At the dissolution of the Senate and the House of Representatives on 9 May 2016 for a general election on 2 July 2016, the parliamentary committees of the 44^th Parliament ceased to exist. Therefore inquiries that were not completed have lapsed and submissions cannot be received.  However, information about the inquiries is still available on this website. 

Information on committees for the 45^th Parliament will be presented here as soon as it is available.

Noting the sovereignty of the Republic of Nauru and Papua New Guinea, and within the limits of Australia‘s sovereignty:

1. conditions and treatment of asylum seekers and refugees at the regional processing centres in the Republic of Nauru and Papua New Guinea;
2. transparency and accountability mechanisms that apply to the regional processing centres in the Republic of Nauru and Papua New Guinea;
3. implementation of recommendations of the Moss Review in relation to the regional processing centre in the Republic of Nauru;
4. the extent to which the Australian-funded regional processing centres in the Republic of Nauru and Papua New Guinea are operating in compliance with Australian and international legal obligations;
5. the extent to which contracts associated with the operation of offshore processing centres are:
   1. delivering value for money consistent with the definition contained in the Commonwealth procurement rules,
   2. meeting the terms of their contracts, and
   3. delivering services which meet Australian standards; and
6. any other related matter.

Parliamentary privilege

In most circumstances giving evidence and providing information to the committee is voluntary. Parliamentary privilege applies only to people giving evidence in Australia. Parliamentary privilege is a special right that means that you cannot be prosecuted or disadvantaged because of anything you have provided in evidence that has been accepted by the committee, or because you gave this evidence.

However, because this privilege only applies within Australia, a person outside of Australia will not be protected by parliamentary privilege.

Making a submission

The committee is accepting submissions to its inquiry into the conditions and treatment of asylum seekers and refugees at the regional processing centres in the Republic of Nauru and Papua New Guinea.

If you previously made a public submission to the Select Committee on Recent Allegations relating to Conditions and Circumstances at the Regional Processing Centre in Nauru, please do not re-submit that material to this inquiry.  If you provided confidential (in camera) evidence to the Select Committee, before providing that material to this inquiry, please consider the recommendations in the final report of the Select Committee (please see https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Regional_processing_Nauru/Regional_processing_Nauru/Final_Report) as well as the terms of reference for this inquiry.

Interpreters

Any person requiring an interpreter should advise the secretariat, or call TIS National on 131 450. Say the language you need, and then ask to be put through to the secretariat by calling 02 6277 3560.