Budget Policy
28 October 2018
State Orange Book 2018: Policy priorities for states and territories
State and territory governments can do more to improve the lives of Australians. In many cases, states are different because their governments adopted better policies. Every state should learn from the others and do better.
20 November 2016
Age of entitlement: age-based tax breaks
The Commonwealth could save about $1 billion a year by winding back tax breaks for older Australians that are unduly generous and have no sensible policy rationale.
4 September 2016
A better super system: assessing the 2016 tax reforms
Winding back superannuation tax breaks is an acid test of our political system. It should be one of the first items of business in the current Parliament.
14 June 2016
Orange Book 2016: priorities for the next Commonwealth Government
Australia faces many domestic policy challenges as the election looms. Yet a survey of seven years of Grattan Institute reports and policy proposals shows that a government prepared to forcefully articulate the public interest could win public support for a brave and powerful reform agenda.
25 April 2016
Hot property: negative gearing and capital gains tax
Reforms to negative gearing and capital gains tax would save the government about $5.3 billion a year and improve housing affordability without significantly hurting incentives to save. Change is long overdue.
6 December 2015
A GST reform package
Australian governments need to raise more revenue. Collecting more through the GST is one of the better ways to do it. A well designed reform package could support economic growth, retain work incentives and protect the most vulnerable.
24 November 2015
Super tax targeting
Australia’s superannuation system is expensive and unfair. Superannuation tax breaks should be more tightly targeted at their policy purpose, and at those who need them most.
14 July 2015
Property Taxes
A modest and broad-based property levy could raise $7 billion a year and would be the best way for states and territories to raise revenue to meet rising budget shortfalls.
1 July 2015
Fiscal challenges for Australia
Even highly optimistic government projections show that Australia is set for a decade of deficits that future generations will have to pay for. Government needs more realistic forecasts that provide a clearer picture of our budgetary problems.
9 December 2014
The wealth of generations
Older Australians are capturing a rising share of wealth, while the wealth of the young has stagnated. It is time to renew Australia’s generational bargain with policies that ensure rising living standards for all ages.