Future role and contribution of regional capitals to Australia

At the dissolution of the Senate and the House of Representatives on 9 May 2016 for a general election on 2 July 2016, the parliamentary committees of the 44th Parliament ceased to exist. Therefore inquiries that were not completed have lapsed and submissions cannot be received.  However, information about the inquiries is still available on this website. 

Information on committees for the 45th Parliament will be presented here as soon as it is available.


On 11 February 2015, the Senate moved that the following matters be referred to the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee for inquiry and report by 1 December 2015.

Future role and contribution of regional capitals to Australia.

Submissions should be received by 30 April 2015. The reporting date is 1 December 2015. On 12 November 2015, the Senate granted an extension of time for reporting until 12 May 2016.

Note: the terms of reference do not define ‘regional capitals’. The committee is interested in receiving submissions not just from representatives of regional capitals, but also from other towns and cities who have relevant views to express about the current and future role of regional capitals . Any person, organisation, town or city may contribute to the inquiry through making a submission by 30 April 2015.

Committee Secretariat contact:

Committee Secretary
Senate Standing Committees on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

Phone: +61 2 6277 3511
rrat.sen@aph.gov.au