In Australia, consumer safety is protected through a comprehensive framework of voluntary and mandatory standards. This report explores the vital role these standards play in supporting product safety across the country. It outlines how Australian businesses can navigate an evolving product safety landscape shaped by legal responsibilities, consumer expectations and emerging risks.

Restricting the number of investors in the housing market is possible if there is an increase in interest rates on investment loans. In 2017, this kind of regulation reduced house prices in Australia. This paper proposes that reintroducing this policy could, as interest rates fall, help make housing more affordable for owner-occupiers.

This report shows how Australia can work with its trade partners to jointly transition heavy industries into a net zero world. It argues that while the Government has taken steps to support Australia’s future green industries, more certainty about the demand for these future green commodities is required to unlock domestic investment. The report makes...

The scorecard presents the individual gender pay gaps for 120 Commonwealth public sector employers and two corporate groups. The report also contains analysis of the employer reports against each of the six gender equality indicators for 2023. The results indicate that Commonwealth public sector employers have lower gender pay gaps than their private sector counterparts.

The report details Australia’s current housing demand, supply and affordability conditions, and the expectations for these over the coming years. It finds that housing affordability continued to deteriorate in 2024, with worsening trends across most capital cities and regional areas. It makes 15 policy recommendations in five key policy areas.