02317cas a2200241 a 4500 AALejournalIMF019089 230101c9999 xx r poo 0 0eng d 5.00 USD 9781484399019 1934-7685 BD-DhAAL BD-DhAAL International Monetary Fund. Asia and Pacific Dept. Australia : 2018 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Australia. Washington, D.C. : International Monetary Fund, 2019. 1 online resource (69 pages) IMF Staff Country Reports <strong>Off-Campus Access:</strong> No User ID or Password Required <strong>On-Campus Access:</strong> No User ID or Password Required Electronic access restricted to authorized BRAC University faculty, staff and students This Article IV Consultation highlights that Australia experienced only a minor downturn after the end of the mining investment and commodity price boom but, as elsewhere, the adjustment and rebalancing has been slow, with below-target inflation and low wage growth amid economic slack. Macro-financial vulnerabilities relating to high household debt and low housing affordability have become major concerns after a recent housing boom. The baseline forecasts entail a soft landing in the housing market, but a stronger market correction remains a risk. Overall, near-term risks to growth are to the downside, mirroring the global risk picture, with the impact of shocks potentially being amplified by high household debt. The IMF staff welcomes the authorities' continued commitment to working actively with international partners to promote the global multilateral trading system. Macroeconomic policy support should remain in place until full employment and inflation in the target range are firmly within reach. The structural policy agenda appropriately targets innovation, infrastructure gaps, tax reform, and energy policy, although progress has been limited in some areas. Mode of access: Internet IMF Staff Country Reports; Country Report ; No. 2019/055 Full text available on IMF http://elibrary.imf.org/view/journals/002/2019/055/002.2019.issue-055-en.xml IMF e-Library