Chapter 1Inquiry background, recent events, and bringing sports to regional Queensland
1.1On 30 March 2023, the Senate referred the inquiry into Australia’s preparedness to host Commonwealth, Olympic and Paralympic Games (the inquiry) to the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee (thecommittee), for report by 1 September 2023.
1.2On 13 June 2023, the Senate granted an extension of time to report, until 1December 2023.
1.3On 14 September 2023, the committee tabled the first interim report considering the evidence it had received to date.
1.4On 14 September 2023, the Senate granted a further extension of time to report until 6 December 2023.
1.5On 4 December 2023, the Senate granted an extension of time to report, until 31October 2024.
1.6Submissions originally closed on 29 May 2023. On 25 July 2023, following the Victorian Government’s decision to withdraw as host of the 2026Commonwealth Games, the committee agreed to reopen submissions until 18 August 2023. To date, the inquiry has received 103 submissions and approximately 135 form letters relating to the development of the Redland City Whitewater Centre.
1.7The committee held the first three public hearings in Brisbane, Queensland on 22 August 2023, Melbourne, Victoria on 28 August 2023 and Bendigo, Victoria on 29 August 2023 prior to tabling its first interim report. Three additional hearings have been held in:
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory on 8 September 2023—this hearing focused on the cancellation of the 2026 Victorian Commonwealth Games and the progress of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games (Brisbane 2032) planning and implementation;
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory on 16 November 2023—this hearing focused on the Australian Institute of Sport and the current review into the potential redevelopment and relocation of the institute; and
Mackay, Queensland on 23 November 2023—this hearing focused on potential benefits of the Gabba re-development and the Brisbane 2032 Games for local, state, and national sports and potential solutions, particularly opportunities for regional Queensland.
1.8In drafting this second interim report, the committee became aware of an increasing number of concerns relating to the establishment and delivery of the 2026 Commonwealth Games and the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games. This includes concerns with infrastructure rollout, transparency and accountability and the lack of a commitment to an Australian solution for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
1.9The committee recognises that these issues and concerns are important to the local residents they affect, to Australia’s athletes and to our sporting communities widely. This is why the committee sought an extension of time to report until 31 October 2024, to continue to inquire into these matters and push for the successful hosting of Commonwealth, Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Summary of the first interim report
1.10The first interim report addressed the immediate concerns around the 2026 Commonwealth Games and the Brisbane 2032 Games and made a total of seven recommendations to the Australian and Queensland Governments. Appendix3 provides an overview of the committee's views and recommendations from the first interim report.
1.11It discussed matters relating to the Senate’s powers and jurisdiction to inquire into major international sporting events and the Victorian Government's engagement with the inquiry, reflecting that the Senate does have important oversight. The report also highlighted the timeline, decisions and processes of the Victorian Government’s withdrawal, and implications on rural and regional communities in Victoria, impacts on sport and potential damage to Australia's sporting reputation.
1.12The first interim report also discussed community concerns around the proposed redevelopment of the Brisbane Cricket Ground (the Gabba) and the proposed construction of the Redland Whitewater Centre. It highlighted issues relating to a lack of consultation and transparency and impacts on the environment and immediate residents.
Structure and scope of the second interim report
1.13The second interim report addresses the relevant terms of reference with information and evidence acquired to date. Issues discussed in the first interim report will not be explored further in this interim report, however, they may briefly be referred to throughout.
1.14The report will encompass three chapters as follows:
Chapter 1—inquiry background, recent events, and bringing sports to regional Queensland;
Chapter 2—the shape of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, with nine years to go; and
Chapter 3—the role of the Australian Government in successfully hosting Commonwealth, Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Ernst and Young's engagement with the inquiry
1.15Chapter 1 of the committee's first interim report considered the Senate's powers and jurisdiction in relation to the Victorian Government's decision to cancel the 2026 Commonwealth Games (the 2026 Games). This included looking at the limitations that apply to the Senate's powers to call for persons and documents.
1.16The committee asserted that the matters under inquiry remained relevant to the Commonwealth of Australia, and subject to the scrutiny of the Senate. The committee noted its expectation that individuals and organisations involved in the inquiry would respect the Senate and its committees by engaging in good faith.
