Australia’s consolidated government accounts bring together federal, state and local governments spending and revenue statistics. This gives the most complete picture of the nation’s fiscal position. The spending trends outlined in this report highlight that Australia’s fiscal system is inconsistent and inflexible. The analysis points to six potential issues in current policy setting processes.

The Albanese Government has promised to cut 20% of outstanding student debt. This paper assesses the potential short- and long-term impact of the policy by simulating what might have happened had such a cut been implemented in 2012 instead of 2025.

This report highlights how today’s young Australians differ from previous generations and explores what this means for their economic security, work opportunities, living arrangements, path to independence and overall wellbeing. For policymakers seeking to seeking to ensure that an intergenerational pattern of improvement continues, this report offers three implications.

Teacher attrition – the rate at which teachers leave the profession – is often seen as a key factor behind teacher shortages in Australia. Using linked administrative tax data, this analysis offers a detailed picture of who is leaving the teaching profession, when they leave and what they do next.