Senate debates

Thursday, 25 February 2021

Committees

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee; Reference

11:49 am

Photo of Anne UrquhartAnne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | | Hansard source

At the request of Senator Kitching, I move:

That the following matter be referred to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee for inquiry and report by 17 June 2021:

The contribution of government funding for public research into current and emerging foreign policy issues affecting Australia, with a focus on our key interests in the Indo-Pacific, including examining:

(a) current funding by Australian Government departments and agencies in this area;

(b) the quality and diversity of publicly funded think tanks focused on foreign policy;

(c) ways of enhancing greater public understanding of foreign policy issues;

(d) how the Australian Government involves states, business, civil society, unions, universities, think tanks, diasporas and the wider community in developing and implementing foreign policy;

(e) strategies the Australian Government should adopt to build the knowledge needed to support more effective future foreign policy; and

(f) any related issues.

Question agreed to.