This paper seeks to provide a guide to better understand: what is expertise, how to determine who are the relevant experts where it comes to the technical aspects of public policy debates, and how to go about choosing between competing expert claims.

This background note describes the current situation with regard to refugee entitlements to social security and other assistance.

This background note outlines the available evidence in relation to income management in the Northern Territory, Cape York and Western Australia, and concludes that the evidence for or against it is inconclusive. Income management (also known as ‘welfare quarantining’) refers to a policy under which a percentage of the welfare payments of certain people are...

This paper provides information on the relationship between income management and the Racial Discrimination Act and the issues that are likely to arise if this question comes before the Australian Human Rights Commission for determination. Income management refers to a policy under which a percentage of the welfare payments of certain people are set aside...

This digest explains the key features of the Clean Energy Bill. The Government intends to provide financial assistance to low to middle income households and others, to compensate for the cost of living impact of the introduction of the carbon price on 1 July 2012. That assistance will be delivered through increases to government welfare...