The National Gambling Toll calculates the financial losses of Australia’s addiction to gambling. Between March 2025 and March 2026, Australians lost $36.0 billion to gambling. On a per person basis, Australians lose more money to gambling than any other country. This paper finds that without comprehensive reform, this toll will only continue to grow.

War in the Middle East will likely increase global energy prices and presents significant implications for Australians and the Australian economy. This paper finds that Australian Government choices will determine how hard the price spike hits Australian households, how huge gas export company profits are and how much tax revenue Australia will collect.

Australians are spending more on music than ever before, but less is going to Australian artists. Policy support matters – Australia’s arts funding is among the lowest in the developed world. United States artists dominate Australian charts, but the example of Taiwan shows what better support for the arts can do.

Australia’s recorded music industry is making more money, but less of it is staying in Australia. This paper suggests two ways that new artists could be better supported: by supporting local content curators on radio and streaming services; and by providing grants to enable touring artists to extend their tours.

This paper analysed data on poker machines from each Australian state and territory, comparing it to the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in each area. It finds that poker machines are more likely to be located in areas of Australia in which at least 10% of the population is Indigenous, except Western...