Since the advent of European settlement, Australia has been a net recipient of foreign investment. Foreign investment is crucial to grow the Australian economy, but it does not necessarily follow that all foreign investment is equally productive. The committee urges the Australian government to accept the findings and recommendations of this report in the spirit...

The Senate Economics References Committee has produced this interim report because it has become increasingly concerned about the status of the Future Submarine Program (FSP) and the Department of Defence's lack of responsiveness, in terms of providing information on the project.

Regional inequality has been increasing in many countries. It is well recognised that living standards across Australia are also not equal. People in regions away from the capital cities generally have lower incomes, poorer health outcomes, less access to services. This inquiry report looks at how inequality in the regions can be reduced.

The intractable maths of low income earners' family budgets pushes them towards the marginal credit products such as payday loans, consumer leases and debt management firms. This report argues that government can and should improve the terms under which these products are offered.

Australians have high expectations for aged care. They rightly expect that they, and those they love, will be treated with dignity and decency at the end of their lives. The nation faces increasing challenges in meeting those expectations as Australia's ageing population places further demands on our aged care system.