The Productivity Commission’s modelling indicates that there would be economy-wide benefits from further reductions in the relatively high tariffs on TCF imports. Assistance reductions would involve some further contraction of the TCF sector, but this would be outweighed by expansion of other...

The Productivity Commission's latest report, Annual Review of Regulatory Burdens on Business: Social and Economic Infrastructure Services Sector – identifies ways to reduce the regulatory burdens on businesses in aged care, health, child care, education, information media and...

The mutual recognition schemes linking Australian states and territories and New Zealand have contributed to the creation of a seamless national economy in Australia and a single economic market across the Tasman, according to a report by the Productivity Commission. This, and other findings are...

The commissioned study research report into the ‘Economic Implications of an Ageing Australia’ was released April 2005. The Commission found that one quarter of Australians will be aged 65 years or more by 2044-45, roughly double the present proportion. This gives rise to significant policy...

The Productivity Commission’s research report into ‘Public Support for Science and Innovation’ was released March 2007. The Australian Government asked the Commission to evaluate the economic, social and environmental returns on this investment. The main message from the Commission’s...

The Productivity Commission inquiry report, released 8 August 2011, recommends a major overhaul of Australia’s aged care system to improve the wellbeing of older Australians and meet the challenges of an ageing population.<p> Over one million older Australians receive aged care services. The...</p>

The Productivity Commission inquiry report — Disability Care and Support — was released on 10 August 2011. Current disability support arrangements are inequitable, underfunded, fragmented, and inefficient and give people with a disability little choice. They provide no certainty that people...

The Productivity Commission’s inquiry report — Australia’s Urban Water Sector — was released in October 2011. In recent times, the urban water sector has faced drought, growing populations and ageing assets. Governments have largely responded with prolonged and severe water restrictions...

Through the Rural Research and Development Corporations (RDCs), rural industries and the Australian Government together invest some $490 million a year in R&D. This co-investment model has important strengths, including: helping to ensure that public money is not spent on research of little...

In 2008, the Australian Government deregulated the marketing of bulk wheat exports by removing the ‘single desk’ operated by AWB (International) Limited. Wheat Exports Australia (WEA) was established under the Wheat Export Marketing Act 2008 (WEMA) to administer an accreditation scheme for...