On 14 February 2018 the following matter was referred to the 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:

     a)     fiscal policies at federal, state and local government levels;

     b)     improved co-ordination of federal, state and local government policies;

     c)     regional development policies;

     d)     infrastructure;

     e)     education;

     f)      building human capital;

     g)     enhancing local workforce skills;

     h)     employment arrangements;

     i)      decentralisation policies;

     j)      innovation;

     k)     manufacturing; and

     l)      any other related matters.