For the purposes of this inquiry, the Committee accepted a broad definition of both foreign policy, and foreign policy research, in order to explore all the evidence provided. This inquiry report primarily explores the role of government funding of foreign policy research and analysis.

The Inland Rail project has the potential to provide significant benefit to rural, regional and urban communities — enabling a more efficient movement of freight across Australia and further diversification of the nation’s freight infrastructure. However, throughout this inquiry, the committee heard a number of fundamental concerns in key areas of the project.

In gathering evidence for this final report, the Committee considered skilled migration in the context of the other levers available to government. It became apparent that greater coordination of effort across the Commonwealth and across jurisdictions is needed to identify labour shortages and formulate the appropriate policy response to those shortages.

This inquiry report recommends that Australian governments should work together to establish a ten-year national strategy on homelessness. The report contains 35 recommendations which involve a renewed approach to preventing and addressing homelessness in Australia.

This report is based on five Australian National Audit Office reports, each of which examines the operations of a particular regulator, into areas as diverse as higher education, environmental protection, the lobbying code of conduct, the national energy market, and electoral funding disclosures.