Social Policy
A free society rests on strong communities of self-reliant, involved and independently-minded people. Good social policy enables such communities to flourish. Bad social policy kills them, albeit often inadvertently, and with the best of intentions. This is why CIS has been working in the area of social policy ever since the 1980s.
The aim of this work is to inform public debate and to promote policies that will protect individual liberties, emphasise personal responsibility and strengthen community life. Good policies should help people take control over their own lives and enable them to contribute in a positive way to the society in which they live.
Publications
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Review of Higher Education Access and Outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People
| 18 Nov 2011 | SubmissionsAustralia has a serious problem in low participation in higher education by students from low socio-economic backgrounds.... Read More...
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Do Not Damage and Disturb: On Child Protection Failures and the Pressure on Out-of-Home Care in Australia
| 03 Nov 2011 | Policy MonographsThis monograph shows that the rising size, cost, and complexity of the out-of-home care system in Australia is directly linked... Read More...
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School Funding, Choice and Equity
| 26 Oct 2011 | Issue AnalysisCIS Research Fellow Jennifer Buckingham says the three main goals of school funding – equity, efficiency and excellence... Read More...
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Submission to Remote Participation and Employment Servicing Arrangements
| 11 Oct 2011 | SubmissionsThe Discussion Paper’s focus on participation and employment in remote Indigenous communities is welcome because it distinguishes... Read More...
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Working Towards Self-Reliance: Three Lessons for Disability Pension Reform
| 05 Oct 2011 | Policy MonographsTo successful reduce the number of pensioners on disability support, policymakers must apply the lessons of other welfare... Read More...
Opinion & Commentary
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Education crucial to Aboriginal jobs
| 02 Feb 2012 | Australian Financial ReviewThe problem is not a shortage of jobs in the mining sector. More local Aboriginal people would be employed in mines if they ... Read More
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An Indigenous program that’s boxing clever
| 20 Jan 2012 | The PunchAt risk Aboriginal youth are given an outlet to build self esteem through a boxing program with Redfern police.... Read More
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Who needs four uni degrees or even one for that matter?
| 29 Nov 2011 | CrikeyMost jobs don't require university degrees. A key purpose of education is to give students a chance to signal their aptitude ... Read More
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Italy defaults on debt and sends lenders broke? So be it
| 15 Nov 2011 | CrikeyThe federal government will need to cut spending to ensure a surplus in 2012-13.... Read More
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Liberals Drop Ball in Super Free-For-All
| 14 Nov 2011 | Australian Financial ReviewLifting superannuation to 12% is wrong.... Read More
Ideas@TheCentre
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Hardly fair to vulnerable children
| 03 Feb 2012Restore citizen-control over the child protection services or watch it fail....
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The great Medicare swindle
| 20 Jan 2012Basic market disciplines are needed to control the cost of Medicare and prevent over-servicing....
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Nudge, nudge, here come the Germans
| 20 Jan 2012Germans can teach us a lot when it comes to family and social policy....
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Disability pension needs tough love
| 16 Dec 2011With the number of people on the Disability Support Pension continuing to grow, government needs to introduce stringent reforms ...
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Paternalist not punitive management of underclass
| 09 Dec 2011Government should intervene in highly dysfunctional families to ensure children are given every opportunity to fulfil the ...
