The Senate Finance and Public Administration References Committee was tasked with inquiring into how to appropriately regulate access to Australian Parliament by lobbyists, and how to improve the current transparency arrangements without unduly impeding what is both a legitimate political activity and an important feature of Australian democracy.

This final inquiry report builds on the Committee's interim report, published in February 2024, that made five recommendations focused on improving transparency, accountability, and oversight in the process for negotiating Australia’s trade and investment agreements.

The primary recommendation from this inquiry is for the Australian government to establish a Royal Commission to examine the Australian response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the consequential impacts on the Australian community.

This report recommends reviewing funding arrangements and allocations to ensure that the funding is adequate to eradicate red imported fire ants and investigate other models that would improve delivery and transparency in any eradication program.

The Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme was introduced in 2018 with the purpose of bringing transparency to activities undertaken on behalf of foreign principals, particularly where those activities are intended to influence Australian political and governmental systems and processes. This report report makes 14 recommendations to improve the scheme and its administration.