Senate inquiry into regional inequality

The Senate Economics References Committee  is conducting an inquiry into the indicators of, and impact of, regional inequality in Australia.

Under its terms of reference, the Committee is considering 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;

• inovation;

• manufacturing; and

• any other related matters.

Submissions to the inquiry are due by April 30, and the Committee is particularly interested in hearing about:

• experiences of individuals and localities of unequal access to opportunities and unequal outcomes in non-metropolitan areas;

• views on the causes of inequality between regions, especially between capital cities and other areas;

• analysis of the economics of regional inequality, including wider impacts;

• examples of solutions: what has caused some regions or towns to prosper?

• policy settings which could help address inequality between regions.

More information is here