Here you'll find some shorter pieces with our thoughts and reflections on current affairs, policy debates, and how to make Australia a fairer place.
Insights
February 16, 2026
Moltbook and the Moment We Let AI Act on People
Moltbook is being treated as a novelty. A curious, Reddit-like forum where AI agents post about their users, trade productivity advice, and banter with one another in ways that feel playful, even endearing. Much of the public reaction has framed it as harmless fun, a glimpse of quirky machine behaviour rather than a serious development. ... Read more
Insights
February 16, 2026
If facts don’t change minds, how should think tanks think?
By Meredith Eldridge, Director of Operations at Per Capita We humans like to think that we are rational beings who make up our minds based on facts. Unfortunately for us, it is well-established that the vast majority of the time, people’s decisions are actually driven by emotion and subconscious mental shortcuts (see the work of ... Read more
Equitable Housing
February 9, 2026
Inclusionary Zoning: Four principles for a targeted, consistent, and balanced policy
By Dr Kate Raynor and Lucas Lewit-Mendes The Planning Amendment (Better Decisions Made Faster) Bill 2025 passed both houses of parliament last week. The amendment will streamline building approvals, including allowing low-risk building permits to be processed faster. Changes also include a provision that enables councils and state government to make the use or development ... Read more
Insights
January 19, 2026
The Way In: Representation in our Parliament – Wesa Chau
By Dr Wesa Chau, Executive Director “Everyone gets a fair go” is one of Australia’s most cherished values. We often pride ourselves on being a country where diversity is a strength and where anyone — with enough passion, hard work and persistence — can rise to leadership. But The Way In, Per Capita’s latest analysis ... Read more
Insights
January 14, 2026
Reforming the Capital Gains Tax Discount
Why reducing the 50 per cent discount would improve the tax system By Lucas Lewit-Mendes Capital gains tax (CGT) was introduced in 1985 as part of reforms to broaden the income tax base and reduce the rate. CGT is leviable on the increase in the value of an asset, such as property or shares, and ... Read more
Insights
December 17, 2025
Impact Report 2025
2025 was a year of many milestones and achievements for our small but mighty team. In 2026 Per Capita plans to: • Expand our team to enable us to work on more projects • Expand our work on diversity to enhance social cohesion • Ramp up our tax reform advocacy • Explore new avenues in ... Read more
Insights
December 9, 2025
Inclusionary Zoning Cheat Sheet: Key Points to Email Your MP
Subject: Please support mandatory inclusionary zoning in Victoria Dear [MP Name], I’m writing to express my concern that the current planning reforms do not include any mechanism to secure affordable housing. Victoria urgently needs mandatory inclusionary zoning to ensure new developments contribute to addressing our housing crisis. Why this matters Victoria is planning huge housing ... Read more
Insights
December 8, 2025
Australia’s Public Sector Is Far Smaller Than Debates Suggest
By Osmond Chiu, Research Fellow Over the past year, a chart by The Economist from April 2025 has gone viral – circulating heavily on LinkedIn and cited by conservative thinktanks and parliamentarians to argue that Australia has a “bloated” government. The chart claims that, adjusted for population, Australia has 143 public sector employees per 1,000 ... Read more