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An independent public policy think tank working to build a new vision for Australia based on fairness, shared prosperity, and social justice.
Per Capita — Fighting inequality in Australia
Our Latest Publications
View all publicationsEquitable Housing
October 31, 2023
The National Housing and Homelessness Plan: A historic opportunity not to be missed
The development of a new NHHP presents the Federal Government with an historic opportunity to reshape Australia’s broken housing system, to modernise it for the needs of contemporary Australia and to leave a lasting legacy for future generations.
Work and Workers
October 26, 2023
Submission to the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes) Inquiry
Key to the Fair Work Act was the inclusion of a fair and comprehensive safety net: a set of minimum employment conditions which cannot be stripped away. Today, too many workers find themselves excluded from this safety net, falling through loopholes in our workplace laws.
Progressive Economics
September 22, 2023
Submission to the ACTU Inquiry into Price Gouging and Unfair Pricing Practices
Our submission discusses how the state of competition in Australian industries can harm consumers and workers, and fuel inequality. It advocates for expeditious reforms to our consumer and industrial law, to empower consumers and workers, and lessen the effect of future shocks.
Work and Workers
September 18, 2023
Cracks in the Foundation: Exploring barriers to successful sectoral programs for young workers
The IT industry says yes to sector programs to solve its skills shortages and give young people a go at better quality jobs
Our Research
Areas
Our research is rigorous, evidence-based and long-term in its outlook. We consider the national challenges of the next decade rather than the next election cycle. We ask original questions and offer fresh solutions, drawing on new thinking in social science, economics and public policy.
Learn more about our research areas
Ageing
The extra 25 years of high-quality life expectancy over the last century constitute an unquestionably positive development for both individuals and society. Australia should embrace longer lives as a remarkable opportunity rather than a grave challenge. We seek solutions to issues resulting from Australia’s ageing population, aiming to increase the social and economic wellbeing of older Australians.
Education
In theory, education paves the road to a good job, which can lift people out of poverty and create a more equal society. In practice, however, the link between additional years of post-secondary education and increased income and employment opportunities has been eroded over recent decades. A good education should be accessible for all, not only for those who were born into a wealthy family.
Equitable Housing
Secure and appropriate housing is a fundamental human right, essential to household wellbeing and critical for communities and the economy. Housing policies at the national, state and local level are failing to adapt to changing social needs and economic conditions, and frequently entrench inequalities within and between generations. Per Capita’s Centre for Equitable Housing works toward a future where all Australians can be sure of a secure, appropriate, sustainable and affordable home, regardless of their personal circumstances.
Gender Equality
Women and other gender-diverse people continue to experience economic, material and social disadvantage. Australia has dropped from 15th in the world on the Global Gender Gap Index to 44th over the 14 years to 2020. From lower pay and less superannuation to a higher risk of experiencing family violence and homelessness and a disproportionate load of domestic labour and caring responsibilities, there is much work to be done still to achieve gender equality.
Post Carbon Economy
Per Capita’s Centre for New Industry delves into the practicalities of Australia’s inevitable shift to a post carbon economy and the effects this will have on workers. The Centre will build a vision of the future that provides greater employment opportunities for workers, greater stability and security for regional communities, and works with community, workers and industry for a successful shift to a zero carbon, full employment economy.
Progressive Economics
We challenge the belief that disadvantage arises from personal fault or failure and point out the policy choices that have deepened inequality in Australia over recent decades. Returns to capital have increased while returns to workers for their labour have stalled. We call out the negative effects of privatisation and the deliberate shrinking of essential public services.
Social Innovation
We examine the growing difficulty of accessing good jobs and adequate income support. We seek to understand and highlight the experiences of those who bear the brunt of the effects of policy choices that exacerbate inequality, including underpaid and exploited workers, people who can’t get a decent job, women, First Nations people, members of the LGBTQ+ community, people with disability and their carers, migrants and refugees, and others who are marginalised by our economic and social structures and denied their fair share of power and resources.
Work and Workers
A secure job with decent working conditions is a fundamental right for everyone and the means to build a better life for oneself and one’s family. In recent decades returns to capital have increased while returns to workers for their labour have stalled. Standing with workers enables individuals and the country to prosper and is the means by which we enable social mobility.
Current
Events
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Current Event
December 5, 2023
WEBINAR: The Great Divide – Australia’s housing mess and how to fix it, with Alan Kohler
Past
Events
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Our Latest
Podcast Episodes
View all podcast episodes
Podcast
November 28, 2023
JCL Series: Small steps and giant leaps: Per Capita’s reform agenda
Per Capita works to build a new vision for Australia based on fairness, shared prosperity, and social justice. From housing to tax, employment services to industrial relations, poverty to evidence-based policy, these issues all have the potential to influence the lives of Australians either by distributing resources more equitably or by allocating them to the ... Read more
Podcast
November 21, 2023
Re:CAP Ep.12: Lighter than Air – Regulating Short Term Rentals
Welcome back to Re:CAP – Per Capita’s premier podcast where we unpack our latest research and examine the inequalities in Australian society. This week, Matt Lloyd-Cape is joined by Per Capita’s Andrew Herington Fellow, Lucy Tonkin, to chat about the impact of short-term rental (STR) platforms such as AirBnB on the Australian rental market, and ... Read more
Podcast
November 14, 2023
Webinar Series: Courting Power – Law, Democracy and the Public Interest in Australia, with Isabelle Reinecke
A healthy legal system is fundamental to democracy. All Australians should be able to rely on the courts to keep the powers that be accountable, but what pernicious forces seek to undermine this? In Courting Power, Isabelle Reinecke, founder of Grata Fund, Australia’s first strategic litigation funder and incubator, takes us through the trials and ... Read more
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