Policy & Impact

In my roles at the McKell Institute, I have lead or co-authored over 100 public policy reports. This selection includes reports that have informed major policy change, from billions of investment into social housing; the elimination of exploitative piece-rates in horticulture; new protections for renters; and more.

A Rare Kind of Care

This report identified policy gaps in the rare disease policy frameworks at each state and territory levels, leading to the NSW Government’s establishment of a rare disease strategy — an Australia first.

Policy Outcome: In late 2025, the NSW Government committed to establishing the first ever statewide Rare Disease Strategy in the wake of the report.

 

Media: Read more in NSW Health

Security Through Social Housing

This report made the case for a generational, multi-billion dollar investment in social housing in NSW ahead of the 2024 state election, working with the social services sector to provide the evidence base for the request

 

Policy Outcome: The NSW Labor Government enacted the largest ever investment in social housing in the state’s history, echoing the asks tabled in the McKell report.

Media: Read more in the Daily Telegraph.

Rewarding Renters

This report proposed new policies aimed at alleviating pressure on renters, including a novel ‘Renters Dividend’, which would allow interest accrued through portable bonds to be returned to renters as a dividend.

Policy Outcome: The framework for McKell’s advocacy at state levels, this report informed the South Australian Government’s 2026 election commitment to establish portable bonds in the state.

Media

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: Informed 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.