Research Paper no. 9 2011–12

PDF version [1480KB]

Research Branch
11 May 2012

Introduction

Budget overview

Context and commentary
Government debt
Savings and revenue

Arts and media

Arts
Broadcasting 

Climate change, energy and the environment

Climate change: out on a limb
Environment and natural resources
Ensuring Australia’s biosecurity

Commonwealth-State relations

The GST pool 
Transport

Corporate governance

Corporate governance—enhancing capacity of regulators

Defence

Defence budget overview
Defence Capability Plan review
Defence personnel
Funding the Centenary of Anzac
Joint Strike Fighter

Education  

Higher education
School education
Skills and training
Mathematics and science—increasing participation

Foreign affairs

Official Development Assistance—a commitment delayed

Health and ageing

Aged care
Dental reforms
E health
New and changed health measures

Immigration

Migration program
Humanitarian program
Responding to unauthorised arrivals

Law, policing and national security

Court reforms (encompassing court fee increase and Native Title Tribunal reform)
Indigenous law and justice programs—redirection of funding
Legal aid
National Children’s Commissioner
Policing, security and intelligence—key issues

Public sector  

Public service

Science

Science and research overview

Social services and welfare

Abolition of 'saved' Parenting Payment arrangements
Changes to residency and portability requirements for Australian Government payments
Consolidation of dependency tax offsets
Family Tax Benefit Part A—change to age of eligibility
Increasing workforce participation
Indigenous affairs
National Disability Insurance Scheme
New and increased benefits for families and job-seekers

Superannuation

‘Stronger super’ implementation and related changes
Thirty per cent contributions tax for high-income earners, delayed changes to contribution cap

Taxation

Abandoning a reduction in the company tax rate and introduction of tax loss carry-back
Better targeting of the employment termination payment tax offset 
FBT—further reform of living away from home allowance 
GST compliance activities of the ATO and the Budget surplus
Increase in managed investment withholding tax
Minerals Resource Rent Tax: changes to revenue and expenditure estimates
Non-residents

Workplace relations

Workplace relations overview