A collection of nine articles provides short analyses of issues that may be considered over the course of the 48th Parliament. Each article gives a high-level perspective of significant public policy issues, covering background, context and legislative history, as well as some of the policy and legislative directions raised in the public debate.

This edition takes a thematic approach to some of the most pressing questions shaping Australia’s future. Three broad themes emerge:

• governance and democracy: how do we safeguard democratic institutions in an era of rising political violence, misinformation, and polarisation? How do we balance freedom of speech with the need to protect social cohesion?
• economic futures: from the evolution of money and digital currencies to the critical role of research and development funding, Australia’s economic resilience depends on innovation and adaptability. Emerging workforce models challenge traditional assumptions about productivity and wellbeing.
• social policy and workforce: demographic change is reshaping Australia’s social fabric. Debates around the privatisation of care services raise critical questions about equity, quality, and accountability. Public health ambitions further underscore the intersection of health, regulation and social norms.

Articles

• The increasing threat of politically motivated violence
• Information disorder: disinformation, misinformation and a ‘polluted’ information space
• Freedom of expression
• The future of money
• Approaches to funding research and development
• Four-day work week
• Care economy markets
• Who cares? Sustaining our aged care workforce
• The future of tobacco control in Australia.