2025 was a year of many milestones and achievements for our small but mighty team Find out more about our impact here: percapita.org.au/impact-repor...

The Centre for Equitable Housing's latest report outlines a clear pathway for delivering housing and support in Inner-City Adelaide that is both socially impactful and economically responsible. Read "Supportive Housing Needs Assessment: Inner-City Adelaide", here: percapita.org.au/our_work/sup...

Per Capita's Centre for Equitable Housing has conducted a needs assessment that demonstrates both the scale of unmet demand for Supportive Housing in Perth and Bunbury and makes the compelling case for investment. Read it on: percapita.org.au/our_work/sup...

It's always going to be hard to make an argument to the average punter in the community about structural causes or systemic causes. Prof Philip Mendes spoke at the November John Cain Lunch. Watch the full presentation here: youtube.com/live/toerXrh...

"As conversational AI becomes woven into education, healthcare, and government service delivery, these systems inherit a duty of care proportionate to their reach..." Michael D'Rosario writes his blog post, "AI’s Next Safety Test: looking beyond performative protections."

As 2025 crashes out we survey the highs and lows of the year in tech with long-time platform burner Human Technology Institute co-director Ed Santow. Listen here: percapita.org.au/our_podcasts...

Representation in our government stretches from gender, culture, age and beyond. In our new report, we found that gender parity in parliament is the closest its ever been. Labor leads the way in female representation with 69 women of out of 123 seats (56.1%).

"Policy responses must recognise that boosting net wealth alone is insufficient if it is not accompanied by measures that enhance household liquidity, improve access to financial buffers, and reduce barriers to converting wealth into stability."

"While traditional empires including Rome projected power from a geographical base, today’s global Goliath is a network of stateless corporations and algorithms, rampaging the Earth as trade deals and treaties bend to their will."

"The PM won big by convincing us we could avoid the madness of Donald Trump’s new world order but Labor’s feeble AI plan embeds Australia deeply in its orbit." The latest op-ed from Peter Lewis is now available on The Guardian: www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

One of the most significant gains of the 48th Parliament is the near achievement of gender parity. Women now make up almost half of all federal parliamentarians, the highest level in Australia’s history, and for the first time the Federal Cabinet has a female majority.

"I have seen the benefit that technology can bring to society and economy at large." Dan Stinton, CEO of HealthEngine, and Burning Platforms panelist speaks on the pros of tech and its advancements LIVE in Perth. Watch the full episode of Burning Platforms here: youtu.be/6CMocD6K67I

"While the Albanese government has rejected the industry’s push to override copyright law to mine creative work, there are still unanswered questions on the ongoing damage of these crimes that need to be reconciled." Peter Lewis writes in the Guardian: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

EMAIL YOUR MP! Feel free to adapt this template to ask your local State MP for their support of inclusionary housing: percapita.org.au/inclusionary...

Representation is not only symbolic; it also shapes how public policy responds to a diverse nation. The latest edition of The Way In examines the 48th Australian Parliament, elected in 2025. Read the fourth edition of The Way In here: percapita.org.au/our_work/the...

The "Better Decisions Made Faster Bill" is currently being debated RIGHT NOW in Victorian Parliament. And while it would be the most significant reform to Victoria's planning system in decades (if passed), there is a glaring part of the bill missing: Inclusionary Zoning.

A chart by The Economist claims that, adjusted for population, Australia has 143 public sector employees per 1K people, placing it among the largest public sector workforces in the world. If that sounds surprisingly high, that’s because it is. Osmond Chiu explains why in his blog for Per Capita:

"Until [more ethical change] happens, AI’s progress on safety will remain partial, and performative. Machines will be protected by design, while the people who use them in fear will remain unprotected by neglect." Dr Michael D'Rosario writes the Per Capita: percapita.org.au/ais-next-saf...

"The phenomenon of the “wealthy hand-to-mouth” household now affects a growing share of Australians, placing many families at risk of financial stress despite impressive net worth figures." Dr Michael D'Rosario breaks down the rising levels of household debt in his latest blog. Read it here:

Kate Raynor joined Cathy Hunt on A Woman's Place to discuss the Australian housing market, how people's pathways to housing have changed, and what Per Capita are doing to help elevated the housing crisis. Listen to the full episode below: omny.fm/shows/a-woma...

Did you miss out on the final John Cain Lunch for 2025? Watch the full presentation from Prof Philip Mendes on the Per Capita YouTube Channel. Watch the November JCL, and the rest of the 2025 playlist, here: youtube.com/live/toerXrh...

"We need to take that quality of lens around what sort of activities do we need more of in our economy." Katherine Trebeck spoke at the Community Tax Summit, championing conversations about tax, in particular, how it could be used to help Australia move towards a more equitable society.

"I’m not pretending that history has all the answers to the technological tsunami we face, but I do know that to get the right answers we need to make sure we ask the right questions." Peter Lewis, convener for the Centre of the Public Square, writes.

