Committee seeks public submissions by 2 September 2026
Australia’s treaties committee has opened four inquiries and is seeking public submissions on endangered species listings, a Singapore trade protocol and two agreements with Fiji.
The Joint Standing Committee on Treaties, or JSCOT, is examining 2025 amendments to Appendices I, II and III of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, known as CITES.
JSCOT is also reviewing the Protocol to the Singapore-Australia Free Trade Agreement on Economic Resilience and Essential Supplies.
Two more inquiries cover the Ocean of Peace Alliance, also known as the Veitacini Treaty, and the Fiji-Australia Vuvale Union.
Under the proposed CITES amendments, some animal species would be added to the convention’s appendices, some would move between them, and others would be removed.
Those appendices govern how listed wildlife can be traded across borders.
Singapore supplies and Fiji agreements
According to the Parliament of Australia, the Singapore protocol aims to help Australia and Singapore keep trade moving in essential supplies during disruptions.
Parliament identified petroleum oils as one example of those supplies.
Meanwhile, the Veitacini Treaty aims to establish a new defence alliance between Australia and Fiji.
The Vuvale Union seeks to expand and deepen economic, security and people-to-people ties between the two countries.
Interested individuals and organisations can make submissions on the four treaty actions and their implications.
All submissions close on Wednesday, 2 September 2026, and can be lodged online through the committee website.
That website also carries guidance on preparing and lodging submissions, as well as the full treaty texts and accompanying National Interest Analysis for each inquiry.
Readers can also use the site to read other submissions, check upcoming public hearing details and track the committee for email updates.
Lisa Chesters chairs the committee.
Parliament did not give separate deadlines for the four inquiries. It also did not set out hearing dates or reporting dates for any of the reviews.