1.17Following the tabling of the first interim report, the committee received responses to a number of outstanding questions on notice from witnesses who had provided services to the Victorian Government in relation to the 2026 Games, including Ernst and Young (EY).
1.18During the inquiry, EY received two sets of questions: a set of questions taken on notice in public session, and a set of questions from an in-camera session. EY provided answers to the questions from the public session but declined to respond to questions from the private session, on the basis that responding to these questions would disclose information that is protected by the Premier of Victoria's public interest immunity claim.
The Victorian Government’s engagement with the inquiry
1.19As discussed in the first interim report, the Victorian Government declined to participate in the inquiry despite multiple invitations to make a submission and appear at a public hearing. After the presentation of the first interim report, the Victorian Department of Premier and Cabinet (VDPC) wrote to the committee seeking a correction, asserting that the committee had incorrectly claimed that the Secretary of VDPC had written to multiple witnesses. Instead, VDPC stated that it had only written to one.
1.20In order to properly consider VDPC’s request, the committee requested further information including confirmation of the party (or parties) written to, why the department did not write to other witnesses, and if any officers of the department or other Victorian Government agencies wrote to witnesses.
1.21VDPC responded declining to answer any of the committee’s questions and reiterating that the Victorian Government would not be engaging with the inquiry. Notwithstanding this, the VDPC again requested that the committee correct the first interim report.
Committee view
1.22It has been clear throughout this inquiry that the committee has a legitimate interest and important role in inquiring into these matters. The cancellation of the Games has national impacts, including Australia’s international reputation, implications for infrastructure and regional development, and disadvantages for Australia's athletes and sporting organisations.
1.23The committee acknowledges and respects the important convention of comity between parliaments, and the limitations on the Senate's powers when inquiring into matters that cross jurisdictional boundaries. The Victorian Government was not obliged to contribute to the committee's inquiry. However, the rules of comity do not prevent the Victorian Government from engaging in good faith with the Senate. State and territory governments regularly participate in Senate inquiries, providing useful evidence and contributing to the formation of national policy approaches.
1.24Given messaging from the Victorian Government and their past reluctance to participate in the inquiry, the committee was not surprised that EY declined to answer the in-camera questions.
1.25The committee appreciates that consultants may find themselves in a challenging position when they are asked to appear and provide evidence to parliamentary inquiries. Accustomed to relying on commercial and legal protections, consultants may not understand those defences do not readily apply in the parliamentary context. Consultants may not fully appreciate the importance of engaging genuinely and transparently with parliamentary committees, and the need to provide adequate justification for withholding any information that has been requested.
1.26The committee reminds EY, and others, that, as recipients of taxpayer funds through substantial government contracts, these entities have a responsibility to the Parliament, and to the Australian taxpayer. The committee would encourage EY, and other businesses that provide consultancy services to government, to act with integrity and respect for the Parliament, and its committees, at all times.
1.27Finally, the committee is once again disappointed in the lack of engagement by the Victorian Government with the inquiry; but unsurprised. The committee sought some limited information to clarify the evidence that was provided to the committee and the claims made by the VDPC. Despite the committee's attempts to better understand the corrections requested, the Victorian Government refused to provide this. In the absence of further information, the committee is not able to correct its first interim report. The committee remains willing to receive further information and make corrections in the future if required.
The importance of community sport and participation
1.28The importance of investing in grassroots sports and community sporting infrastructure to encourage participation has been made clear by submitters and witnesses in the inquiry, with a primary focus on how grassroots participation leads to increased performance and elite talent pathways. This is further explored in chapter 3.
1.29The committee also heard that investment in grassroots and community sports is critical given the integral role sport plays in the overall health and wellbeing of people—particularly youth—through physical activity and community connectedness, regardless of elite performance.
1.30Despite this, many felt that grassroots and community sporting facilities still miss out on vital funding due to the prioritisation of elite and commercial sports. Mr Kingsley Theiber, General Manager of Wests Tigers Mackay expressed that many children in regional areas are missing out on access to sport due to the lack of investment in local facilities. He explained this leads to families having to drive long distances to attend games and training, which many are unable to do due to work impacts and time constraints.
