The proportion of Australia’s population aged 15 to 64 receiving income support payments reached record lows in 2023 and 2024. This was driven by a strong labour market and pre-COVID-19 policy changes. This paper outlines the Australian context for working-age welfare recipients, the impact of COVID-19 policies, and trends in students and people with disability...

The 99-year Port of Darwin lease to a Chinese subsidiary in 2015 has been one of the most contentious decisions in recent Australian foreign policy. Despite government reviews finding no national security reasons to terminate the agreement, intensifying global and regional strategic environments have renewed debate. This brief outlines the context, continuing doubts and what's...

This report presents the results from the 2023–24 Fraud against the Commonwealth census and the measures taken to prevent, detect or respond to fraud. Australian Government entities detected or received 288,808 allegations of fraud in 2023–24. Program information and program payments were the principal targets of substantiated internal and external fraud allegations respectively.

With mandatory climate reporting underway in Australia, this guide supports boards and investors in navigating the complexities of climate transition planning. It reflects insights from directors and investors and provides an overview of directors’ legal obligations. The guide aims to support company boards in overseeing the development and implementation of transition plans, including articulating investors’...

This guide explains how the Commission responds to provider risks under the Supervision Model; a Commission-wide approach where all regulatory functions work together to detect, assess and respond to provider risk to protect older people receiving aged care. Enforcement powers allow the Commission to apply consequences where providers do not improve their operations or meet...