Executive summary In 2014, the 50% of median income poverty line for a single adult was $426.30 a week (or $343.00 for income after housing costs). For a couple with children it was $895.22 a week (or $720.22 after housing). Using the after-housing poverty line, the headline poverty rate in 2014 is 13.3%, slightly lower...

The 2016-17 Budget comes at a challenging time for public policy. Economic growth remains sluggish as the economy transitions away from the mining boom. Governments face fiscal pressures both from this economic adjustment and from the ageing population. At the same time, core Government services and payments are not meeting the community’s needs. Our health...

Australia is a comparatively low taxing and low spending country, with the most tightly targeted income support system in the OECD. We are facing a medium term budget challenge, which must be addressed in a way that supports both economic growth and equity and gives people confidence that funding for vital services is secure into...

Increases in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) are being advocated to help fund services provided by the States such as health care; to replace other indirect taxes such as Stamp Duties or Payroll Taxes; or to pay for income or company tax cuts. Many people are concerned about the impact of a higher GST...

Summary A secure retirement rests on three foundations: adequate income, affordable housing, and decent affordable health and aged care. Income alone is not enough. There is a serious imbalance in the Federal Government’s support for retirement, with an estimated $30 billion ‘spent’ each year on inefficient tax breaks for superannuation while health funding is being...