Australians believe in democracy — but satisfaction with how it's working is fragile. That's the backdrop for our new report, 'For the people: Future-proofing Australia's democracy.'
Grattan democracy experts Kate Griffiths and Matthew Bowes unpack this in our latest podcast, listen here:
Australians cannot take the future strength and resilience of our democracy for granted. Our new report finds democracy is backsliding globally, and the world order Australia has flourished in is being tested. Five priorities for building a better, more resilient democracy: tinyurl.com/45drkb93
The Grattan Institute verdict on the fuel excise cut:
May not be as terrible as some economic commentators suggest.
But shouldn’t become embedded in our policy response to the oil shock.
And the long-term solution is to move to an electrified economy.
www.skynews.com.au/insights-and...
#auspol
Don’t panic at the pump.
Our energy expert @tonyrwood.bsky.social says that while losing 20 per cent of oil supply affects prices, the other 80 per cent is unaffected by the war.
buff.ly/0eleres
#auspol #Iran
‘Beyond the Iran and Ukraine conflicts, there will almost certainly be another international gas price spike sooner or later. When that happens, we will be glad to have a super-profits tax.’
Tony Wood from Grattan Institute in today’s Weekend Australian
theaustralian.com.au/business/minin…
'Migration is Australia's great economic strength.'
Our CEO, Aruna Sathanapally, has written a piece in support of migration and migrants. You can find the story, which was published in The Age and The SMH over the weekend, here: grattan.edu.au/news/migrant...
Why does Budget 2026 need to tackle negative gearing AND the capital gains discount together? Our CEO Aruna Sathanapally explains on ABC TV. Watch: m.youtube.com/watch?v=RXL2...
Yesterday at our 'How to tackle Sydney's housing crisis' event, Grattan housing policy expert Matthew Bowes laid out where planning reform stands - and what still needs to change in NSW.
Read the findings and download the report here: grattan.edu.au/news/how-to-...
‘The May budget needs to put more meat on the bones of how and when NDIS growth will be contained to between 5% and 6% – this is a reasonable target, but it won’t materialise without a more ambitious plan.’
Grattan Institute disability policy expert Sam Bennett
#auspol
www.afr.com/companies/he...
Australia’s electricity market needs a whole-of-system plan to get to net zero.
In this article for The Australian Financial Review, Grattan energy expert Tony Wood says that the Integrated System Plan should be it, but it needs to be reformed.
Read the full piece here: shorturl.at/IkjNc
‘Since the Economic Reform Roundtable last year, the consensus that came out of that was there is an intergenerational problem in taxation.'
Listen to our expert, Brendan Coates, talk all things housing and taxation with Peter Martin on ‘The Economy, Stupid': www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...
Child vaccination rates are falling fast. Our children are increasingly unprotected against painful and potentially deadly diseases. Here’s what governments should do – urgently.
Our new analysis, published today.
buff.ly/9RD7CD8
#auspol #health
The Prime Minister seems to have a severe case of fast train fever.
In this comprehensive report, the Grattan Institute shows why bullet trains are a very bad idea for Australia.
#auspol #transport
grattan.edu.au/report/fast-...
We need restraint, not a razor
Our CEO, Aruna Sathanapally, in The Australian Financial Review on the 3 things the Treasurer should do in Budget 2026 — and the 1 thing he should not do.
#auspol #TaxReform
Election 2025: Where the money came from
Clear, cut-through analysis by Kate Griffiths and Matt Bowes from Grattan Institute
#auspol #parliament #democracy
grattan.edu.au/news/electio...
The government has promised a $25b boost to hospital funding – but only hints at real reform
Sharp analysis of today’s National Cabinet deal, by @GrattanInst health policy guru @PeterBreadon
#auspol #NDIS
theconversation.com/the-governme...
“I'm old enough to remember when people said the grid will never hold up with 20% renewables in it – and the grid is still holding up now.”
Grattan Institute energy expert Alison Reeve on a watershed week on Australia’s long road to net zero.
#auspol
www.theage.com.au/politics/fed...
How to save the NDIS
By former Australian of the Year Patrick McGorry, with a little help from my colleagues at the Grattan Institute
www.theaustralian.com.au/health/carin...
Tackling the school attendance crisis is a moral imperative for Australia’s political class.
An end-of-school-year call to arms by Grattan Institute education policy experts Amy Haywood and Jordana Hunter.
#auspol
johnmenadue.com/post/2025/12...
On a typical school day in Australia, about 11% of students who should be at school are absent.
Every day matters. Which is why we've launched our new policy brief on how to improve school attendance in Australia. buff.ly/XUEYv4T
11/ Together, these reforms would create a fairer and more effective system to better meet the needs of Australians with psychosocial disability – and all within the current NDIS budget. buff.ly/5IrYFzK
10/ Fourth, make the federal, state, and territory governments jointly responsible – and accountable – for designing and delivering the program.
Chart showing the National Psychosocial Disability Program would triple PHN program funding in less than a decade
9/ Third, direct Primary Health Networks to lead regional planning, commissioning, and coordination, balancing national consistency with local flexibility.
8/ Second, deliver consistent psychosocial supports nationwide, including one-on-one support facilitation, so people can get the support they need, regardless of where they live.
Chart showing Grattan Institute’s proposed National Psychosocial Disability Program comprises three types of service. Services include Support facilitation Building one-on-one relationships to understand consumers’ needs and coordinate and broker their supports Flexible funding for psychosocial supports Commissioning a range of evidence-based and recovery-oriented supports tailored to local needs Flexible funding for Social and Emotional Wellbeing supports Commissioning supports that centre Social and Emotional Well-being to meet First Nations peoples' distinct needs Enablers include: Regional coordination and commissioning Fostering collaboration between relevant sectors and agencies, and ensuring the system works together to commission locally relevant services Governance and accountability Ensuring clear roles, responsibilities, and accountability measures for governments, commissioners, and providers to ensure efficient delivery of high-quality supports
7/ First, governments should establish a new National Psychosocial Disability Program, outside the NDIS but funded within existing contributions to the scheme, to provide support for a further 130,000 adults with the most significant needs.
6/ Our report shows that this gap can be closed without spending any more public money – by redirecting some NDIS funds to ensure Australians can get help whether they are in the scheme or not, and no matter where they live.
5/ This gap is fuelling a growing problem. People without adequate support are more likely to be homeless, admitted to hospital, or have their needs escalate – adding pressure to systems already under strain.
Chart showing service coverage for people with significant psychosocial disability is different by state – but most need is unmet
4/ Outside the NDIS, access to support is a postcode lottery. Services are patchy, underfunded, and inconsistent. Most needs still go unmet.
Chart showing the NDIS has rapidly emerged as a substantial funder for supports for people with mental health challenges
3/ Last year the NDIS provided nearly $6b to support about 66k people with psychosocial disability, but many people are missing out. More support is needed for people who do not meet the NDIS eligibility criteria.
