Social Policy
The Centre for Independent Studies remains at the forefront of social policy debate in Australia, with a focus on key issues such as welfare, health care, education and child protection. Ending the growth of the welfare state is a priority for the CIS social research team, as government spending on welfare continues to increase, seemingly unabated.
Since the 1980s, the CIS has been researching social policy issues, with the aim of promoting policies that emphasise personal responsibility and individual choice.
The CIS seeks a future for Australia that has individual freedom under a limited government. We believe that such a future would strengthen community life, leading to a more cohesive and flourishing civil society.
Follow the links for further information on our major social policy areas:
Featured Publication
CRACKING UP? Culture and the Displacement of Virtue
Peter Kurti
09 July 2019 | AP4
Unease has been growing that something has changed for the worse in our culture. The change is perceptible but often defies precise description; yet it provokes this unease because of a concern that the foundations of our common social life have become unstable. This sense of instability is marked by…
READ MOREPublications
Changing the Narrative
Jacinta Nampijinpa Price
01 June 2019
Prospectus for the CIS Indigenous Research Program Despite meaningful intentions by government and NGOs to close the gap, the billions of dollars spent have not achieved their goal. In order to begin to solve the issues faced by Australia’s most marginalised citizens, the narrative must…
Taking Back Control: Restoring Universalism in the Age of Identity Politics
Amanda Stoker
16 April 2019 | OP170
It can feel safer avoiding conversations on social issues that can be landmines at the best of times. But the longer those who believe in freedom and responsibility sit on the sidelines, the longer we give free rein for others to shape the debate. Where…
Dying with Their Rights On: The myths and realities of ending homelessness in Australia
Carlos d'Abrera
12 December 2018 | RR38
The orthodox understanding of the causes of homelessness promoted by the ‘homelessness industry’ over emphasises the role of economic and social structures. Solutions based on structuralist explanations – such as increasing the supply of affordable social housing – are insufficient to reduce rough sleeping. Such…
Mapping migrants: Australians’ wide-ranging experiences of immigration
Charles Jacobs
05 December 2018 | PP13
Australians’ experiences of immigration are highly varied. Using 2016 ABS Census data, this POLICY Paper finds that – statistically – the wealth of the suburb we live in can have a major impact on the type of interaction we may have with migrants. These different…
Why we should defend capitalism
Eugenie Joseph
28 November 2018 | PP12
Capitalism has become a controversial idea in recent years; yet economic markets and free enterprise are responsible for lifting millions of people out of abject poverty, improving the quality of life around the world, and creating shared prosperity. Capitalism has also proven effective at sustaining…
Media & Commentary
Changing the debate
Jacinta Nampijinpa Price
24 January 2020 | Ideas@TheCentre
In light of the reduced debate around Change the Date, it is the perfect time to give attention to the issues that impact the lives of Aboriginal Australians in some…
Culture to blame for much of indigenous family violence
Jacinta Nampijinpa Price
22 January 2020 | The Australian
With 23 per cent of partner homicide victims in Australia being indigenous, it is not time to worry about superficial concerns such as “changing the date”. Let’s prioritise fact over…
Doctor Woke
Monica Wilkie
17 January 2020 | Ideas@TheCentre
Fiction has become a medium for writers and actors to treat their audience as morally inferior dolts in need of re-education. This week’s episode of Doctor Who was an excellent…
Changing the date of Australia Day won’t change our reality
Jacinta Nampijinpa Price
15 January 2020 | The Daily Telegraph
Australia Day is just around the corner but mercifully we have not yet been bombarded with the usual calls to change the date. We can assume that some of this has…
Gender scorecard failure
Monica Wilkie
29 November 2019 | Ideas@TheCentre
Victoria’s champions of workplace ‘gender equality’ have decided the best way to achieve their goals is to threaten employers with legal action. The Andrews Government want public sector bosses who…