Blog

Welcome to the Per Capita blog! Here you'll find all the thoughts and ideas we just had to get out there immediately, as well as the winning entries of our Young Writers Competition and other bits and pieces.

Blog
January 19, 2026

The Way In: Representation in our Parliament – Wesa Chau

“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 of the 48th Parliament, reveals a ... Read more
Blog
January 14, 2026

Reforming the Capital Gains Tax Discount

Why reducing the 50 per cent discount would improve the tax system  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 is levied when ... Read more
Blog
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
Blog
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
Blog
December 8, 2025

Australia’s Public Sector Is Far Smaller Than Debates Suggest

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 people or about 29% of ... Read more
Blog
November 24, 2025

Economic shock resilience: the wealthy hand to mouth effect

Government policies that incentivise property investment do so at ever increasing personal debt levels resulting in Australia evidencing the second highest level of personal debt after the Swiss. This means that Australian households while wealthy in net wealth and asset terms, carry far more risk than nearly all other individuals within advanced economies in the ... Read more
Blog
November 17, 2025

AI’s Next Safety Test: looking beyond performative protections

When OpenAI announced its latest wave of safety improvements in ChatGPT’s mental-health responses, the company framed the development as a major ethical advance. Working with more than 170 clinicians worldwide, it reported that the model now handles conversations about psychosis, mania, self-harm, and emotional dependence with up to 80 per cent fewer “undesired responses.” The ... Read more
Blog
October 28, 2025

The super tax system will now be fairer, but there’s plenty of work left to do

By Lucas Lewit-Mendes The federal government has taken a significant step to improve the equity and sustainability of the superannuation system, by increasing the earnings tax rate on large super balances. The October 13 announcement means the changes will bring in less revenue, but they will support low-income earners and protect against liquidity issues for ... Read more