Terms of Reference

Inquiry into the Government's economic stimulus initiatives

Terms of Reference

1) That the following matter be referred to the Economics References Committee for inquiry and report by 2 October 2009:
The economic stimulus initiatives announced by the Government since October 2008.
(2) That the Senate requests the committee:
(a) to invite the Secretary of the Treasury, accompanied by any other officials he considers appropriate, to appear before the committee, on or after the morning of Monday, 14 September 2009, for the purpose of giving evidence on the matter;
(b) to invite the Reserve Bank Governor, Mr Glenn Stevens, and other independent pre-eminent economists to appear before the committee, on a date to be determined by the committee, for the purpose of giving evidence on the matter; and
(c) to hold public meetings to take evidence from those witnesses, in the form of a full update on the economic stimulus initiatives, which addresses:
(i) the efficacy of the spending measures to date,
(ii) the anticipated costs and benefits of continuing the spending measures,
(iii) consequent change in the stimulus ‘roll out' that ought to be entertained given the changed economic circumstances,
(iv) anticipated impact of the stimulus spending on future interest rate movements and taxpayer liabilities,
(v) an evaluation of the environmental impacts of the spending to date, and
(vi) other related matters.
For further information, contact:

Department of the Senate
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Australia

Phone:+61 2 6277 3540
Fax:+61 2 6277 5719
Email:economics.sen@aph.gov.au