1.31This experience was echoed by Mr Peter Raffles from Townsville Cricket who explained that this is a common problem, a 'time famine' due to increased employment and tightened budgets in working families. He noted that this has resulted in decreased membership numbers. Mr Raffles claimed that investment and funding could assist with the provision of transport to ensure children and residents can access games, training, and facilities.
1.32On the issue of sport funding, Mr Kieren Perkins, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Australian Sports Commission stated that:
… the single biggest deficiency that we have in sport in this country right now is access to community facilities for junior athletes. One of the things that I, as the CEO of the Australian Sports Commission, am most concerned about is that there is a lot of energy in Australia at the moment around the build-out of elite performance facilities. We need elite performance facilities, but we don't need elite performance facilities to the exclusion of investment into spaces and places for children and young people to participate.
Bringing sports to regional Queensland
Impacts of the Gabba redevelopment
1.33The first interim report discussed the proposed $2.7 billion redevelopment of the Gabba that is planned ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Games. The committee recommended that the Australian and Queensland Governments work together to urgently review the decision to redevelop the Gabba for the hosting of the Olympic athletics events, which will result in the closure of the East Brisbane State School and removal of access to Raymond Park.
1.34The Queensland Government has reportedly rejected the recommendation for a review, stating that they remain committed to the redevelopment of the Gabba and that a validation report on the project is 'under way'.To date, the committee has not received any information relating to a review of the Gabba redevelopment, or a commitment to undertake such activities.
1.35The committee has continued to hear through its recent hearings about the impacts of the Gabba redevelopment and concerns regarding the necessity of the expensive project, that could otherwise see the funds diverted to much needed projects, vulnerable communities, and local sporting infrastructure across Queensland.
1.36Reflecting on information that the $2.7 billion budget for the Gabba redevelopment could equate to around 150 grants of $18 million, Ms Kylie Scott, Competition Manager of the Rockhampton Hockey Association noted that access to a grant of that size would be 'life-changing to the community' and would help them to upgrade their facility, surfaces and increase participation in hockey.
1.37Mr Ben Wiltshire, Director of Rugby Capricornia stated that $18 million would provide enough to build a multi-use, flood proof stadium in Central Queensland that could be used for any square-field sport such as rugby league, rugby union, or soccer. He explained that this could be used for elite sports, in addition to increasing participation in rugby union for younger generations who are missing out. Similar figures for club expansion, new fields and disability facilities were also quoted by Western Suburbs Football Club (WestsTigersMackay).
1.38The Gabba is currently scheduled to undergo redevelopment from 2026, with completion expected in 2030. The Gabba is the home ground for Queensland Cricket and the Australian Football League (AFL), with a number of international competitions and other sports frequently played at the grounds.
1.39Throughout the re-development of the Gabba, and during the Brisbane 2032 Games, there will be several sporting teams and sporting competitions that will need to find new locations for matches and training. This has been raised as an opportunity to involve regional Queensland in the hosting of these teams and sporting competitions.
1.40Current plans for the Gabba redevelopment included moving sports teams and competitions to the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre (QSAC) with one witness noting that the Queensland Government proposes to convert QSAC into a cricket and football stadium during the rebuild.
1.41This has raised some concerns, as Ms Melissa Occhipinti, Founder of Friends of Raymond Park explained to the committee that this would result in displacement of athletics, and a lack of upgrades for QSAC.
1.42At the date of writing, there have been no commitments made regarding the re‑location of affected sports and teams.
Current plans for regional involvement
1.43The Brisbane 2032 Games are currently planned to be held across several cities, including Brisbane, Gold Coast, and the Sunshine Coast, with select events hosted across regional Queensland in Cairns, Townsville, and Toowoomba. The Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee (Organising Committee) explained that this approach will drive business, tourism, and economic growth across regions, and enable the use of existing venues, while also offering the chance for a more diverse group of sports fans to attend the Games.
1.44According to the Queensland Government's submission, the Toowoomba Sports Ground and Barlow Park in Cairns are two venues that will receive upgrades to sporting and spectator facilities ahead of Brisbane 2032. These upgrades and their subsequent hosting of events are expected to accelerate long-term regional priorities and create a sport and community legacy in regional Queensland.
