As of a month ago, there were 308 reports by Senate committees and joint parliamentary committees stretching back into the mists, of which 64% were still “being considered”.
That’s 198 of the 308 reports on issues that concern citizens across the spectrum that do not have a government response, and probably never will.
This is work where members of the public, community organisations and corporations have toiled over submissions, while public servants put in thousands of hours bringing these inquiries into the daylight.
The daddy of them all has to be the Senate Select Committee report on A Certain Maritime Incident (aka the Tampa affair).
It was tabled on October 23, 2002, and we are told: “the government’s response is being considered”.
The select committee’s long-neglected report with its recommendations is here.
All sorts of curiosities have been investigated, yet are still begging for the government of the day to show its hand. A random selection includes:
• Definitions of meat and other animal products. The Senate Standing Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs. February 2022;
• Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity’s overseas enforcement activities. Joint Statutory Committee. June, 2013.
• Indefinite detention of people with cognitive and psychiatric impairment. Community Affairs Legislation Standing Committee. November 2016.
• Constitutional Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Peoples. Joint Select Committee. November 2018.
• Radio Active Waste Management. Senate Economics Legislation Committee. September 2020.
• Financial abuse: an insidious form of domestic violence. Corporations and Financial Services Joint Standing Committee. December 2024.
• Adopting artificial intelligence. Senate Select Committee. November 2024.
• The Influence of international digital platforms. Senate Economic References Standing Committee. November 2023.
• The issue of increasing disruption in Australian school classrooms – final report. Senate Education Standing Committee. February 2024.
• Oil and gas exploration and production in the Beetaloo Basin. Senate Standing Reference Committee on Environment & Communications. April 2023.
• Access to the Australian Parliament House by lobbyists. Senate Standing References Committee on Finance and Public Administration. May 2024.
• Inquiry into Australia’s aid program. Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade. April 2019.
• Magnitsky sanctions. Foreign Affairs Standing Committee. March 2025.
• Implications of climate change for Australia’s national security. Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs. May 2018.
• Freedom of Speech in Australia. The Human Rights Joint Statutory Committee. March 2017.
• Hate Crimes Bill. Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs. December 2024.
• Whistleblower protection. Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs. August 2025.
That’s just a smattering of the 198 reports, all of which find successive governments mute about the work done on important elements of Australian life, society and polity.
Earlier this month, we reported on the pile of reports dealing with government secrecy laws and their impact on the media’s ability to do its job. See Report Card.
The full list of responses and non-responses to committee reports is here.