Library & Innovation Centre

 The Budget: taxes and spending
Every year, each level of government is required to prepare a budget to show how tax revenue will be collected (or 'raised') and how it will be spent. The Australian Federal Budget provides a well-known example of this process.

 Your tax dollars: how is the government spending your money in the 2016 federal budget?
This interactive graphic takes your yearly income, calculates your tax, and then shows the proportion of tax divided up by each area of government spending listed in the budget.

 Australia Government Spending
Government Spending in Australia increased to 78644 AUD Million in the first quarter of 2017 from 77855 AUD Million in the fourth quarter of 2016.

 Productivity Commission
Providing independent research and advice to Government on economic, social and environmental issues affecting the welfare of Australians.

 Resource Management glossary - general government sector (GGS)
Government-controlled entities that provide public services which are mainly non-market in nature, mainly for the collective consumption of the community, involving the transfer of redistribution of income and financed mainly through taxes and other compulsory levies. 

 Appendix D - Structure of the government sector
The WA government sector structure is outlined in Table D.1. Collectively, departments, SES organisations, non-SES organisations and ministerial offices are referred to as the public sector.

 Governance structures in the public sector
Financial and corporate governance arrangements effectively determine how power and authority are provided, apportioned and exercised by different Commonwealth bodies.  These arrangements have implications for how performance information, both financial and non-financial, is reported.

 Import and export
All goods imported into Australia must be cleared through the border. DIBP provides information on importing goods, such as import clearance requirements, prohibited goods and import permits.

 Businesses, Agents and Trade Professionals
Information for Businesses, Agents and Trade Professionals including sponsorship details, information on Integrated Cargo System and obligations.

 Workplace Relations in Australia
The Australian national workplace relations system  establishes a safety net of minimum terms and conditions of employment and a range of other workplace rights and responsibilities.

 Australia’s new ‘Home Office’ is a worry for immigration policy
When Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced the establishment of a Home Affairs portfolio this week, he described it as “similar to the Home Office of the United Kingdom”. Drawing inspiration from this British model is worrisome for the immigration portfolio.

 How is the Government changing Australia's immigration policy?
The Federal Government will this week introduce legislation to ban refugees and asylum seekers on Manus Island and Nauru from ever coming to Australia.

 Australia's Migration Program
As part of its planned Migration Program, the federal government allocates places each year for people wanting to migrate permanently to Australia.

 Education and Training
Information about early childhood, school and higher education, scholarships, international students, skills recognition and vocational training.

 Health
Health care in Australia is provided by both private and government organisations. The Australian Government looks after national health policy, with key elements (such as the operation of hospitals) operated by state governments. Medicare is the publicly funded health care system for everyone in Australia. It coexists with a private health system.

 Emergency services
Listing of emergency services provided by federal and state governments.

 Public transport services
Public transport services are managed by individual state and territory governments.

 Department of the Environment and Energy
The Department of the Environment and Energy designs and implements the Australian Government’s policies and programmes to protect and conserve the environment, water and heritage, promote climate action, and provide adequate, reliable and affordable energy to meet future energy consumption needs.

  Department of Water and Environmental Regulation
Western Australia: The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation is responsible for environment and water regulation, serving as a ‘one stop shop’ for industry and developers, with the aim of streamlining and simplifying regulation.

 Australian Infrastructure Plan
The first Australian Infrastructure Plan provides a positive reform and investment roadmap for Australia.  The Plan sets out the infrastructure challenges and opportunities Australia faces over the next 15 years and the solutions required to drive productivity growth, maintain and enhance our standard of living, and ensures our cities remain world class.

 Benefits and Payments
The Australian Government provides a range of government benefits, payments, pensions and support services, through the Department of Human Services- external site (Medicare, Centrelink and Child Support) and the Department of Veterans' Affairs- external site.

 ABC News: Meet Lisa: A welfare case study
Video clip

 Budget 2017: What families, pensioners and welfare recipients need to know

 Welfare—what does it cost?
Social security and welfare represents 35 per cent of the Australian Government’s expenses. The level and sustainability of this expenditure will be a key issue for the Parliament.