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Shifting the dial: Improving Australia's productivity performance
The Productivity Commission’s first five-yearly review of Australia’s productivity performance proposes a Joint Reform Agenda across all Australian jurisdictions.
National Disability Insurance Scheme costs
A Commission study found that NDIS costs are broadly on track with the National Disability Insurance Agency’s long-term modelling, however, this is mainly because scheme participants are not using all the supports in their plans.
Reforming Australia's water resources sector
The National Water Initiative has made a significant contribution to managing Australia’s water resources, but further work remains. A Commission draft report identifies future reform priorities and recommends they be progressed through a renewed national water reform agenda.
Horizontal Fiscal Equalisation – distributing the GST revenue
According to a Commission draft report, the current Horizontal Fiscal Equalisation system is functioning reasonably well in regard to equity, independence and transparency, and stability. However there are deficiencies in a number of areas.
Government assistance to industry
The Commission’s latest Trade and Assistance Review estimates that Australian industry received over $9 billion in net government assistance in 2015-2016. This year’s review also examines some recently announced assistance measures that may stray from best practice.
Understanding government expenditure on services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians
The 2017 Indigenous Expenditure Report provides estimates of government expenditure on services provided to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.
Collection models for GST on low value imported goods
A Commission inquiry confirmed that the legislated model being implemented by the Government to collect GST on low value imported goods is the most feasible and practical approach currently available.
Read Shifting the Dial articles
Better functioning towns and cities
The overwhelming majority of Australians live and work in cities... so how cities operate now and in the future is integral to both the quality of people’s lives and national prosperity.
Skin in the game – education and workforce
The skills needed for well-paid jobs change just like everything else. So does Australia have the right system in place? One that will meet the needs of both employees’ and employers’?
Healthier Australians
While on many measures, the Australian health system is very good compared with health care systems in many other countries, this is not true across the board. There is significant potential for improvement.