The 2024-25 Mid-year economic and fiscal update was released on 18 December 2024. Budget spending in 2024–25 is expected to be substantially higher than in 2023–24, leading to a forecast deficit. Over the forward estimates period, the forecast deficit is now higher than was forecast at the 2024–25 Budget.

The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) are 3 significant trade and economic initiatives with a considerable impact on the Indo-Pacific region. While each of them has distinct memberships, goals and areas of focus, there are some areas of overlap. These initiatives underscore the complex dynamics of contemporary international trade relations and economic policy, particularly in a region as economically vibrant and diverse as the Indo-Pacific.

The July 2024 NATO Summit marked 75 years of the alliance. Founded to deter Soviet aggression by committing its members to collective defence, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has been revitalised by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. NATO’s membership has increased to 32 states – Sweden and Finland joined in 2024 – and several European powers have increased defence spending to 2% of GDP, in line with NATO guidelines. With the possible return of Donald Trump to the White House in 2025, the alliance is seeking to strengthen its position given Trump’s statements about not supporting NATO members who don’t reach the 2% defence spending guideline.

In March 2024 the International Trade Centre and UN Women launched a Global Campaign on Gender-Responsive Public Procurement. Gender-responsive procurement encourages public entities to leverage purchasing opportunities to promote gender equality and go beyond a conventional cost-management focus. In supporting this campaign, Australia has committed to collect gender-disaggregated data on all procurements by 2026. To achieve this, the Government has proposed to ‘establish a new voluntary Commonwealth supplier registration process within AusTender to identify women-owned and led businesses.’ This Flagpost provides a brief overview of measures to encourage gender equality in the context of Government procurement.

Since 1994, 5 October has been celebrated internationally as World Teachers’ Day. On this date in 1966 the ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers was adopted, which outlines teachers’ rights and responsibilities, training standards and other work conditions (p. 3). This article identifies key workforce and gender trends relating to Australia’s teachers and highlights educators who went on to have parliamentary careers.

This FlagPost explains the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement 2025–2034's  priorities, as well as what remains unchanged from the NSRA. It also explores the attitudes of the states and territories, which indicate that the Government may face tough negotiations before its September deadline.

This quick guide aims to provide a curated list of essential online resources offering insights into various aspects of school education. 

This quick guide provides an overview of Australia’s emissions reports, how they are compiled and how you can explore the data.

Australia is contributing to global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition to net zero. As a party to the Paris Agreement, Australia has committed to reducing emissions by 43% below 2005 levels by 2030 and reaching net zero emissions by 2050.2 One of the government’s policies to monitor and regulate emissions is the safeguard mechanism which applies to Australia’s largest industrial facilities. Significant reforms were enacted in 2023 that require safeguard facilities to reduce their net emissions in line with Australia’s emissions reduction targets. This paper updates the 2018 Parliamentary Library quick guide on the safeguard mechanism and provides an overview of the scheme as it currently operates.

This paper updates an earlier chronology published in July 2022 and outlines developments in the regulatory framework for fuel quality, noxious (in-service) emissions and vehicle efficiency standards in Australia, principally over the last 2 decades to July 2024.

The Great Barrier Reef (GBR) is the world's most extensive coral reef system, comprising around 3,000 individual coral reefs (roughly 10% of the world’s total). It extends 2,300 km along the Queensland coastline and spans an area of over 344,000 square kilometres. The GBR holds cultural importance for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and is listed as both a World Heritage property and a National Heritage place, acknowledging it as an area of outstanding universal value (OUV) and significance to the nation.

The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) are 3 significant trade and economic initiatives with a considerable impact on the Indo-Pacific region. While each of them has distinct memberships, goals and areas of focus, there are some areas of overlap. These initiatives underscore the complex dynamics of contemporary international trade relations and economic policy, particularly in a region as economically vibrant and diverse as the Indo-Pacific.

The July 2024 NATO Summit marked 75 years of the alliance. Founded to deter Soviet aggression by committing its members to collective defence, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has been revitalised by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. NATO’s membership has increased to 32 states – Sweden and Finland joined in 2024 – and several European powers have increased defence spending to 2% of GDP, in line with NATO guidelines. With the possible return of Donald Trump to the White House in 2025, the alliance is seeking to strengthen its position given Trump’s statements about not supporting NATO members who don’t reach the 2% defence spending guideline.

This backgrounder provides an overview of the Australian government’s approach to online safety for children – including discussion of the Online Safety Act 2021 and eSafety’s proposed roadmap for age verification – and outlines a sample of children’s online safety measures in other jurisdictions.

This paper does not cover treatment of child abuse and exploitation material.

The new Labour Government was elected with a majority of 411 seats (from a total of 650) in the House of Commons and a clear mandate to implement its manifesto. The UK faces a number of challenges, including a troubled economy. This FlagPost considers the contribution the UK can be expected to make in Australia’s region.

Political party defections have been an ongoing issue within the Australian Parliament. Since the beginning of the current Parliament there have been 7 party defections. This number of party defections is greater than either of the previous two Parliaments.

