The Australian education system is currently experiencing rapid change at all levels. This paper considers the recent trends in private school enrolments and fees in light of the new university arrangements which allow for Australian citizens to enrol as full fee paying students rather than having to rely solely on academic merit to earn a...

Recent comments by Australian negotiators indicate that the US is seeking changes to Australia's intellectual property laws, particularly as they relate to pharmaceuticals. Such changes have the capacity to undermine the effectiveness of the pharmaceutical benefits scheme and lead to higher costs in Australia. Buddhima Lokuge, Thomas Alured Faunce and Richard Denniss analyse the likely...

They propose that financial incentives be offered to individuals or firms participating in illegal activity in return for the provision of evidence against other participants. In order to ensure that attractive incentives can be offered, and large fines levied, it is also proposed that a revenue contingent payment mechanism be utilised to extract both incentive...

With the third round of trade negotiations currently underway, this paper explores possible consequences of relaxing pharmaceutical-pricing regulations. At a time when many countries are struggling with rising pharmaceutical costs, the ability of the PBS to control the price Australia pays for new medicines helps to manage expenditures and thus ensures the sustainability of the...

This report highlights the low level of annual leave available to most Australian employees when compared to the amount of leave available to European workers. A survey commissioned by The Australia Institute found that 57 per cent of full-time employees did not take their full holiday leave entitlements in 2002; 42 per cent of those...