"As Australians face a maelstrom of interconnected disasters, the climate catastrophe has become just one of many things to doomscroll about." Peter Lewis' latest op-ed is now available on the Guardian: www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

"Current patterns of high personal indebtedness, encouraged in part by generous property investment incentives, have resulted in Australia ranking second only to Switzerland in household debt globally." Dr Michael D'Rosario is back with another blog post - Read it here:

How much energy will AI really burn? Climate writer and activist Ketan Joshi joins Burning Platforms to chat AI and Climate: what we know, what we don’t know and what data centres have to do with yogurt tubs. Watch the Burning Platforms podcast on Per Capita's YouTube: youtu.be/dq3CBEBe3VA

"We want to get that scrutiny on child support and we want to stop it harming and failing the children that it's meant to be going to." CEO of Single Mother Families Australia, Terese Edwards spoke at the Community Tax Summit. Watch the full interview here: youtu.be/lI-ukEhmrXo

"Friction is democracy’s richest source of energy. It’s not just the testing of ideas, it’s the mediation of power, through committees, inquiries, legislative debates and yes, elections that need a genuine contest." Peter Lewis writes: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Continuing our recognition of International Day of Elimination Violence Against Women, Per Capita is sharing resources for those in need. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic, family, or sexual violence, the below services are available for your support. #NoExcuse

The 25th of November marks the International Day of Elimination Violence Against Women. This year's theme is "No Excuse." According to the UN, 38% of women have experienced some form of digital violence. Digital violence is real violence. There is #NoExcuse for online abuse.

Building Asia capability is not just about understanding our geography—it is about equipping Australians with the... cross-cultural competencies needed to navigate and thrive in a region that will define our shared future. Read Per Capita's Sub to the Inquiry into Building Asia Capability:

"I think equitable housing is a system that still allows some people to have big houses and other people to have smaller homes, but still at the very base minimum level provides a pathway for people to live in a dignified home." Listen to Kate Raynor on the A Woman's Place: omny.fm/shows/a-woma...

Prof Mendes joined Per Capita at their November John Cain Lunch to make the argument for governments to introduce policy development processes and networks that include active engagement with knowledge from domestic and global research studies. Listen here: shorturl.at/tbdWr

“I believe that for Australia to become a truly inclusive democracy, more people need to access the learning of political skills to ensure that the next generation, especially those who've never seen themselves reflected in power to enter political spaces...”

Dr Kate Raynor was on the road at the first ever SA Zero Homelessness Summit in Adelaide, presented by the South Australian Alliance to End Homelessness (SAAEH) in partnership with the Australian Alliance to End Homelessness (AAEH). Find out more about the SAAEH here: saaeh.org.au/south-austra...

"Why should Albanese care about the Coalition’s existential woes? Because as the leader of a major party he too has a stake in maintaining a two-party system rather than a new order of fragmented representation and shifting alliances." Peter Lewis writes: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

How much energy will AI really burn? Climate writer and activist Ketan Joshi joins Burning Platforms to chat AI and Climate: what we know, what we don’t know and what data centres have to do with yogurt tubs. Listen to Burning Platforms: shorturl.at/ykz6i

"Psychological crisis, suicidal ideation, emotional reliance, are incredibly important, but focusing exclusively on these domains would reflect a narrow view of human vulnerability." Michael D'Rosario writes in his latest blog: percapita.org.au/ais-next-saf...

"I refuse to despair. We've just got to keep at this... I remain optimistic that events can conspire to produce such opportunity [for reform] again." Former Secretary of the Treasury, Ken Henry AO, speaking on how opportunities can arise for meaningful and effective tax reform.

"Albanese would do well to look to Gough as he navigates one of the biggest technological challenges since the 1970s" Peter Lewis, convener for the Centre of the Public Square, writes in his new piece for the Guardian: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Last Chance to secure your seat at our final John Cain Lunch for 2025. Tickets close this Friday at 12pm. 12:30pm, Wed, 19 Nov @ Graduate House, Melbourne University Register via Humantix: shorturl.at/kFf1W

Last week, Wesa Chau attended the Australian Parliamentary Group for Future Generations, a multi-partisan platform dedicated to embedding long-term thinking and intergenerational fairness into the heart of Australian governance.

"Big Tech deploys Orwellian doublespeak to mask its democratic corrosion; blandishments of “freedom” override accountability and regulation is decried as “state control” rather than the expression of our collective will." Peter Lewis writes: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Our director for the Centre of Equitable Housing, Dr Kate Raynor, joined Cathy Hunt on 4EB's A Woman's Place - A Home of One’s Own. There she talked about the gender equity and housing projects she's working on! Listen to the full episode below: omny.fm/shows/a-woma...

Per Capita Executive Director Wesa Chau and board member Nareen Young joined Race Discrimination Commissioner Giridharan Sivaraman yesterday calling for an Inquiry into Workplace Racism. www.sbs.com.au/news/video/r... #auspol

Is Big Tech’s domination of AI inevitable or are there different ways of organising our data to shift the power the dynamic? We discuss the RadicalXchange project with its new director, Jess Scully. Listen the latest Burning Platforms here: percapita.org.au/our_podcasts...

The federal government has taken a significant step to improve the equity and sustainability of the superannuation system, however, more needs to be done. Research Associate, Lucas Lewit-Mendes, explains in the latest Per Capita blog: percapita.org.au/the-super-ta...

"The best way to make people care about their society is to give them a stake in our future." Author and speechwriter, Joel Deane spoke at the September John Cain Lunch. Watch the full livestream here: youtube.com/live/meG722o...

Join us at the November 2025 John Cain Lunch, featuring a presentation from Professor Philip Mendes on his latest book Resistance to Reform: Case Studies of Long-Term Social Justice Advocacy in Australia. Register via Humantix: shorturl.at/W1Msi

"The pursuit of genuine mobility... is central to any vision of a fair and dynamic society. Yet the path to achieving this ideal is anything but straightforward." Dr Michael D'Rosario explores the complexity of Economic Mobility in his latest blog post.