The Joint Standing Committee on Treaties (JSCOT) will hold a public hearing on Monday, 12 October as part of its inquiry into the Vanuatu-Australia Nakamal Agreement. The Agreement was referred to the Committee on 1 July 2026.
The Vanuatu-Australia Nakamal Agreement aims to establish a legally-binding framework for security, economic, developmental and people to people cooperation between Australia and Vanuatu. Through strengthening the existing security partnership and economic and people to people cooperation, the Agreement aims to advance the respective national security interests of each Party.
Committee Chair, Ms Lisa Chesters MP, said ‘Australia and Vanuatu share close connections, history and geography which entwine our cultures and peoples. We also share an interest in the collective security, sovereignty and prosperity of the Pacific region’.
‘The Committee is interested in understanding how the Agreement will strengthen Australia’s role as Vanuatu’s closest economic, security and development partner’, Ms Chesters said.
The Committee will hear evidence from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Australian Federal Police.
Further information about the inquiry, including the treaty text, National Interest Analysis and submissions received by the Committee, are available on the inquiry’s webpage.
Public hearing details
Date: Monday, 12 October 2026
Time: 10:30am – 11:30am AEDT (approximately)
Location: Committee Room 2R1, Parliament House Canberra
The hearing will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live.
