Joint Standing Committee on Treaties to hear evidence in Canberra on 6th
A public hearing in Canberra on Monday, 6th July 2026 will examine Indigenous views on a proposed WIPO treaty covering intellectual property, genetic resources and traditional knowledge.
The Joint Standing Committee on Treaties will hold the session from 3:45pm to 4:30pm AEST, approximately, in Committee Room 2R1 at Parliament House Canberra.
JSCOT is running the hearing as part of its inquiry into the WIPO Treaty on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge.
Under the proposed treaty, patent applicants would need to disclose the sources of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge used in their applications.
At the hearing, the committee will examine Indigenous views on that disclosure framework and the possible effects of ratification and implementation on communities.
Indigenous Knowledge Panel and National Native Title Council
Witnesses scheduled to appear include the Indigenous Knowledge Panel and the National Native Title Council.
Committee Chair Ms Lisa Chesters MP called the agreement the first multilateral intellectual property agreement to recognise Traditional Knowledge.
She said: “This Treaty is the first multilateral intellectual property agreement to recognise Traditional Knowledge. Its provisions are intended to provide visibility into sources of Traditional Knowledge within patent systems.”
Chesters also said ratification would give Australia a chance to lead global discussions on the relationship between intellectual property and Traditional Knowledge.
Meanwhile, the hearing will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live for people who cannot attend Parliament House in person.
According to the committee information, the inquiry is testing whether Australia should ratify the treaty and how any new disclosure rule would work in practice.
The committee website includes background material, current and past submissions, and details of upcoming public hearings.
Visitors to that site can also make a submission to an inquiry and receive email updates by using the blue Track Committee button.
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