1.45Mr Matthew Carroll, CEO, Australian Olympic Committee claimed that 'Cairns is a popular destination for a number of sports'. He also spoke of the opportunities for regional athletes, stating it is a 'great inspiration for those regions'.
1.46The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, and the Arts, noted that a 2019 Value Proposition Assessment report undertaken by the Queensland Government outlined a range of benefits of the Brisbane 2032 Games for regions outside of South East Queensland (SEQ).
1.47Despite these commitments and endeavours to include regional and rural Queensland in the planning, development and execution of the Brisbane 2032 Games, the committee heard from many that regional Queensland has been 'overlooked' and the benefits to the regions and their communities is uncertain and expected to be 'minimal'.
1.48Cr Jenny Hill, Mayor of the Townsville City Council alerted the committee to the recent release of the Queensland Government's legacy strategy for the Brisbane 2032 Games, Elevate 2042. Mayor Hill expressed concerns with the strategy having a primary focus on SEQ, rather than the whole of Queensland. Mayor Hill further explained:
If governments don't broaden their focus to include all of Queensland, and bring the whole state along for this journey, whatever legitimacy these games have outside the south-east will evaporate. The Queensland and Australian Governments will find that the Olympics and Paralympics will rapidly lose the very little support they currently have in regional Queensland, pretty much anywhere north of Noosa.
1.49The committee also heard how regional Queensland presents major tourism opportunities stemming from spectators, athletes and officials traveling to Australia, but that this has not been well explored to date.
1.50Mackay Regional Council stated that Mackay stands out as a tourism destination already and 'the attraction of visitors to the Mackay Region' from the Brisbane 2032 Games would bring ongoing legacy benefits and 'significant new economic activity'. It further noted that if fewer residents are leaving to attend events in other locations, less economic activity is lost.
1.51The Local Queensland Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) has been a proponent of greater inclusion of regional Queensland in the Brisbane 2032 Games, undertaking a survey of all local councils to recognise and understand concerns and opportunities in regional Queensland. One respondent stated:
As a regional community that is not located in [South East Queensland] or along the Queensland coastline, there is a misconception that our region is inaccessible and too underdeveloped to cater for events and talent development for the 2032 Games.
1.52Regional Development Australia Tropical North (RDATN) raised the following concerns in its submission:
We are witnessing significant investment in the Southeast Queensland [region], including the food supply chains, and facilities. Regional participation is an add-on and … approaching regional stakeholders in an ad-hoc manner. This does not enable capacity building in the region … to effectively participate and gain benefits from the games.
1.53Mr Carroll agreed that while infrastructure for Brisbane 2032 is largely focused on SEQ, there is a broad opportunity for regional companies to support the infrastructure projects.
1.54However, RDATN reported workforce challenges in regional Queensland, including labour and skills shortage and claimed that 'the Games has the potential to drain the regions of vital workforce and skills', with 'anecdotal evidence from some of the trades' already emerging.
1.55The Central Highlands Regional Council (CHRC) reported similar concerns, noting the 'the increase in demand,' and 'labour market challenges', has increased costs of building and is now affecting upgrades to existing sport assets.
1.56RDATN also confirmed there is existing sporting infrastructure in the regions, but no evidence of how it will be utilised before or during the Brisbane 2032 Games. RDATN called for an audit of regional infrastructure and identification and investment in facilities and infrastructure in regional Queensland, declaring that if barriers and challenges can be effectively addressed, Brisbane 2032 will bring 'long term benefits for health, economic development and infrastructure'.
1.57To understand the scope of suitable sports infrastructure, the LGAQ and the Queensland Government are reportedly undertaking a sport facilities inventory, to identify venues appropriate for potential events and training opportunities in Queensland, to ensure all regions can benefit from Brisbane 2032. The inventory process commenced on 8 May 2023.
Opportunities to bring benefits and legacy to regional Queensland
1.58While regional Queensland does have infrastructure and sporting assets to leverage in the lead up and delivery of the Brisbane 2032 Games, it can also deliver a range of non-sport related opportunities that, if recognised, will assist regional citizens to feel connected to the Games.
1.59The CHRC discussed the potential benefit of state and federal governments engaging local coal mining businesses in supply chain discussions. RDATN reflected on possible involvement through food supply chains to leverage the expansive produce available in the Far North Queensland food bowl.
