Research // Governance & Government Agencies
-
Economics
- Banking & Finance
- Employment & Unemployment
- Future of Work
- Gender at Work
- Gig Economy
- Industry & Sector Policies
- Inequality
- Infrastructure & Construction
- Insecure & Precarious Work
- Labour Standards & Workers' Rights
- Macroeconomics
- Population & Migration
- Public Sector, Procurement & Privatisation
- Retirement
- Science & Technology
- Social Security & Welfare
- Tax, Spending & the Budget
- Unions & Collective Bargaining
- Wages & Entitlements
- Young Workers
- Climate & Energy
- Democracy & Accountability
- Environment
- International & Security Affairs
- Law, Society & Culture
February 2013
Culture of resistance
This paper looks at how Australian governments have responded to anti-microbial resistance (AMR) since the problem became evident in the 1980s. Of particular importance in Australia’s response was the 1999 establishment of the Joint Expert Technical Advisory Committee on Antibiotic Resistance (JETACAR), which was set up to provide independent expert scientific advice on the threat
December 2012
Tasmanian Forest Agreement 2012: Who is the winner?
On 22 November 2012, the timber industry and environmental non-government organisations released the Tasmanian Forest Agreement 2012 (TFA). The agreement includes a number of components, the most significant of which are the support for the creation of an additional 504,012 ha of forest reserves, a reduction in the high quality sawlog guarantee from 300,000 m3
April 2012
Showing their helping hand: The selective promotion of government assistance
Although Australia has a long tradition of providing welfare support, in recent times the promotion of available support has been at best selective. In recent years, campaigns to raise awareness have focused on promoting new forms of assistance, often those that are initiatives of the current government. The Education Tax Refund (ETR) is an example
February 2012
The use and abuse of economic modelling in Australia
“When I began the study of economics some forty one years ago, I was struck by the incongruity between the models that I was taught and the world that I had seen growing up” – Nobel Prize Winning Economist Joseph Stiglitz. Economic modelling has, for many people involved in Australian policy debates, become synonymous with
July 2009
November 2006
All Quiet In the Ranks: An exploration of dissent in Australia’s security agencies
Australia’s security agencies have become increasingly politicised under the Howard Government. Whistleblower and former intelligence official Andrew Wilkie has put forward a four-point plan to ensure the independence of Australian security agencies.
February 2006
August 2005
Response to the Minister for the Environment and Heritage’s Media Release concerning The Australia Institute Report, Playing Politics with the Federal Heritage Regime
This piece raises questions around the handling of the funding for the Don Bradman Heritage Trail and the Australian Cricket Captains’ Walk projects. Firstly despite no application for funding being lodged by either of these projects both received funding. There has been no reason supplied as to why the Minister of the Environment has changed
June 2005
Who is Better at Managing the Australian Economy: Labor or the Coalition?
A new analysis of the economic performance of the Hawke-Keating Labor Government and the Howard Government concludes that, in a reversal of what would be expected, Labor did better at controlling inflation and the real rate of interest, while the Coalition did better at reducing unemployment and cutting the current account deficit.
July 2004
Taming the Panda: The relationship between WWF Australia and the Howard Government
WWF Australia describes itself as an independent, supporter-based and non-party political conservation organisation. This paper provides an analysis of this statement.
June 2004
Silencing Dissent: Non-government organisations and Australian democracy
NGOs play an indispensable role in Australian public debate. This paper discusses the wide-spread alarm among NGOs about their lack of ability to speak out in support of those they represent without being denigrated and having their funding cut.
Public policy, complexity and rulebase technology
Examines the growing complexity in legislation and public administration. It explores the consequences and offers some possible solutions.
November 1999
Subsidies to the aluminium industry and climate change
A submission to Senate Environment References Committee Inquiry into Australia’s Response to Global Warming
July 1996
What should governments do? Auditing the Audit Commission
The National Commission of Audit was established immediately after the Coalition’s 1996 election victory. It was charged with the task of reporting to the Government on the finances of the Commonwealth and measures to improve its fiscal position. The contributions to this discussion paper provide a thorough critique of the underlying assumptions of the Audit