This report measures New Zealand against 28 other countries – including Australia – across more than a hundred indicators, from work and prosperity to health, institutions and the environment. Among this group, New Zealand ranks first for labour force participation, second for economic freedom and fourth for honesty in government. The economic rankings sit much...

For more than two decades, the annual poll has revealed how Australians feel about the world and their place in it. The 2026 Poll reports the results of a nationally representative survey on: global powers and world leaders; relations in the Indo-Pacific; safety and threats; defence and security; economic security; climate change and societal issues.

This research report uses key economic indicators to compare Australia’s economic conditions in the post-pandemic years against previous decades. It finds that Australia is increasingly dependent on government spending and population growth to fuel headline economic growth. Private investment and net export has declined since 2000.

A small number of refugees and people seeking asylum in Australia have been living in precarious visa situations for lengthy periods. Prolonged visa insecurity creates a sub-class of people and has negative impacts on those affected. This paper proposes a policy to enable the regularisation of visa status in certain circumstances would significantly improve outcomes.

Governments face increasing pressure to respond swiftly and effectively to rapidly evolving international migration flows. Anticipation is key to this response, but remains a challenge. This guide offers measures to introduce, run and strengthen migration forecasting systems and preparedness strategies. It follows the forecasting lifecycle from problem definition to communication and system learning.