Legislation establishing a new defence oversight committee has passed the federal parliament, with the Greens warning it will be a “secret” body dominated by Labor and the Coalition.
On March 4, the Senate approved the Defence Amendment (Parliamentary Joint Committee on Defence) Bill with a 30-18 vote, with support from both the Labor government and the Coalition. This came after the Bill passed the lower house in November 2025.
Under the legislation (pdf), a new parliamentary body called the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Defence (PJCD) will be established with powers to review defence strategy, major capability programs and Australia’s involvement in military conflicts.
The committee may comprise up to 13 members from both houses, with no more than seven representing the government.
While the bill itself does not explicitly ban minor parties from committee membership, it does not guarantee crossbench or minor party representation and gives appointment control to the major party leadership.
This has raised concerns that the committee will be made up only of Labor and Coalition members.
Greens Warn of ‘Secret Committee’
Following the passing of the bill, the Greens have accused major parties of concentrating control over defence oversight.
Greens Senator David Shoebridge said the committee structure would sideline dissenting voices and reduce scrutiny of government sensitive defence decisions, including the AUKUS nuclear submarine program.
“If you want a better example of why Australia’s defence and foreign policy should not be made behind closed doors between the war parties, look at Albanese backing in the U.S. and Israeli illegal war on Iran,” he said in a statement.
“The decision to follow Donald Trump into the next U.S. forever war will be decided in this committee full of only the war parties.
“Committees should reflect the makeup of Parliament and the community. The Liberal and Labor unity ticket is not reflective of the community, which is increasingly moving away from these two parties.”
The Greens also raised transparency concerns over the projected surge in defence spending in the coming decade, with Shoebridge warning the new committee structure may weaken public oversight of the funds.
“Over the next decade, three-quarters of a trillion dollars in public funds will be poured into Defence. The major parties want that to be a black box, so you cannot see where that money is going, that’s what this secret committee is all about,” he said.
What Does the New Committee Do?
As per the Bill, the PJCD will replace and expand the defence oversight role currently held by the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade.
Under the new framework, the committee will be able to receive classified briefings and documents to scrutinise defence policy more closely.
Its oversight responsibilities will extend across several key institutions, including the Australian Defence Force, the Department of Defence, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, and defence portfolio agencies such as the Australian Submarine Agency, Defence Housing Australia, and the Australian War Memorial.
The committee will also review major planning documents, including the National Defence Strategy, and monitor defence capability development and acquisition programs under the government’s Integrated Investment Program.
