Who do we turn to for health information and how much do we trust that information? Last year, the Policy Lab ran a representative survey of 1,000 Australians – as part of the Australian Cooperative Election Survey – to look at this very question. This research memo reports the findings from that survey.

The exceptional situation of the COVID-19 pandemic underlines the importance of regulation, alongside taxing, spending and communicating, as one of the most relevant levers of government action.

COVID-19 has changed the course of history. What started off as a flu-like illness in one person in one corner of the world, has changed the lives, livelihoods and futures of billions. Rather than recommend a single dominant option for pandemic response in Australia, this strategy presents and explains two options for the nation’s consideration...

Whole-of-government arrangements have been developed that are designed to be applicable in any emergency or crisis. This quick guide explains these arrangements, setting out the decision-making and advisory bodies that implement the various crisis and pandemic plans.

Australia has a series of standing health emergency plans, ordered from high level policy down to operational detail. Under these plans, state and territory governments have primary responsibility for the management of communicable disease emergencies. This guide explains these arrangements, setting out the plans (and supporting legislation).