This paper examines the rapid rise, and subsequent rapid decline, in labour productivity over the COVID-19 pandemic. It finds Australia’s productivity performance during the pandemic presents no clear long-term implications. This further emphasises the need to address Australia’s long-run productivity problem.

This report provides an overview of national findings from the 2024 National Carer Survey regarding carers’ economic and social needs, caring relationships, carers’ experiences accessing services, and their health and wellbeing as well as diverse caring experiences. The findings indicate that many carers are living in acute poverty and need urgent support.

The report examines the five key reforms the federal government has used to make a difference to wages growth. It finds that workers would be $8,700 worse off if Peter Dutton had achieved his goal of blocking major reforms to get wages moving. The report provides a summary of the major parties’ policies on wages...

An analysis of the Commonwealth Government’s 2025-26 budget that focuses on the aspects targeting and impacting on workers, working lives and labour markets. The paper finds the budget is characterised by the absence of any significant initiatives, although the surprise tax cuts are welcome.

This impact evaluation on the Integrated Carer Support Service (ICSS) – publicly known as Carer Gateway, was commissioned to assess program appropriateness, effectiveness and efficiency. The evaluation draws on a mixed-methods approach and found all three objectives of the Carer Gateway have been met. The report details conclusions and implications of the evaluation’s findings.