The Victorian Liberals say the state's debt is larger than any other state and larger than NSW, Queensland and Tasmania combined. Verdict: the Victorian Liberal party claims are gilding the lily.

This report shines a light on young people’s relationship with money. It also provides insights into how this relationship intersects with matters of family, employment and the pandemic. The findings will be of interest to young people, those supporting young people, financial service providers, and...

This paper investigated groups of people that hold debt to the Ministry of Social Development, Ministry of Justice, and Inland Revenue, or to two or all of these agencies. It is aimed at filling gaps in understanding the nature and characteristics of debt and debtors.

This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the impact of COVID-19 on debt, puts recent debt developments and prospects in historical context, and analyses new policy challenges associated with debt resolution.

This report, looking at Centrelink debts and domestic violence, shows that survivors of domestic violence, usually women, are unfairly held solely responsible for social security debts in situations where the debt was the direct result of their partner’s or ex-partner’s threats, physical violence or coercion.

This document highlights the relative benefits and costs from Buy-Now, Pay-Later (BNPL) services and how these could be addressed.

Much like Australia, household debt is increasing in the United Kingdom. This report examines how the financial impacts of COVID-19 may affect people in different demographic groups and regions, and explores experiences of debt and household finance before and during the pandemic.

It is often observed that the level of household debt (relative to income) is high in Australia compared with other countries and its own history. Concerns about how this will influence the economy’s ability to navigate a major downturn have for many years been central...

Many changes have occurred in Australia since the establishment of the Australian Institute of Family Studies in 1980. This snapshot report outlines some of the significant changes in household incomes, household wealth and also the amount of household debt over the last forty years.

This analysis of recent UK economic support measures suggests that the crisis will exacerbate inequalities between the working poor and the asset-owning wealthy.

A significant proportion of credit card users persistently make low repayments on their debt. This paper tests whether a financial tool known as Prize Linked Debt (PLD) can increase credit card debt repayments amongst borrowers who repay the minimum, using an online experiment.

Episodes of debt accumulation have been a recurrent feature of the global economy over the past fifty years. This paper examines the factors that are likely to determine the outcome of the most recent debt wave, and considers policy options to help reduce the likelihood...

This paper details how Dilli might opt to confront some of its most sizable challenges—whether in terms of providing sustainable economic growth, pursuing democratic consolidation, or in fending off some of the more predatory trade policies of its larger neighbors.

This paper examines the impact of growth in government investment funds on net debt. The focus in this report is conceptual—whether the long-standing frameworks that define net debt would benefit from review in light of the growing use of investment funds—and suggests that increased transparency...

This report is written as a response to the proposed Australian Infrastructure Investment Fund for the Pacific (AIFFP), a $2 billion facility that intends to combine $500 million of aid grants with $1.5 million of loans to Pacific Island projects.

The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources welcomes the opportunity to provide this background paper. The requested focus of this background paper is on key reforms (legislative, regulatory or policy developments) over the past ten years, and any anticipated reforms, relevant to farm finance issues.

This paper examines the distribution of borrowing rates paid by companies, and the relationship between corporate borrowing rates and fixed capital investment, using a unique hand-collected dataset.

To maintain Australia’s AAA credit rating, it is critical that the Australian Government drastically reduces its debt. We believe in an economy which puts Australian interests and individuals first, striking the right balance between industry and consumer costs. We will seek a level playing field...

Finance’s share of the Australian economy is higher than ever, leaving us vulnerable to a growing global liquidity bubble, writes Michael Gill.

This research presents evidence on how housing policies might promote labour force participation and economic growth through four channels - housing supply responsiveness, labour mobility, employment decisions and consumption.

This research investigated the relationship between increasing housing prices (or housing wealth) and the increased consumption expenditure of households from before the GFC and afterwards.

Since the initial rollout of the OCI, the Commonwealth Ombudsman’s office has received many complaints from people who have incurred debts under the OCI. This report examines our concerns with the implementation of the OCI, using complaints we investigated as case study examples.

This study investigated the most appropriate and beneficial shared home ownership models for people with disability. While shared ownership brings potential benefits such as can enhancing housing choice, security of tenure and sense of ownership, it can expose people to debt risks. Capital investment by...

The Financial Consumer Rights Council (FCRC): Dignity and Debt Financial Difficulty and Getting Older initiative was designed to address the effectiveness of one-on-one financial counselling sessions with Older Persons, including provision of consumer advocacy and information about financial hardship protections to those entering aged care...

Overview Reducing the thresholds at which former students repay their debt to the Higher Education Loan Program would increase repayments by an initial $500 million a year and more over time. Without change, HELP costs will soar, putting teaching and research at risk of cuts...