The Senate Economics References Committee has produced this interim report because it has become increasingly concerned about the status of the Future Submarine Program (FSP) and the Department of Defence's lack of responsiveness, in terms of providing information on the project.

Regional inequality has been increasing in many countries. It is well recognised that living standards across Australia are also not equal. People in regions away from the capital cities generally have lower incomes, poorer health outcomes, less access to services. This inquiry report looks at...

The intractable maths of low income earners' family budgets pushes them towards the marginal credit products such as payday loans, consumer leases and debt management firms. This report argues that government can and should improve the terms under which these products are offered.

Australians have high expectations for aged care. They rightly expect that they, and those they love, will be treated with dignity and decency at the end of their lives. The nation faces increasing challenges in meeting those expectations as Australia's ageing population places further demands...

This report focuses on a number of key issues in the current consumer protection system. The list of key issues is not intended to be comprehensive; rather, the report provides a 'snapshot' of concerns raised in evidence about consumer protections, or the lack thereof, in...