The shock that property crime can cause is underestimated by most people – burglary victims, in particular, may experience a psychological trauma in addition to the loss of the property itself. Summary Property crime in Australia declined by more than half between 2001 and 2011 – affecting 2.9 per cent of households in 2012, according...

This paper examines productivity in the construction industry, in terms of both how productive construction is now as well as how productivity growth has performed over time. Executive summary Construction is an important industry in Australia, with sales accounting for $327 billion or some 21 per cent of GDP and its contribution to value added...

This paper provides a brief overview of the size, growth and prospects for the Australian solar industry and argues that as the number of solar panels installed continues to rise, the cost of installation and maintenance will continue to fall. Summary The solar industry in Australia is growing rapidly, creating jobs and, as a result...

The Palmer United Party recently announced its intention to block a number of government savings measures. This paper provides an overview of the distribution of those measures. The deferral of the increase in the bottom tax threshold was included in the package of measures to abolish the carbon tax. The rest of the measures relate...

This paper is designed to demystify the Renewable Energy Target, look at what it has achieved and what it is capable of achieving, and to consider the challenges it faces in the near future. Overview Australians love renewable energy. A recent survey by The Australia Institute found 86 per cent of respondents want to see...