Public Policy

Our experience extends across many industry sectors and includes policies and programs that spend billions each year.

Case Studies :

Policy/Program Evaluation
Department of Trade and Investment – New South Wales Government

Our independent evaluations have been used by the NSW Government to determine policies for public sector decentralisation, regional economic development, services for migrants and to encourage entrepreneurialism.

Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet – Australian Government

Our analysis and consultation with Indigenous communities identified ways to improve value for money of welfare spending through card based income management. Our report was the first of its kind and underpinned the Government’s design of an income management regime that has now been rolled out to many Indigenous and other disadvantaged communities.

Department of Premier and Cabinet – New South Wales Government

The NSW Government has to balance competing spending priorities to meet increased demand for services. Transport is one of its largest areas of spending. We have helped the Government evaluate its $1.8 billion rail capital program to identify waste, additional need and appropriate infrastructure priorities.

Regulatory Design/Policy Submissions
Global Renewables

Global Renewables is Australia’s largest provider of non-landfill waste treatment services. Most of the waste it treats is recycled, reused of renewed for application in the economy. Our analysis, policy submissions and public affairs strategy enabled Global Renewables to amend the Australian Government’s carbon farming laws to improve emission reductions from waste, secure a competitive waste management market and deliver its revenue projections.

Peak Australian Business Groups

Child care affordability and accessibility is a perennial policy issue in Australia and many countries. Business groups asked us to design a scheme that enabled tax exemptions for employer sponsored childcare delivered outside the workplace. We developed a policy and economic case and several submissions to government departments and parliamentary inquiries that won widespread support from employers, parents and childcare providers. Our proposed scheme was adopted by the Australian Labor Party, and included in its national election policy platform.

Policy Research
Transurban Infrastructure Developments

Transurban owns and operates key motorways around the world. Our research and analysis of the global, national and NSW freight industry and policy helped Transurban design the $1.2 billion motorway (Westlink M7) in Sydney's West to maximise revenue opportunities from freight.

Costs and benefits of rail services privatisation: international comparisons

We prepared the Infrastructure Partnerships Australia paper in 2012 on the costs and benefits of NSW rail franchising. Our analysis underpins the IPA’s efforts to increase government outsourcing for rail services.