NSW public expenditure on health represents one-third of the entire NSW budget. Despite public hospitals consuming nearly 60% of the high and rapidly growing health spending, elective waiting times have lengthened in NSW compared to other states in the last decade. In an ever-tightening fiscal environment, the focus of NSW health policy must be microeconomic...

Europe’s economic crisis has been shaking financial markets for the past three years. Countries like Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Spain and even Italy are in danger of defaulting on their debt. The continent’s banking system looks fragile. A whole generation of young Europeans faces an uncertain future with worsening employment prospects. What does this mean for...

Like Australia, Southeast Asian states worry about a future where their major economic partner may come into conflict with their security guarantor. All Southeast Asian states want to take advantage of the benefits of a rising China, yet none wants it to be in a position to dominate the region strategically. All welcome America’s strategic...

This paper argues that the most important thing we can do to encourage disadvantaged Australians into work is to turn our culture of low expectations into one that supports high achievement. In a wealthy country like Australia, perhaps the most damaging kind of poverty is not a lack of income but a lack of aspiration.

Aboriginal Health Workers receive the lowest pay among community service and health occupations but are assumed to be able to deal with some of the country’s most intractable health problems, argues this report. Aboriginal Health Workers (AHWs) have been short changed. They have not only been provided with charlatan training but also sold a charlatan...