The current level of inconsistency and divisiveness in the funding systems for government and non-government schools indicates a clear need for reforming school funding in Australia. Widespread dissatisfaction with the current arrangements has been documented across the education sector. Forty percent of respondents in an Essential Research poll in 2009 said that the system for...

Sydney's dated intercity train connections are not playing in the league of the world's great cities. Rail connections between Sydney and neighbouring cities need to improve substantially, and business class carriages would be a good first step. Every day, thousands of people travel between Sydney and the neighbouring urban centres of Wollongong, the Blue Mountains...

Jennifer Buckingham examines the school report cards scheme being considered by the Australian government and recommends a balanced approach to performance incentives for Australian schools. The most controversial aspect of school report cards is the awarding of an overall letter grade of A, B, C, D or F to each school. In New York, under...

• Child care is said to be a public good because it supposedly has developmental and academic benefits for children, and increases female labour-force participation and therefore economic growth. Numerous reports state unequivocally—but often without providing supporting evidence—that more women would work if child care was cheaper and more easily available. • The 2007 CIS...

Policy experts often think alike, even when the evidence contradicts them. CIS researchers Jennifer Buckingham, Andrew Norton, Phil Rennie, Jeremy Sammut, and Peter Saunders argue that this is how billions of dollars are spent on government programs that don't work. The CIS social policy 'mythbusting team' refute six myths that have led to poor policymaking...