Welcome to the CPD

The Centre for Policy Development is a public interest think tank dedicated to seeking out creative, viable ideas and innovative research to inject into Australia's policy debates.

We give a diverse community of thinkers space to imagine solutions to Australia's most urgent challenges, and we connect their ideas with policy-makers, media and concerned citizens.

Read the latest from CPD thinkers Dr Ben Spies-Butcher and Adam Stebbing on reforming Australia's hidden welfare state.

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CPD in the news

  • Ian Dunlop tells The Age, that in facing up to the implications of climate change we are witnessing the greatest failure of political and corporate leadership Australia has ever seen.
  • John Quiggin is amongst 21 leading economists criticizing the Coalition's campaign against government debt
  • Jennifer Doggett explains to the ABC how a proposal to increase taxes on cigarettes would direct the money of some of the worst off in our society to some of the most affluent.
  • Miriam Lyons was a panellist on Q&A on ABC1, 9:30pm Thursday 28 May
  • The Australian harked back to former CPD fellow Emma Dawson's review of SBS
  • Eva Cox explains why the 2009 budget is oversold and unfair for Crikey
  • Rudd's Budget is a missed chance, said Lindy Edwards in Business Day
  • Miriam Lyons was named one of the 'Next 100 emerging leaders' by The Australian - in the 'Thinkers' category
  • Ian McAuley's work on behavioural economics was profiled inBoss Magazine
  • Ben Eltham analysed where Budget money is going and where the savings are coming from for New Matilda


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    Latest Insight edition

    InSight | Chipping in: Taxation for our Times

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    InSight's writers delve into Australia's tax system and call for an opening of the minds and a little widening of the pockets. They uncover uncomfortable truths and reconnect the tax debate with our fundamental assumptions about what Australia's future should look like.

    Upcoming Events

    Welfare for the rich? How tax breaks are transforming Australia's Welfare State

    CPD Fellow, Ben Spies-Butcher considers how tax breaks are transforming Australia's welfare. Are these new forms of social security promoting self-reliance or more welfare for the rich? If you’re in Melbourne, come along to this joint Centre for Policy Development and Australian Fabians event on 6pm Wednesday 1 July.


    The Perfect Storm - Australia's role in a time of crisis

    CPD is pleased to present The Perfect Storm, Friday July 31st at The Sussex Room, Crown Plaza Darling Harbour. The World faces a "triple crunch" the Global Financial Crisis, climate emergency and escalating food prices and resources shortages. Is Australia up to the challenge at home and in our region? Speakers will be:

    • Andrew Hewett; Executive Director of Oxfam
    • Ian Dunlop; CPD Fellow and previous head of the Australian Institute of Company Directors
    • Reverend Tatue Lusama; Chair of Tuvalu Climate Action Network
    • Ben McNeil; Senior Fellow UNSW Climate Change Research Center

    Drinks will be served from 5.45pm and discussion will begin at 6.00pm



    Looking for a past CPD event? See recent events

    Latest Publications

    The CPD publishes research papers and proposals on a diverse range of policy challenges. Our work focuses on reimagining the public sphere and rebalancing the relationship between markets, government, society and the environment.

    Reforming Australia's hidden welfare state: Tax expenditures as welfare for the rich

    As Australia heads into a recession and our budget heads into deficit, one of Australia's least fair and least effective forms of public investment is still growing like topsy. In this paper for the Centre for Policy Development Dr Ben Spies-Butcher and Adam Stebbing uncover Australia's hidden welfare state. Using the superannuation tax concessions as a case study, they explore options for transforming tax expenditures to make Commonwealth spending fairer and more transparent.


    You can see a lot by just looking: Understanding human judgement in financial decision-making

    In this paper CPD fellow Ian McAuley outlines the main implications of behavioural economics for financial decision-making, breaking down the myth that market participants are always rational decision-makers who act to maximise their own best interests.


    More than one health insurer is too many: the case for a single insurer

    In this paper, CPD fellow Ian McAuley explores the intrinsic limitations of Australia's current private health insurance system and explains how a single national health insurer can overcome them. McAuley argues that a single national insurer is more likely to be able to contain moral hazard, deliver public goods, and control price and utilisation to deliver equitable health care at lower costs.



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