The recent Victorian state budget received rave reviews from the social sector on the day it was brought down last month. But how good was it? asks David Hayward in his post-budget analysis for the Victorian Council of Social Service.

THE Intergenerational Report, released in the 2002-03 Federal Budget, is another sleight of hand. It claims to be about ageing and a blow out in health costs. But a closer look reveals that it identifies only a blow out in pharmaceutical costs. Moreover, the report itself reiterates the views that moderate and respected commentators have...

This paper by Rhonda Sharp traces the development of gender-sensitive budget audits and their distinguishing features. It discusses the economic and political rationales for these exercises and the insights that are beginning to emerge from them. It concludes that realising the potential of these exercises to scrutinise government activities for their gender and class impacts...