The theme of the 2005 State of Australian Cities national conference was the sustainability and vulnerability of Australian cities. Sustainability focuses on the economic, social and environmental realms as they are found in cities. Vulnerability deals with the economic, social and environmental risks facing cities. So where does governance fit into these themes?

Boarding houses are an important source of low cost accommodation in most Australian cities. In this project the potential role of government in protecting and encouraging this form of accommodation is examined. The positioning paper and final report from this research project are now available online.

This Positioning Paper outlines a research program examining the emergence of tenancy databases - their uses and impacts - in the context of key issues of tenure management in the Australian private rental sector. Included in this paper is an outline of the range and scope of tenancy databases currently operating in Australia, and the...

The private rental sector plays a key role in the Australian housing system. Its capacity to serve low- to moderate-income households, however, is constrained. This paper explores how low- and moderate-income private renters experience, perceive and indicate a need for "security of tenure".