Housing is fundamental to the welfare of all Australians. From a social perspective it promotes and improves employment, educational and health outcomes. From an economic perspective it is a driver of participation and productivity as well as consumption, investment and savings in the economy. Recognising the importance of affordable housing, the role it plays in...

Australia has experienced one of the fastest rises in public debt in the world since the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) and federal budget deficits have persisted for longer than previous fiscal stimulus episodes in the 1980s and 1990s. This paper briefly introduces a range of alternative perspectives on the efficacy of fiscal stimulus as a...

The Final Budget Outcome (FBO) encompasses Australian Government general government sector fiscal outcomes for the financial year and is based on external reporting standards. The Charter of Budget Honesty Act 1998 requires that a Final Budget Outcome be released no later than three months after the end of the relevant financial year. The financial statements...

The Government has released the Final Report of the independent Review of Small Amount Credit Contracts (SACCs) for consultation. The Final Report made twenty-four recommendations relating to the SACC and consumer leasing laws. The Government is also consulting on whether the recommendations relating to consumer leases should apply to all regulated consumer leases (including motor...

This opening statement provides an update on forecasts for the Australian economy contained in the 2016-17 Budget Estimates. The Budget forecasts indicate that the Australian economy continues to transition from mining investment-led growth to broader-based growth. But real GDP growth is forecast to be below potential over the next two years at 2½ per cent...