A man smiling wearing a blue shirt in front of foliage - Toby Philips

Toby Phillips

  • Economic Director
Expertise: Just transition, technology policy, climate change, economics, public policy
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Toby Phillips is the Centre for Policy Development’s Economic Director, and leads our Just Transition focus area in Australia. He drives work on policy ideas and partnerships to build a more environmentally and socially sustainable economy. This work encompasses climate policy, wellbeing-approaches to government decision-making, and structural challenges to Australia’s economy. Toby holds a Master of Public Policy from Oxford University and a BSc(hons) in chemistry from Flinders University. He has previously served on the board of the Australian Republic Movement, and currently chairs the board of Scouts Australia.

Publications

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An energy export transition that repairs the budget

The Centre for Policy Development's submission to the Senate Select Committee on Taxation of Gas

Risk and Reward: Getting more from Australia’s specialist investment vehicles

Risk and Reward demonstrates that allowing Australia’s specialist investment vehicles to make riskier investments would

Submission on Future Made in Australia Community Benefit Principles

CPD’s submission on the Community Benefit Principles aims to ensure that public support provided under

Sharing the Benefits: Ensuring new industries strengthen communities

Sharing the Benefits is a report from the Centre for Policy Development that outlines how

Submission to the proposed design of the Net Zero Fund

CPD’s submission to the Net Zero Fund makes four key recommendations with a focus on

In the media

MEDIA RELEASE: CPD welcomes 2026-27 Budget as a vital step toward intergenerational equity and a green energy future

The 2026-27 Federal Budget marks a clear shift by the government toward addressing intergenerational and wealth inequality, prioritising a more resilient economy that benefits both current and future generations of Australians.

Gas tax could fund free public transport ‘forever’: ex-leader

Centre for Policy Development economic director Toby Phillips said buyers of Australian gas would be paying global prices regardless of whatever tax regime Australia had in place.
  • NewsWire
  • 21 April 2026

Senate to hear calls for urgent gas tax overhaul

Policy experts are divided over whether a windfall gas tax is the right move to capture the upside from the fuel crisis.
  • The Energy
  • 20 April 2026

Toby Phillips & Mara Hammerle: The government’s clean energy funds are playing it too safe

These specialist investment vehicles are meant to crowd in private finance and accelerate emerging tech, yet most money still goes to projects the market would fund anyway.
  • Capital Brief
  • 3 March 2026

Sharing the benefits of the net zero transition with communities

CPD Economic Director Toby Phillips speaks with ABC's Sam Bradbrook about the Sharing the Benefits report and the case for tying public funding to real community outcomes.
  • ABC South East SA
  • 5 December 2025
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Fuelling rural ambition may ease renewables resistance

The Sharing the Benefits report by the Centre for Policy Development argues any renewables project backed by the federal government should have to clearly demonstrate community benefits.
  • AAP
  • 4 December 2025
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