This paper outlines the challenges of forecasting and communicating estimates of the revenue impact of policies over the medium term. The variety of policy costings that Treasury undertakes and the benefits and shortcomings of static and dynamic microsimulation approaches are discussed, with the paper concluding that medium term estimates need to be treated and communicated...

In the May 2005 budget the federal government announced a range of proposed welfare to work measures, including the plan to shift sole parents with a youngest child aged six years or more onto the Newstart Allowance. This report shows that the disposable incomes of sole parents could be up to about $100 a week...

Kath Hulse, Bill Randolph, Matthew Toohey, Gillian Beer and Rob Lee provide an overview and context for a research project seeking to assess the effect of housing costs, housing subsidy structures and housing administrative requirements on the capacity of unemployed people to gain employment.

The introduction of A New Tax System in July 2000 included substantial changes to social security payments, including family assistance and child care subsidies. Most of these payments are income tested, so that as a family's income increases the amount of government assistance they receive is reduced. This paper analyses the impact of increasing income...