1.60When questioned on the legacy strategy, Elevate 2042, having 15 focus areas with none of these dedicated to regional Queensland investment and how the regions could be involved in planning for the Brisbane 2032 Games, Mayor Hill detailed the lack of regional representation on the Organising Committee.
1.61Mayor Hill advised that representatives on the Organising Committee are predominantly from SEQ including local government which makes it difficult for regional Queensland to have a voice in Olympic planning. She called for a regional Queensland representative to be on the Organising Committee to support local athletes to succeed and increase regional and remote knowledge.
1.62The committee heard how the tropical climate of Far North Queensland provides a unique advantage for pre-games training. With consistent temperatures athletes can train outdoors year-round to optimise their training. Further, the efficient movement between training venues and accommodation, for athletes and coaches is supported by Cairns' and Mackay's well‑connected air and sea routes and existing transportation infrastructure.
1.63The LGAQ survey reflected that local council respondents saw a key opportunity of Brisbane 2032 being able to host pre-game training or sporting events during the Games.
1.64West Tigers Sporting League, located in Walkerston near Mackay, expressed a great desire to support the Brisbane 2032 Games in the lead up to the competition and preparation with key sports including cricket, football, basketball and Rugby Sevens.
1.65It noted that the venues would require significant funding from all levels of government, but the upgraded facility would provide a legacy for the community, as a first-class multi-sports facility and would increase participation through universally designed facilities.
1.66Similarly, Magpies Sporting Club in Mackay also raised an interest in hosting training, pre-games, and events for the Brisbane 2032 Games. It detailed the intention to build new infrastructure in Mackay's first all-abilities indoor multipurpose centre, targeting Paralympic sports such as Goalball and Wheelchair Rugby while also catering to Basketball, Netball, and Indoor Volleyball.
1.67Magpies Sporting Club expressed that investment in regional Queensland will build capacity, increase participation, and allow regions to benefit from the Brisbane 2032Games.
1.68The Great Barrier Reef Arena (GBRA) at Harrup Park in Mackay also proposed a range of ways in which regional Queensland, and specifically its venue, can assist and support the Brisbane 2032 Games. GBRA is currently in a second phase of upgrades, with investment provided by the Queensland and Australian Governments. The upgrades will deliver a world-class community Sports and Performance Centre that will build athlete dormitory accommodation to support a range of sports including netball, basketball, hockey, AFL, and cricket.
1.69The GBRA advises in its submission that it can provide a primary hosting location for the Brisbane 2032 Games as an International Cricket Council accredited venue, if cricket is included in the lineup. Further, the GBRA proposes it is an ideal alternative venue for the staging of international and national cricket, and AFL and AFL Women’s (AFLW) matches when the Gabba is under re‑development.
Committee view
1.70To date, the Queensland Government has not sufficiently involved regional Queensland and areas outside SEQ in the planning, and preparation for the Brisbane 2032 Games. Despite this, Queensland’s regions are still likely to provide significant contributions to the costs in the years before, during and after the Games.
1.71Regional Queensland has unique, valuable, and untapped benefits to offer in the planning and delivery of the Brisbane 2032 Games. These include easily accessible air travel and a suitable climate to facilitate year-round training.
1.72Regional Queensland has the venues, location, space, and enthusiasm to participate in the Brisbane 2032 Games as an event host or training partner in the lead up to, and during the Brisbane 2032 Games and should be considered more closely by the Queensland and Australian Governments.
1.73Planning for the Olympics would be helped if the Australian and Queensland Governments review the available infrastructure and opportunities for Regional Queensland to support the Brisbane Olympics 2032. Part of this review should include a full audit of the available infrastructure in Regional Queensland and be informed by consultation with local governments, sporting groups and community and tourism organisations.
1.74The committee received many good and practical suggestions for upgrades to sporting infrastructure in regional Queensland which could help support the Brisbane 2032 Games. The committee believes that the Australian and Queensland Governments should fund a grants program for infrastructure in regional Australia that could provide support in the lead up to the Brisbane 2032 Games. The grant process would serve a useful way of using a competitive bidding process to assess which ideas has the greatest merit and the process could also help support the audit in bringing forward what upgrades to existing infrastructure could help deliver a successful Games.
