Interim Report: Regional Inequality in Australia
28 June 2019
© Commonwealth of Australia 2019
View the report as a single document - (PDF 16KB)
On 14 February 2018, the Senate referred the following matter to the Senate Economics References Committee for inquiry and report by the last day of sitting in June 2019.
The indicators of, and impact of, regional inequality in Australia, with particular reference to government policies and programs in the following areas:
- fiscal policies at federal, state and local government levels;
- improved co-ordination of federal, state and local government policies;
- regional development policies;
- infrastructure;
- education;
- building human capital;
- enhancing local workforce skills;
- employment arrangements;
- decentralisation policies;
- innovation;
- manufacturing; and
- any other related matters
Conduct of inquiry
In accordance with usual practice, the committee advertised the inquiry on its website and wrote to relevant stakeholders and interested parties inviting submissions.
The committee received 129 submissions, and held three public hearings in Queensland on 29 August 2018 in Emerald; 5 November 2018 in Darwin; and 7 November 2018 in Townsville.
Conclusion
On 11 April July 2019, the Governor-General prorogued the 45th Parliament and dissolved the House of Representatives. After due consideration, the committee has determined that it will table this interim report as it is unable to provide a comprehensive report at this point in time. The committee will reconsider the issues of this inquiry in the event that it is re-referred to the committee in the new parliament.
Senator Chris Ketter
Chair
Senate Economics References Committee