The House of Representatives Joint Standing Committee on Trade and Investment Growth has commenced a new inquiry into creating sustainable economic growth in rural and regional Australia.
The Committee seeks to identify opportunities to promote and support sustainable markets for rural and regional small and medium businesses in all sectors, through enhanced branding, and certification of Australian grown or produced goods and services.
The inquiry will also examine strategies to improve Australia's marketing efforts to promote its 'clean and green' agricultural, food and drink outputs; and how these align with tourism in rural and regional Australia.
Chair of the Committee, Senator Marielle Smith said, 'The Committee is keen to explore the opportunities—both traditional and innovative—that our rural and regional producers and operators are embracing; and how small and medium businesses can be better supported to not only stay in existing markets, but importantly to expand them.
'We would like to hear views from a wide variety of stakeholders about what would make a real difference in sustaining economic growth in rural and regional Australia, including through improving domestic and international branding, and certification of products and services,' Senator Smith explained.
'Our regional and rural outputs are diverse and are the foundation of safe and top quality goods for domestic consumption and for highly-regarded and identifiable products demanded in overseas markets.'
The Committee invites interested individuals and organisations to make submissions by Friday, 17 October 2025.
Further information about the Committee's inquiry, including the terms of reference and how to contribute, are available on the Committee's website.
