This series of papers summarises key features of the new Federal Budget. Overview The 2014–15 Budget was introduced into Parliament on 13 May 2014. It is the first Budget of the Coalition Government. This overview provides a summary of the headline numbers, the economic context, the government’s fiscal strategy and broader policy agenda, and how...

This paper provides a summary of some of the key statistics on permanent and temporary migration to Australia. Overview Australia is considered to be one of the world’s major ‘immigration nations‘ (together with New Zealand, Canada and the United States of America (USA). Since 1945, when the first federal immigration portfolio was created, over 7.5...

This quick guide provides a brief background to the Commonwealth’s Renewable Energy Target – what it is, what it costs, how it operates, and whether it is achieving its aims. What is the Renewable Energy Target? The Renewable Energy Target is a Commonwealth Government scheme to increase the proportion of electricity generated in Australia from...

Through the Australian Defence Force Gap Year program and the preceding Ready Reserve scheme, Australian school-leavers have had the opportunity to experience full-time military training without the obligations of longer-term initial periods of service. This paper analyses these programs, assessing their respective characteristics, identifying both supporters and detractors, and highlighting various challenges. Introduction During the...

This paper provides an overview of the national policy framework for the provision of universal access to early childhood education in Australia. Introduction The imperative to provide universal access to early childhood education (ECE) is supported by a significant body of research that demonstrates the benefits of ECE for later life outcomes, particularly for disadvantaged...