This report provides a summary of the key issues and trends facing Australian families. It examines a selection of key topics, including fertility, caring responsibilities, economic wellbeing of families, health of family relationships and how Australians are balancing work and family responsibilities. The accompanying snapshot provides a summary of key data from the report and...

The government is committed to the establishment of a Register of Lobbyists that will enable ministers and other government representatives who are approached by third party lobbyists to establish whose interests the lobbyist represents. The Register will be a public document and third party lobbyists will be required to ensure that they supply and regularly...

The policy explains how the Australian government will respond to the climate change challenge by: reducing domestic emissions; developing key low emissions technologies and improving energy efficiency; supporting climate science and adapting to the impacts of unavoidable climate change; and pursuing international responses to climate change.

As part of the consultation process for the design of Australia’s emissions trading scheme, the department has released this discussion paper for public comment. The paper addresses incentives for firms to pursue abatement in the period leading up to the commencement of emissions trading.

Research by SANE Australia shows 56% of people caring for someone with mental illness find their physical and mental health suffer as a result of their caring role. Alarmingly, 70% of carers report having received no relevant training or education, and due to lack of availability more than half have not accessed support services of...