Publications

Explore our independent insights and news.

Insights

Housing

New report shows JobSeeker recipients continue to face severe rental stress; Hobart remains least affordable city
The JobSeeker supplement has improved rental affordability for Newstart households across the country, but recipients are still facing moderate to extreme rental stress nationwide according to the lat...

Insights

Arts and Culture

Australia’s creative sector can lead post COVID-19 recovery, but it needs immediate support
The creative and cultural industries sector has been hit hard by the COVID-19 restrictions in Australia and internationally. Here are five ideas on how to support the creative and cultural industry se...

Insights

 

Insight from 30 years in business: You need more than generic data to understand and solve societal issues
Australia’s cities, regions and policy challenges are becoming increasingly complex. Thankfully, we have more data tracking activities in our cities than ever before, which has helped improve how we u...

Insights

Employment

Where are people working from home, and how could this reshape Australia’s cities and regions?
New data by SGS shows the locations where Australian residents were regularly working from home before the pandemic. This analysis is a step towards understanding how working remotely could reshape th...

Insights

Transport

People aren’t agents: We need to consider user experience when designing policies and programs
Complexity in public transport fares is not a unique policy problem. A recent study by SGS Economics and Planning and the Behavioural Insights Team has informed Infrastructure Victoria’s proposal for ...

Insights

Government

NSW Infrastructure Contributions Review paper: an opportunity for systematic reform
Following an unprecedented bushfire season and the challenges of the COVID-19 health pandemic, the NSW Productivity Commissioner released an issues paper for public response. Our submission to the Com...

Insights

Employment

Casualisation and COVID-19: New analysis reveals tears in Melbourne's social fabric
New analysis shows that COVID-19 is not affecting Melburnians equally. Many of Melbourne's disadvantaged municipalities with substantial concentrations of casual workers have the most confirmed cases ...

Insights

Government

Design still matters: government architects and economic stimulus
With state-managed construction stimulus and infrastructure programs worth billions, it is more important than ever for government architects to safeguard the design quality of public infrastructure a...

Insights

Retail

Revitalising retail centres impacted by COVID-19
Temporary leases and pop up stores could revitalise retail centres and high streets impacted by COVID-19. It’s not a new idea, but it’s a good one. Here's why.

Insights

Government

Why Melbourne needs its own version of the Greater Sydney Commission
Melbourne’s global reputation for liveability does not resonate with many Melburnians. The Victorian State Government speaks for the state, not the metropolitan community. Victoria needs its own metro...

Insights

Environment

Australian communities benefit from natural hazards research
The 2019/20 summer bushfires felt more intense and threatening than ever — but natural hazards are not new to Australia. Research into the response, recovery and mitigation of natural hazards greatly ...