1.75The current plans to demolish and rebuild the Gabba have not adequately considered the costs of moving cricket, AFL and other events that currently use the Gabba while reconstruction occurs. This confirms the sense in conducting a full business case of the Gabba redevelopment option as recommended by this committee in its first interim report. Such a business case should look at maximising the use of existing stadiums such as Carrara before considering building spending even more on infrastructure in Brisbane.
1.76The committee were able to see first-hand that regional Queensland cities including Mackay have several sporting venues that would be suitable to host cricket and AFL during this four-year period, which would bring tourism, development, and business opportunities to the region.
1.77The Australian and Queensland Governments are already investing over $7billion in sporting infrastructure in SEQ to support the Brisbane 2032 Games. The committee does not believe that it makes sense to upgrade even more stadiums in Brisbane to serve a temporary need while the Gabba is redeveloped, when they could consider redeveloping stadiums outside of SEQ so a true legacy from the Games can be delivered.
1.78The committee welcomes the publication of the Elevate 2042 document that intends to map out how the Olympics could deliver a legacy for Queensland over the next 20 years. However, the committee heard evidence that this document provides only vague references to regional infrastructure. There is a brief mention of regional opportunities under Focus 5: Creating more great places and precincts, though this focus area largely highlights priority development areas in SEQ, which is already covered under Focus 4.
1.79This oversight might be due to the Queensland Government having no community leaders based in regional Queensland on its Games Organising Committee. The committee believes that there would be value in including representation from regional Queensland on this committee so that opportunities to involve regional Queenslanders in the Olympics planning are not missed.
1.80In a related issue, there is no specific focus area on how the Brisbane 2032 Games can support increased tourism to Queensland and across Australia, despite a brief mention of tourism under Focus 11: Advancing our global image and identity.
1.81The committee believes there is value in creating specific focus areas for regional Queensland and tourism in the Elevate 2042 legacy strategy. While this risks spreading the focus areas too thin, the Queensland Government could consolidate the current four focus areas that relate to environmental issues into one category.
1.82The committee recommends that the Australian Government work with the Queensland Government to undertake a review of the potential benefits and opportunities on offer across regional Queensland to support the Brisbane 2032 Games, improve sports outcomes, and subsequently boost regional development. This review should:
include an audit of all sporting infrastructure in regional Queensland to assess the quality, size, and location of venues to maximise use of venues including through multi-use facilities, reduce duplication and identify infrastructure gaps that act as a barrier to sport participation and high-performance outcomes; and
build on the work of the Local Government Association of Queensland's sports inventory project.
1.83The committee recommends against any further upgrades to sporting infrastructure in Brisbane to replace events displaced by the construction of Olympics infrastructure. Instead, the committee recommends that:
the Australian Government and the Queensland Governments work with affected sporting codes to upgrade infrastructure outside of Brisbane to provide more tangible legacy outcomes from the 2032 Games; and
the Australian Government establishes a 2032 Olympics Rural and Remote Queensland funding program to ensure that areas outside South East Queensland receive equitable funding for essential infrastructure and community facilities to maximise and broaden the benefits of the Brisbane 2032 Games.
1.84The committee reiterates its recommendation in the first interim report and recommends that the Australian Government works with the QueenslandGovernment to halt the redevelopment of the Brisbane Cricket Ground (Gabba) until such time that a review of the business case and a socioeconomic cost benefit analysis of the decision to redevelop the Gabba has been completed. This business case should consider the costs of relocating the East Brisbane State School, as stated in the first interim report, as well as the additional costs of displacing sporting codes that currently use the Gabba.
1.85The committee recommends that the Australian Government works with the Queensland Government to update the Brisbane 2032 legacy strategy, Elevate2042, to include specific focus areas on regional infrastructure and tourism. This work should also consider consolidating the four separate focus areas that currently target environmental issues (Focus 7, 8, 9 and 10) and ensure focus areas are adequate to support a lasting legacy following the Olympic Games.
1.86The committee recommends that the Australian Government work with the Queensland Government to appoint a regional Queensland community leader to the board of the Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee. The community leader should act as a liaison for consultation, decision-making and ensure effective regional representation.