Governments have moved rapidly from experimenting with artificial intelligence (AI) to deploying it. But a gap has emerged between governments’ ambition to scale AI and their ability to deploy systems with confidence. This report finds that most governments have established AI ethics principles, governance models or national frameworks. The challenge lies in day-to-day execution.

A capable sovereign submarine capability is a core requirement for Australia’s defence over the next two decades, and there are known risks that could prevent that happening. This report proposes that Australia should explore the backup option of leasing or acquiring advanced conventional submarine capability from Japan.

War in Iran and the resulting impacts on energy markets have intensified debate about Australia’s gas exports. While Australian debate on taxation of gas features regular international comparisons, a comparison with Japan itself is rarely made. This report aims to fill this gap with a basic introduction to Japan’s Petroleum and Coal Tax.

Large portions of spending by national governments can be considered mandatory. Drawing on practices from eight OECD countries, this paper examines how governments define, monitor and review mandatory spending. The analysis suggests that mandatory spending should be reviewed regularly, included in fiscal rules and budget processes, and be subject to clear accountabilities to parliament.

This book surveys and synthesises recent developments in wellbeing science and policy to highlight key lessons learned and to offer actionable insights for policymaking. It examines the state of the art on wellbeing policy frameworks in diverse contexts, documenting interventions by governmental, private or non-governmental organisations. Case studies include Australia.