This E-Brief updates earlier statistics on funding provided to the ABC by the Australian Government and information on funding derived from other sources.

This paper discusses the likely dates of the next federal, state and territory elections, surveying the factors that constrain the election dates.

This Research Note examines the three major measures of home loan affordability in Australia and their limitations. The Note also looks at the trend in home loan affordability over the past 20 years and shows how the sensitivity of home loan affordability to interest rate changes has increased gradually over time.

Reports of an ‘obesity epidemic’ appear with increasing frequency and rising concern in Australia. Particular attention is given to reports of the accelerating rate of obesity among Australian children. Despite this high profile of obesity as a public health issue, some aspects of the debate rest on limited evidence and/or outdated data, including: out-dated national...

Rhonda Jolly provides an overview of the development of media ownership regulations and the changes wrought by the recently implemented media ownship legislation. The Bill permits cross-media mergers in radio licence areas where sufficient diversity of media groups remains following the mergers. At least five separate media groups will be required to remain in mainland...