thursday 6 August

Time: 3:00pm – 4.30pm AEST

Location: By teleconference

The hearings will be audio streamed live at aph.gov.au/live

/Public Release. View in full here.