On 1 March 2024, the Defence Subcommittee of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade will conduct its second public hearing into the Department of Defence Annual Report 2022–23.
The Subcommittee will hear evidence from the Department of Defence, government departments, non-government organisations and the Australian public across the inquiry's focus items:
- Assistance to Ukraine
- Defence Health System
- Capability assurance mechanism
- Artificial intelligence and autonomous weapons related issues, and
- Armaments manufacture, procurement and inventory.
Chair of the Subcommittee, Mr Julian Hill MP, explained "Parliamentary committees are an important mechanism parliament uses to keep a check on government activities and government departments and to hear from experts and public interest groups.
"This year's inquiry is focussing on immediate priorities such as assistance to Ukraine, the Defence Health System, capability assurance, and armaments manufacture and procurement in a rapidly changing strategic environment. In addition, the inquiry will examine the potential benefits, risks and concerns of transformative technologies such as artificial intelligence and autonomous weapons and their role in future conflict."
