The Rudd Government has committed to the introduction of a national compact with the community sector and is currently consulting with NGOs regarding the development of such an agreement by 2009. This report considers whether a formal agreement is the right way for the government and the community sector to go about building an on-going...

The Rudd Government has announced its intention to introduce an Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), now being referred to as a Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS), by 2010. Central to the scheme will be the sale by the Federal Government of permits to industrial interests which emit carbon pollution as part of their commercial activities. Businesses...

In this talk at the Manning Clark House Weekend of Ideas, the acting director of The Australia Institute posits that, without any evident philosophical reflection, a series of changes to character tests under Australian law testify to the fact that in this country, character is increasingly destiny.

Australia's love affair with easy credit has turned on itself. In early 2008, the price of credit reached its highest point in 14 years, following 12 successive interest rate rises since 2001. With the domestic economy overheating, and home buyers feeling the economic pain associated with higher interest rates and inflation, consumer debt has become...

This report investigates the increasing complexity of financial decisions. It finds that many Australians believe that financial investments and superannuation are too confusing. The paper surveys Australian attitudes to personal finance and makes several recommendations for government, industry and individuals. The report recommends that governments should: • provide consumers with simple, independent information to compare...