This paper proposes steps to move the Federal budget back to surplus in the short term. Summary The new Abbott government should address its self-identified budget emergency by cutting wasteful spending now. Reducing government will also help prepare Australia for its future fiscal challenges. There are some simple steps that can move the budget back...

Foreword As we do for each new Parliament, we present this volume of short, strategic level snapshots of some of the big issues affecting Australia which are expected to figure in the early months of the new Parliament. The articles have been written to provide senators and members a high level perspective of key public...

Abstract

This paper examines strategies to improve the way that government and community services work together to address the needs of vulnerable community members. Introduction In late 2012 I was appointed to lead the Service Sector Reform project. The goal was to explore how government and non-government service providers can work together to improve outcomes for...

This audit assessed the effectiveness of the administration of the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (ARPA)'s financial industry levies. Overall conclusion APRA was established in 1998 as part of a package of measures to strengthen consumer protection functions in the financial system. To meet APRA’s resourcing needs, the Government decided to ‘establish an administratively simple and...