This draft report was released to assist participants in preparing a submission to the public inquiry into Electricity Network Regulation. Australia’s electricity sector is facing a number of challenges over the coming years. This includes a large investment requirement for networks to replace ageing assets, meet growing levels of peak demand, reliability requirements and to...

This productivity commission report looks into the new changes to superannuation funds in award wages. Australia’s three-pillar retirement income policy comprises a means-tested and government-funded age pension, supported by both voluntary saving and compulsory superannuation contributions. Superannuation effectively became compulsory in 1992 with the introduction of the superannuation guarantee. This guarantee now requires employers to...

Australia and New Zealand have distinct national identities and physical environments. However, they are also both former British colonies, sharing much history and common endeavour. In the late 19th century they contemplated political union. While this did not eventuate, they continue to have much in common, including in culture, institutions and values. And the two...

The 2012 Indigenous Expenditure Report provides estimates of expenditure on services provided to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people by the Australian Government, and State and Territory governments. Estimates are provided for each level of government, Australia as a whole, and by state and territory geographical basis, for 2008-09 and 2010-11.1 These estimates provide one...

There is considerable scope to improve the way that regulations are developed and scrutinised by all governments, according to this draft report. In Regulatory Impact Analysis: Benchmarking - a report requested by COAG - the Productivity Commission compares the regulatory impact analysis processes of the Commonwealth, States and Territories and COAG, and identifies leading practices...