Policy analysis
Alternative labels
Policy advice
Report
Addressing Australia’s illicit tobacco market
This report assesses the scale, drivers and impacts of Australia’s illicit tobacco market, benchmarks Australia internationally and models how different policy approaches (excise reform plus strengthened enforcement) may affect legal consumption, illicit consumption and government revenue. It finds reducing excise rates would shift consumption away from illicit products.
Report
Digital government index and open, useful and re-usable data index
Digital transformation is an imperative for modern governments. This paper presents the results of the 2025 OECD Digital Government Index (DGI) and the Open, Useful and Re-usable Data Index assessing how governments are structuring, governing and sustaining digital transformation across the public sector. Australia was assessed as having the 2nd highest score in the DGI.
Report
Australia: 2025 Article IV consultation
Under the International Monetary Fund (IMF’s) Articles of Agreement, the IMF holds bilateral discussions with members, usually every year. The IMF concluded the Article IV consultation with Australia on February 9, 2026. It finds the Australian economy is managing a soft landing and economic recovery is expected to continue in the near-term.
Report
Carbon leakage review
The final report of the carbon leakage review undertaken between 2023 and 2025. Carbon leakage occurs when domestic production moves to countries with weaker climate policies. The review assessed potential measures to mitigate this risk and whether additional policies are needed. It found existing policy measures mitigate leakage risks in the short to medium term.
Article
Immigration’s lost social licence: how to restore it
From its inception in 1945, distinct national-interest features and values underpinned the social licence for Australia’s immigration program. This paper finds that public trust in government capacity or willingness to manage immigration in the national interest has eroded. It proposes a radical rethink of immigration, not reform around current settings, is now needed.