In Australia, trust in government is at an all-time low. The are many causes of declining trust. Globalisation and cultural anxiety are part of the story, as is the changing media landscape. But the actions and inactions of politicians are also part of the problem. This submission outlines some practical, low-cost reforms that are available.

This presentation demonstrates that elections are increasingly about big transport infrastructure ‘announceables.’ But these election promises are usually driven by politics more than evidence. They don’t show much influence from the advice of independent expert bodies, and are often made well before business cases have been completed, let alone publicly released.

This presentation to the University of NSW Social Policy Conference in Sydney identifies better ways for governments to help poorer Australians into housing: fund social housing directly; boost Commonwealth Rent Assistance by 40 per cent and index it to low-income rents; increase supply to make all housing cheaper; and strengthen tenancy laws to make renting...

Australia’s commitment to the Paris Agreement means cutting carbon emissions to near zero over the next 30 years. This must be done at the lowest cost, while ensuring energy supplies remain reliable. This policy paper argues that Australia needs new foundations to underpin its energy policy reform agenda.

Bright young Australians are turning their backs on teaching. Australia needs more high achievers in teaching, because great teachers are the key to better student performance. This report suggests some options to make the profession more attractive.