TERMS OF REFERENCE
On 26 June 1996, the Senate referred the following matter to the Committee
for inquiry and report by 20 August 1996*:
The proposed abolition of the Development Import Finance Facility (DIFF)
scheme, with particular reference to
(a) the impact on existing and potential commitments by Australian
industry under the scheme, including impacts on Australian workers;
(b) the impact on the Australian economy and the economies of those
countries with which Australia has relationships under the scheme;
(c) the effects of the cessation of 'Green DIFF' projects;
(d) the impact on Australia's international relations in the Asia-Pacific
region;
(e) the role of concessional finance arrangements in advancing Australia's
overseas development aid objectives and in assisting Australian companies
to win export opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region;
(f) the Government's management and implementation of its decision
to abolish the scheme; and
(g) the extent to which the DIFF could be further refined to assist
developing countries in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions
* The reporting date was extended to 17 September 1996 and subsequently
to 15 October 1996.