The Defence Sub-Committee of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade will inquire into the benefits and risks of a Bipartisan Australian Defence Agreement as the basis of planning for, and funding of, Australian Defence capability, having particular regard to:

• The efficacy of Australia’s existing strategic planning processes and associated documents including – but not limited to – the Defence White Paper, Integrated Investment Plan, force structure reviews, Sovereign Defence Industry Plan and Naval Ship Building Plan – to deliver the best and most capable Defence force that Australia can afford.

• The opportunity cost of short-term and shifting Defence priorities.
• Precedents in Australia’s parliamentary and political system for both independent and bipartisan inputs to national security policy.
• Efficacy of bipartisan and / or independent approaches to strategic Defence planning in other nations such as the USA and Denmark.
• The principles of a process to achieve a Bipartisan Australian Defence Agreement that would be effective within Australia’s Westminster form of executive government. 
• Any other related matters. 

The Inquiry may also make observations and recommendations on whether a Bipartisan Defence Agreement should include the role and responsibilities of other agencies that contribute to Australia’s foreign policy, intelligence and security, and Defence architecture.