Politics and government publications

Public Service Association Budget Submission 2013 - Age for a Change
This report was prepared for the Public Service Association of South Australia as their Budget Submission for 2013. It details the global economic outlook and the economic outlook for Australia and South Australia, and also analyses the SA public sector before discussing the implications of an ageing population in the state on service delivery. [further details]

'Modern' Labor and the Fair Work Act 2009: Challenging the Male Breadwinner Gender Order?
This report examines key elements of Labor's Fair Work Act 2009 and its implications, particularly for women workers. [further details]

The Workforce Retention Dividend
This report was prepared for the Public Service Association of South Australia and aims to examine the impact of reductions in public sector employment in recent State budgets. [further details]

Public Investment, Productivity and Economic Growth - the Role and Contribution of Debt Funding
This publication discusses the critical issue facing governments today of how to maintain and expand infrastructure without accumulating excessive levels of long term debt. Investment in infrastructure has productivity, economic and social benefits. [further details]

Is the Credit Rating Tail Wagging the Budgetary Dog? Preliminary Analysis of the South Australian Budget 2010-11
Prepared for the Public Service Association, this report provides the results of a preliminary analysis of the direct and indirect employment and economic impact of the South Australian Budget. [further details]

South Australian Economic and Budget Outlook: Research Report
With the State Government's plans to slash $750 million from jobs and services in the upcoming budget, the Public Service Association commissioned the Australian Institute for Social Research to provide an economic and budget outlook for South Australia. [further details]

The Role of the Workplace in Return to Work
The return to work of an injured worker is influenced by a range of factors - some that relate to the worker, some to the environment outside of the workplace, and some to the workplace itself. WorkCover SA commissioned the Australian Institute for Social Research at the University of Adelaide to undertake a research project designed to increase understanding of the factors in the workplace that affect the achievement of positive return-to-work outcomes. [further details]

Off the Waiting List: The Affordable Housing Dream in South Australia
Research commissioned by the Public Service Association clearly shows that the demand for public housing in South Australia is not being effectively met and that the situation will only get worse. Off the Waiting List, a report compiled by the Australian Institute for Social Research, University of Adelaide, states it is estimated that approximately 90,000 extra people will need to be accommodated in South Australia by 2014, and a further 360,000 by 2050, creating further demand for land, housing, transport and services. [further details]

Key Directions in Social Policy: A Discussion Paper Social Development Framework
In what is considered to be a first of its kind in South Australia, a Social Development Framework was developed by the City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters with guidance from the University of Adelaide. The framework assists the Council to strategically address social issues it may face over the next 10 years and has been identified as a major planning priority for the City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters and has underpinned development of the CityPlan 2030 Shaping Our Future which sets the direction for the next twenty years and beyond. http://www.npsp.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=1807 [further details]

Survival Skills: The Public Sector Retention and Attraction Challenge, State Budget Submission, 2007 - 2008
The Public Service Association (PSA) represents State public sector workers in South Australia. In addition to its recognised industrial role, the PSA actively promotes the vital role of the public sector in the South Australian economy and community. This State Budget submission is a contribution to the achievement of this objective. [further details]

A spatially sensitive approach to understanding the impact of public expenditure on social exclusion
Social welfare performance indicators do not consider the equity implications of gross and net public expenditure. That is,governments may spend money in a given area to achieve social outcomes but also tax the same community in ways which moderate the effectiveness of social programs. This paper reports on a project that aims to deploy geographical information systems (GIS) to investigate these processes. The equity implications of gross and net public expenditure are considered in a discussion of the development of a process to map the impact of public expenditure on social exclusion. [further details]

Labor and social capital: disengaging from social justice
This paper was written shortly before the 2004 Federal election. It addresses the then Leader of the Opposition, Mark Latham's conception of social capital in the context of the Labor Party's traditional commitment to social justice. The authors review the history and usages of the term social capital as a prelude to an examination of Mark Latham's writings and public statements on this topic. [further details]

Rust Never Sleeps
We are at a crossroad. Do we re-invent our manufacturing industry or watch much of it die? John Spoehr talks with Thinker in Residence Goran Roos about the future of manufacturing in South Australia. [further details]

No Such Thing as a Free Trade
Prime Minister John Howard has agreed to a trade deal with the United States that puts Australia's wider trade interests at risk and poses a particular threat to South Australia. [further details]

State of Secrecy: Outsourcing: promise and performance
Not enough is known about the real impact of the outsourcing revolution in South Australia because the information needed to fully evaluate major contracts, like the United Water and EDS contracts has been shrouded by commercial confidentiality. While some minor disclosure reforms have been introduced by the State Government a state of secrecy remains. Notwithstanding these difficulties ithis report goes some way in examining experience of outsourcing and to put the case for greater transparency and disclosure in government wherever public monies are involved. [further details]