Policy & Impact

Primarily through my role with the McKell Institute, I have lead or co-authored over 100 public policy reports. This selection highlights projects that have achieved significant policy outcomes.

Blue Harvest: Wage Theft in the NSW 2019/20 Berry Harvest

This report was a central pillar of a campaign to reform the ‘piece-rates’ payment system in Australian horticulture. 11 months after this report was published, the campaign was ultimately successful, with the introduction of a minimum wage in Australian horticulture. The reform has been described by the Australian Workers’ Union, which commissioned the research, as its most significant industrial relations victory in its 135 year history.

Policy Outcome: Influenced the historic decision to abolish piece rates for 100,000 workers in Australia, delivering a minimum wage to this cohort for the first time.

Media

Islands of Opportunity: Stepping up to the Pacific’s Energy Challenge

7 million people in the Pacific have no electricity. Those who do are largely reliant on expensive diesel-fuelled power. Both of these challenges place a handbrake on economic growth. The report argues that Australia’s new commitments to the region should focus on this challenge, and that doing so can provide new economic opportunities for Australia’s emerging renewables sector.

Policy Outcome: Informed the Australian Opposition’s position on small-scale electrification ahead of the 2022 federal election, leading to the establishment of Renew Pacific, when elected.

Media: Listen to my Radio National Interview.