Federal Parliament Resumes Sittings in Canberra with Focus on Law Enforcement and Treaties

Parliament House Hosts High-Level Committee Hearings

Monday, 2 March 2026, marks the return of the Federal Parliament to Canberra for a significant week of legislative activity and oversight. While the ACT Legislative Assembly is currently in a non-sitting week, the nation’s capital remains the center of political gravity as various joint committees and both houses of Parliament convene for the first session of the month.

The day's agenda is dominated by high-level committee examinations at Parliament House. Notable sessions scheduled for today include:

• Joint Parliamentary Committee on Law Enforcement: Meeting from 9:45 AM to 11:00 AM in Committee Room 2S3, this session is focused on the examination of the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) Annual Report for the 2024-25 period. Officials are expected to testify regarding national security and intelligence operations.
• Joint Standing Committee on Treaties: Commencing at 11:15 AM in Committee Room 2R1, the committee will review the Council of Europe Convention on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions. This hearing is a critical step in the ongoing effort to align Australian sports integrity laws with international standards.

Question Time and National Security in Focus

The House of Representatives and the Senate are scheduled to begin their respective sessions at midday, leading into the highly anticipated Question Time at 2:00 PM. Expected topics for debate include the government's response to recent economic forecasts and the ongoing management of national infrastructure projects. The atmosphere in the Parliamentary Triangle is particularly charged following recent security concerns, including a reported evacuation of the Prime Minister’s official residence, The Lodge, earlier this week due to a safety threat.

Local political observers are also noting the increased police presence around the diplomatic precinct following yesterday’s pro-democracy rallies at the Iranian embassy. While no formal ACT Government cabinet meetings are scheduled for today, Chief Minister Andrew Barr’s administration remains focused on the Enlighten Festival, which continues to draw large crowds to the parliamentary zone, complicating logistics for the influx of federal officials.

Local Government Schedule

While federal activity is at its peak today, the ACT Legislative Assembly is not scheduled to sit until mid-March. However, public hearings for the local inquiry into the fiscal sustainability of the ACT are slated to begin tomorrow, 3 March. For today, the political spotlight remains firmly on the federal chambers and the joint committees investigating matters of law enforcement and international treaties.