This ABS report on Building Approvals show that the number of dwellings approved rose 7.8% in September 2012, in seasonally adjusted terms, and has risen for 2 months. Key findings Dwelling approvals increased in September in New South Wales (22.8%), Victoria (5.2%) and Queensland (2.6%) but decreased in Tasmania (-9.6%), Western Australia (-2.4%) and South...

Walking and riding are fundamental everyday modes of transport and are a vital component of Australia's transport system. Many people walk to local destinations such as their local shops, cafes or services such as the post office or library. Others walk on a daily basis to their place of work or study. Most public transport...

This paper aimed to develop a model of Australian Aboriginal house crowding, based on social science theories, and then refined through empirical studies conducted in regional urban and state capital metropolitan areas, generating useful findings for housing policy. The case studies were conducted in Queensland and Western Australia in order to gather comparative data with...

This report presents the findings of the fifth Scanlon Foundation Mapping Social Cohesion national survey conducted in June–July 2012. A separate report covers the 2012 local surveys. The reports build on the knowledge gained through the four earlier Scanlon Foundation national surveys conducted in 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2011, which provide, for the first time...

This draft report was released to assist participants in preparing a submission to the public inquiry into Electricity Network Regulation. Australia’s electricity sector is facing a number of challenges over the coming years. This includes a large investment requirement for networks to replace ageing assets, meet growing levels of peak demand, reliability requirements and to...