This research note examines how the global Iran energy crisis has impacted on the Australian economy, and how its effects are likely to play out across the remainder of 2026. Utilising the most up-to-date economic indicators, it tracks crisis effects across energy prices, inflation, business activity, household spending and the labour market.

Disability service providers face financial losses, policy uncertainty and unfunded burdens like crisis response with most unable to sustain services at current prices. This report warns without urgent structural reform the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) risks losing quality providers and urges governments to ensure sustainable pricing and targeted support to secure disability services.

The report ranks Australia's' states and territories based on planning systems, payroll taxes, property taxes and charges, retail trading hours, workers’ compensation premiums, duties on insurance and licences and requirements to do business. It identifies good regulatory and tax practices across Australia, to highlight what is working well and encourage states and territories to learn...

A survey report of more than 1,100 Australian business owners and decision-making managers. It makes clear that the pressures on small businesses have intensified. Rising costs, workforce shortages, mounting compliance obligations and mental health strain are stretching owners to their limits. The report provides both a warning and a call to action for policymakers.

Government policy often supports small businesses through lower taxes, lighter labour regulation and grants. Yet this paper finds it is actually young firms that play the most outsized role in economic dynamism in Australia. Using firm-level microdata, the paper draws out this important distinction between firm size and age in firms’ economic contribution, highlighting three...