The report on government services provides information on the equity, effectiveness and efficiency of government services in Australia. This report provides performance reporting for primary and community health, ambulance services, public hospitals and services for mental health. It includes a summary of government expenditure in the sector.

Public hospital spending in Australia is high and rising fast. This report shows that spending on Australian public hospitals increased by $3 billion every year on average over the past decade. Yet hospitals are still under strain. The report provides recommendations for the next National Health Reform Agreement and for state and territory governments.

The report card provides an accessible snapshot of mental health services within the Australian public hospital system. It explores the capacity and performance of Australia’s public hospitals when providing care to patients who have presented with mental health-related conditions. It aims to highlight trends in hospital service delivery, pinpoint gaps and identify areas for improvement.

An investigation of the underlying drivers of recent cost growth in Australian public hospital services. The report identifies several key cost growth factors and provides nine recommendations for consideration by the Board of Treasurers to inform ongoing negotiations on the next five-year National Health Reform Agreement expected to commence in July 2026.

Adverse events during hospital care are a global concern. The evidence for addressing unsafe acute care using pay-for-performance is inconclusive. This research examined the association between the introduction of a financial penalty introduced by Australian policy in July 2018 and the prevalence of 13 high-priority hospital-acquired complications in Australian public hospitals.