On the 3rd of March 2026, Jess was appointed Chair of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee. Her first inquiry as Chair was Democracy and human rights in Myanmar, an issue that Jess has passionately advocated for since completing her PhD on resettlement of Karen Refugees in Brisbane.  In 2021, Jess made a submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Inquiry into Australia’s response to the coup in Myanmar and was quoted in the final report.

her next inquiry has been the Senate Inquiry in to the Management of Defence estate assets. This was instigated in response to Labor’s plan to sell off a large portion of Australia’s Defence bases, including Victoria Barracks Sydney and Lancer Barracks Parramatta.