New Research

What are the benefits and risks of home ownership for low-moderate income households?

30 January 2012The study emanated from a concern that popular and political support for home ownership is such that critical questions about the degree to which all home owners realise the projected financial and non-financial benefits of home ownership are rarely asked.

Exploring the use of residual measures of housing affordability in Australia: methodologies and concepts

30 January 2012This essay argues that new approaches to measuring housing affordability are needed and are possible in Australia.

Caring for country: Australian natural and cultural resource management

30 January 2012This issue presents work and ideas from a diverse range of Indigenous and non-Indigenous practitioners, researchers and collaborators who work in central and northern Australia in a range of environments, from local to regional scales.

How do we regenerate middle suburban ‘greyfield’ areas?

30 January 2012This bulletin reveals areas of the country which require major regeneration of residential, energy, water and communications infastructure, better known as 'grey fields'.

The role of informal community resources in supporting independent housing for young people recovering from mental illness

30 January 2012This project looks at the housing issues facing young independant people with mental illness.

The role of assertive outreach in ending 'rough sleeping'

The role of assertive outreach in ending 'rough sleeping'

19 January 2012Drawing on experience of policy-makers, service providers and service users in Brisbane, Sydney and Darwin, this paper suggests that deliberate and strategic attempts to end a person's homelessness can be successful.

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Climate change

No quick fix for Australia’s future energy challenge

06 February 2012This report sets out the findings of the technology assessments and reviews the implications for government policy in terms of developing and deploying low emissions electricity technology.

Carbon policy assistance reviews: the Commission's tasks

24 January 2012This consultation paper sets out the nature of each of the tasks assigned to the Commission for the Government's Clean Energy Future Package.

Fossil fuel taxes

10 January 2012This paper identifies the fuels that are taxed, the forms that the taxes take and, where possible, quantifies the amounts collected.

Urban planning

Commentary

Can nations measure well-being?

09 December 2011The attempt to measure quality of life over time and between places is still in its infancy, writes Peter Shergold for the Centre for Social Impact.

Tax reform: a world of opportunity

29 September 2011The Henry Report spelt out a series of tax reforms that would increase environmental and social sustainability, writes Josh Dowse in Inside Story. It’s great ammunition for a debate that needs a fresh start

The political consequences of Australia's resources boom

23 August 2011Australia is more affected by the recent market crashes than it appears, say Shahar Hameiri and Toby Carroll on The Drum.

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Topic Guides

Climate change science 'top ten' sources to build your personal knowledge

  • Stefanie Pillora
  • Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government

07 November 2011Acknowledging the importance of drawing from credible sources, this guide provides advice on ten reliable and easily accessible sources of research written for non-specialist readers.

The clean energy plan

  • Clean Energy Future

11 July 2011Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer Wayne Swan, and Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency Greg Combet announced the Australian Government’s comprehensive plan for tackling climate change, ‘Securing a clean energy future’.

Guideline on the application of the premises standards - 2011

  • Australian Human Rights Commission

04 April 2011This guide has been issued to help designers, architects, builders and clients to better understand the Disability (Access to Premises - buildings) Standards 2010  which will commence on 1 May 2011.

Audio

D-I-Y asbestos

Listen to audio
05 September 2011D-I-Y home renovations have led to higher asbestos exposure and a subsequent rise in malignant mesothelioma.

Understanding the rise of solo living in Australia

Listen to audio
29 August 2011One in four Australian households are single occupancy homes, and it's predicted that in the coming decades millions more of us will choose to live alone.

Sustainability

Swimming upstream: local Indonesian production networks in "globalized" palm oil production

Swimming upstream: local Indonesian production networks in "globalized" palm oil production

13 February 2012When agricultural commodities in developing countries experience an economic boom, they offer potential pathways out of poverty while creating environmental and social problems.

Victorian Food and Fibre Export Performance: 2010-11 Financial Year

30 January 2012This report is prepared to provide information on the value of Victorian and Australian food and fibre exports.

Video

The block: lives, plans and futures

Listen to audio
16 October 2009More than any other urban area in Australia, the Block in Sydney's inner-city suburb of Redfern, has become a meeting place and, some say, spiritual home for city-dwelling   

Reshaping global economic geography

Listen to audio
24 August 2009Truman Packard presents the findings of the 2009 World Bank Development Report which he co-authored. Speaking at Sydney University, he looks at the geography of economic development and how spatial factors affect development potential.

Housing

Websites

Census of Population and Housing

04 August 2011This is the official website for matters concerning the 9 August 2011 Census of Population and Housing in Australia.

Australian Social Policy Association (ASPA)

18 July 2011Established to promote debate and to increase understanding of social policy in Australia, the ASPA enables productive collaborations between those working and researching in social policy locally, across the Asia-Pacific region and internationally.

Specialist Homelessness Services collection

04 July 2011Focusing on people's experiences of homelessness, a new collection to assist in measuring homelessness in Australia has been launched by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

Most viewed: This week

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Can nations measure well-being?
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Can Germany go green?
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Climate change and public health in Indonesia: impacts and adaptation
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The role of assertive outreach in ending 'rough sleeping'
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Mining the truth: The rhetoric and reality of the commodities boom

Books

Cold light

Cold light

  • Frank Moorhouse
  • Random House Australia
Cold Light is about power, secrecy, the mortal struggle between capitalism and communism, – and urban planning. This compelling story is set in the still largely empty spaces of Canberra, a mere 23 years after its founding.
The rational optimist

The rational optimist

  • Matt Ridley
  • Fourth Estate
Predicting disaster has always sold well. But, over the last 10,000 years, things have usually turned out much better than expected.

Noticeboard

Topic Guides

Climate change science 'top ten' sources to build your personal knowledge

  • Stefanie Pillora
  • Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government

07 November 2011Acknowledging the importance of drawing from credible sources, this guide provides advice on ten reliable and easily accessible sources of research written for non-specialist readers.

Topics

APO