“Bush declared war on terror, Blair declared war on crime and it’s like Cameron has declared war on the public sector.” It’s just over two years … more
Private Health Insurance: High in cost and low in equity
Government proposals to apply a means test to private health insurance subsidies have re-ignited the debate about the role of private insurance. Download the new CPD … more
The State of the Australian Public Service: An Alternative Report
The Centre for Policy Development releases The State of the Australian Public Service: An Alternative Report, as part of our Public Service program. DOWNLOAD the report here. The … more
Beyond the Blunt Instrument: the Efficiency Dividend and its alternatives
Efficiency Dividend is inefficient: Danger of waste on the way to a surplus. Jennifer Doggett’s paper from the Centre for Policy Development examines the flaws caused by … more
Out of pocket: rethinking health copayments
Jennifer Doggett proposes a complete rethink of the way we pay for health care in the Centre for Policy Development’s latest paper ‘Out of Pocket’ more
Communities in Control 2012 Conference | Melbourne, May 28-29
Communities in Control is Australia’s biggest and best annual gathering of community sector workers, volunteers and supporters – each year bringing together a stellar list of speakers and hundreds of people who work in or care about community to listen, debate, network, exchange strategies, and recharge. Click here for program details and registration. CPD’s James Whelan will present a keynote on ‘Big Society’.
Public Service research presentations
View summarised presentations of CPD’s public service research here. Big Society and Australia: How the UK Government is dismantling the state and what it means for Australia This report presents a comprehensive analysis of the UK’s ‘Big Society’ policies and programs and examines their potential impact if adopted and implemented in Australia. It seeks to contribute to an informed debate about the merits of ‘small government’ ideologies and policies that often receive less than critical … more
Christopher Stone | Thinking ahead: a budget for more than this year
In his article on ABC’s The Drum, CPD researcher Chris Stone suggests a different way of thinking about the budget, and makes important predictions about budget night media and political commentary which he claims is driving a serious and repeated problem: “A national economy is a lot more like the Titanic than a speedboat; significant changes in direction take a long time. This means that if we think there’s an economic iceberg 30 years ahead, the … more
Serco: A case study in outsourcing community service delivery
Why Serco? Six years ago Serco was described as “probably the biggest company you’ve never heard of”[1] and this is still the case for many people. … more
Essential Vision | Should We Fear a Big Society?
CPD’s recently released report, Big Society: How the UK Government is Dismantling the State and What it Means for Australia outlined the ways in which David Cameron’s Big Society policy has crippled certain state funded services in the UK. The policy has become a household term in the UK, and is debated and criticised among many in mainstream media, yet here in Australia the phrase is little heard of. CPD executive director Miriam Lyons warns of the … more
Chris Bonnor & Jane Caro | Chance to put money where it will make a difference
In light of the Gonski Report, Chris Bonnor and Jane Caro discuss some of the report’s findings and recommendations and the state of the education system in Australia today. “If someone had predicted 30 years ago that education funding and policy decisions made then would lead to an Australia where even Labor politicians felt that they had to pay a lot of money to get a decent education for their children, they would not have … more
Chris Bonnor | Gonski’s In. It’s Time To Act
There’s remarkable consensus that the Gonski recommendations are spot on. The danger? That Labor will stall too long before implementing them, writes Chris Bonnor. I’m reliably informed that whenever you talk to Labor politicians about school funding they start to twitch, and mumble “Mark Latham hit list”. Helped along by numerous commentators they are spooked by the 2004 election and the policy to cut private school funding. Regardless of any serious analysis of that election, … more
Melissa Sweet | Gonski review has a lot to teach the health system: Consumers Health Forum
Melissa Sweet considers the recommendations of the Gonski Report in terms of current approached to, and funding of, healthcare. She sites a statement made by Carol Bennett, CEO of the Consumers Health Forum, who highlights the aspects of the report which are relevant to Australia’s current healthcare crisis. “The cry of “nanny state” is often used to oppose public health measures that are in the public interest but threaten powerful private interests. Perhaps the cry … more
Ian McAuley | Means testing passes but do we even need health insurance?
Ian McAuley discusses the real value of private health insurance and the possibility of a fairer health care system. Read the full article published by The Conversation here “When the government finally succeeded in its third attempt to remove the 30% subsidy for high-income earners holding private health insurance, the opposition’s response was a promise to restore it should the coalition be voted into office. Tony Abbott said the rebate “is an article of faith for the Coalition. Private health … more