On 12 April 2024 the Government published its response to the Joint Standing Committee on the National Capital and External Territories’ (JSCNCET) report on Norfolk Island (NI) governance, Restoring Democracy. The Commonwealth Minister responsible for Territories, Kristy McBain, instigated this inquiry in February 2023, to examine appropriate local government models for NI, including equitable revenue sources. The report contained 7 recommendations, including establishment of a viable new democratically elected governing body. This Flagpost provides an overview of the historical context and recent measures for NI governance reform.

On 21 May 2022, Australians will go to the polls to vote for the next government. The date is also the 60th anniversary of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people being granted the right to vote in federal elections. Receiving Royal Assent on 21 May 1962, the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1962 granted all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people the option to enrol and vote in federal elections. However, it was not until 1984 that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were included with other eligible electors under compulsory enrolment requirements.

The release of the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ (ABS) Microdata: National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health, Australia, 2018–19 (NATSIH) makes available a range of non-health estimates for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, such as work, income and education. This article provides a snapshot of employment by a range of characteristics, as well as some earlier data from a comparable ABS source. Figures in this article refer to people aged 15 to 74 years, unless otherwise specified.

Commonwealth quarantine legislation, from the original form of the Quarantine Act 1908 through to the current Biosecurity Act 2015, has always included provisions for the Commonwealth to declare movement restrictions, quarantines and other emergency measures.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this article contains an image and names of deceased persons.

The eleventh of June 2021 marks the 50th anniversary of Neville Bonner’s appointment to the Senate, when he filled a casual vacancy created by Dame Annabelle Rankin’s resignation to become Australia’s High Commissioner to New Zealand. A Jagera man, Mr Bonner went on to serve as a Senator for Queensland for over a decade until he was defeated in the 1983 federal election.

The Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Amendment (Jabiru) Bill 2020 (the Bill) was introduced in the House of Representatives on 13 May 2020. It contains one Schedule with 12 items that amend the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 (the Act), and one item that amends the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). The Bill is currently scheduled to be debated in the House of Representatives on Tuesday 25 August 2020 and in the Senate on Thursday 27 August 2020.

 

The Federal Court has called for better scrutiny of ‘convoluted’ child support laws, saying such complex legislation puts governance in jeopardy.

The first week of November saw Australia’s High Court deliver 5 important decisions - and a new Chief Justice take the reins.

On 9 June 2023, the Attorney-General announced that the Police Ministers Council ‘had taken an important step towards a National Firearms Register by reaching unanimous agreement on options to be put to National Cabinet’. The register will replace the Australian Firearms Information Network currently operated by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission. Options for implementing a national firearms register were requested by National Cabinet in the aftermath of the Wieambilla terrorist shooting in December 2022. The attack resulted in the deaths of 2 police officers and a local member of the community, and brought the shortcomings of the current system into focus.

This FlagPost outlines developments in plans to replace AFIN with a register and ongoing efforts to develop a system that includes all states and territories.

2022 is the 120th anniversary of two key pieces of legislation that underpin the practice of democracy in Australia: the franchise and electoral Acts. The span of years makes Australia’s voting rights appear unremarkable, yet this would be to overlook the intense political discussions over voting rights in Australia, particularly for women and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, as well as the significant practical challenges involved in enrolling voters and administering national elections across the young country.

The sharing of Australian stories is central to Australia’s cultural policy, Revive: a place for every story, a story for every place. In line with this, the Government committed in 2023 to legislating local content quotas for streaming services (p. 89). However, the promised 1 July 2024 commencement date has come and gone, and recent reporting suggests any change may now be delayed indefinitely.

This FlagPost briefly outlines the policy proposal, the reasons for it, and why it has been delayed.

Japan is one of the only countries in the world that protects and maintains a sole custody system. On 17 May 2024, however, Japan’s House of Councillors, in a plenary session of parliament, passed a revision to the country’s Civil Code that now allows divorced parents to choose either joint or single custody while requiring them to cooperate in ensuring their children’s rights and wellbeing.

In the 2024–25 Budget, the government announced plans to introduce a pre-application ballot process for certain kinds of visas: Work and Holiday visas for nationals of China, Vietnam and India, and a new temporary visa for young professionals from India. The ballot process is new to the Australian visa system. So far, it has only been introduced for the Pacific Engagement visa, which opens for registration on 3 June 2024.

There has been some debate over the past 2 decades as to whether Australian businesses and organisations in the public sector have increasingly been resorting to the use of labour hire workers and contract workers to meet their labour needs rather than employing workers directly. This paper seeks to shed light on trends in the use of labour hire and contract workers in Australia to satisfy employer demand for labour, as well as the characteristics of these types of workers.

The United Nation’s theme for International Women’s Day is ‘Count her in: Invest in women. Accelerate progress’. This theme focuses on strengthening women’s economic inclusion through providing the tools and opportunities to participate in economic decision-making. Women’s economic empowerment assists to close gaps in pay, industry employment, occupation choices and transitional pathways, while their higher workforce participation generally leads to better health, education, and political outcomes. This article summarises key employment and business statistics for women (15 to 64 years unless otherwise noted), their involvement in agriculture, health status, civic and community participation. This article does not attempt to compare women to men, rather it focuses on different outcomes for selected groups of women.