The Inquiry’s Terms of Reference are included in the Committee's  Resolution of Appointment.  They are:

 
1. this House establish a select committee, to be known as the Select Committee on Regional Development and
Decentralisation, to inquire and report on the following matters:

  a. best practice approaches to regional development, considering Australian and international examples, that support:

    i. growing and sustaining the rural and regional population base;

    ii. the benefits of economic growth and opportunity being shared right across Australia;

    iii. developing the capabilities of regional Australians;

    iv. growing and diversifying of the regional economic and employment base;

    v. an improved quality of life for regional Australians;

    vi. vibrant, more cohesive and engaged regional communities;

    vii. leveraging long-term private investment; and

    viii. a place-based approach that considers local circumstances, competitive advantages and involves collective
           governance;

    b. decentralisation of Commonwealth entities or functions, as a mechanism to increase growth and prosperity in regional
        areas, considering Australian and international examples, including:

    i. examining the potential for decentralisation to improve governance and service delivery for all Australians,
       considering the administrative arrangements required for good government;

    ii. identifying the characteristics of entities that would be suited to decentralisation without impacting on the ability to
        perform their functions;

    iii. identifying the characteristics of locations suitable to support decentralised entities or functions, including
         consideration of infrastructure and communication connectivity requirements;

    iv. considering different models of decentralisation, including:

         - relocation of all or part of a Commonwealth entity to a regional area;

         - decentralisation of specific positions, with individual employees telecommuting, considering any limitations
            to this in current Australian Public Service employment conditions and rules; and

         - co-location of decentralised Commonwealth entities or employees in existing regionally based Commonwealth
           or State Government offices; and

    v. examining the family, social and community impacts of decentralising;

  c. actions of the Commonwealth that would encourage greater corporate decentralisation and what can be learned from
      corporate decentralisation approaches, including:

    i. considering the role of the private sector in sustainably driving employment and growth opportunities in regional
       areas in both existing and new industries;

    ii. comparing the access to early stage equity and or debt finance of metropolitan and regional businesses for both
        start up and established businesses;

    iii. examining access to capital for regional business, including agribusiness, manufacturing and technology;
              
    iv. considering the adequacy of regional businesses access to early stage accelerators and incubators, including access
         to business mentors, business networks and capital (debt or equity);
    
    v. considering the adequacy to support the private sector to attract and retain skilled labour to regional areas; and

    vi. examining the extent to which employment and growth can be supported by growing existing and new industries
         in regional areas, leveraging strong transport and communications connectivity; and

  d. any related matters;