Students with similar individual and parental characteristics attending the same school, but living in neighbourhoods with different levels of socioeconomic status, are likely to have similar educational outcomes. About the research: While much research has been conducted on the influence of individual and family characteristics on social exclusion, very little has examined the role of...

Following a Productivity Commission review of Australia's consumer policy framework, all Australian governments agreed to a new consumer policy framework, comprising a single national consumer law and streamlined enforcement arrangements. An Australian Consumer Law will significantly enhance consumer protection, reduce regulatory complexity for businesses and encourage the development of a seamless national economy. Greater enforcement...

This report presents the results of the Treasury's economic modelling of the potential economic impacts of reducing emissions over the medium and long term. It spans global, national and sectoral scales, and looks at distributional impacts, such as the implications of emission pricing for the goods and services that households consume. The Treasury's modelling demonstrates...

On 5 February 2008 the federal government announced the formation of the Financial Services Working Group dedicated to looking at the key issues associated with financial services advice and disclosure. The Working Group comprises senior officials from the Department of Treasury, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and the Department of Finance and Deregulation.

The purpose of this green paper is to consult stakeholders about the following range of financial services and credit reform initiatives: • the development of a comprehensive approach to the regulation of mortgages and mortgage broking advice; • the regulation of margin lending; • the creation of a national market for trustee corporations through the...