Cannabiz on Senate inquiry to examine hemp industry opportunities

An inquiry into the future of Australia’s hemp industry has been opened by the Senate, with stakeholders calling it a long-overdue chance to shift regulation of the crop away from drug laws and unlock its potential in farming and construction.

The inquiry is being conducted by the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee. Submissions close on September 12, with a final report due by July 30, 2026.

Australian Industrial Hemp Alliance (AIHA) president Charles Kovess welcomed the move, describing it as “excellent news” that could provide the framework for a long-awaited step towards reform.

“These inquiries are hard to get initiated, so it’s a big step forward,” Kovess told Cannabiz.

“The whole game is: let’s make hemp big. Australia needs sensible regulatory frameworks. At the moment hemp is covered by drug legislation, which is ridiculous and unreasonable. That drives investors away.”

Tim Schmidt, meanwhile, agreed that hemp could make a substantial contribution to the construction industry given the right policy settings.

“Hemp can supply building materials to help address the housing crisis, while also delivering carbon sequestration benefits,” he said.

“Australia has world-class farmers and researchers – if government gets out of the way and let’s us do what we do really well, we can be world leaders.”

Both stakeholders urged widespread submissions ahead of the September deadline.