The Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade (JSCFADT) has adopted a new inquiry into gender equality as a national security and economic security imperative.
The Chair of the JSCFADT, the Hon Shayne Neumann MP, said, "gender equality is important on so many fronts. We've talked about how important it is for productivity, but this inquiry is a great opportunity to have a broader conversation about the role it plays in Australia's economic and national security, and international security as a whole."
The Chair of the Human Rights Subcommittee, Mr Tony Zappia MP, said, "we know that when a crisis happens, whether conflict or climate disaster, women and girls are disproportionately impacted and gender equality suffers. This was acknowledged 25 years ago when the United Nations Security Council adopted the Women, Peace and Security Agenda. The Committee hopes to explore how Australia can better contribute to efforts by the international community in advancing and implementing this agenda."
Key themes of the inquiry's focus include:
- The economic security and national security benefits of realising gender equality for every person, and how the integration of gender equality across foreign policy supports this objective
- Evidence and data that demonstrates the links between gender equality and economic growth and prosperity, including in food security and labour markets
- The international and national security implications of undermining gender equality, including in the context of humanitarian crises and climate change
- The role of locally-led leadership and decision making in advancing gender equality and the Women, Peace and Security Agenda
- The Australian government's efforts to advance gender equality and the human rights of women and girls across all aspects of foreign policy, defence and national security
- The Women, Peace and Security agenda internationally and Australia's role in promoting and implementing it.
The Subcommittee is now inviting written submissions by Tuesday, 20 January 2026.
