This paper provides a broad overview of Victoria’s economy using key indicators. The indicators used aim to measure different aspects of the economy and specific economic trends. Data and trends are also compared to other states and territories in order to assess Victoria’s economic position in Australia.

Road crashes impose intangible, financial and economic costs to society. These costs include reduced quality of life, reduced productivity and medical and other resource costs. The Ministry of Transport updates the social cost of road crashes and injuries annually to allow comparison of the costs and benefits of any road safety actions in current dollars.

The State of the Nation report this year is the eleventh report the Salvation Army’s Social Policy Parliamentary Unit has completed. New Zealand as a nation has changed in many ways over this time and each of these reports have served as markers along the way.

One focus of this paper is on the fiscal incentives faced by state governments and how these incentives cause regulatory problems. This suggests reforms to the federation, worthwhile for many reasons, will also assist in cutting back Australia’s red tape burden.

This 8th edition of Tourism Research Australia's state of the industry report reviews Australia's tourism industry’s performance in 2016–17.