Australia has a strong hand. Are we playing it well?
18/08/2026
Recent debate about the future of the NDIS has again highlighted one of the most difficult questions facing governments: how do we maintain access to high-quality, individualised care while ensuring our safety nets remain sustainable? This challenge sits at the heart of redefining and strengthening Australia’s social compact and was a topic of conversation across our meetings in Canberra last week.
The complexity of systems and eligibilities applying across different services and programs is leaving people confused and frustrated about the support they are entitled to and able to access. At the same time demand across health, mental health, disability and aged care continues to grow adding to workforce and funding challenges.
Too often, we approach these challenges one program at a time. What is needed is a more holistic approach to our social safety net, to provide greater confidence, clarity and consistency around what is provided for who and the role of governments and individuals in funding service provision and choice. Most importantly, we should find ways to get better outcomes without the government spending more.
CEDA believes Australia needs a more integrated approach to care reform. Greater investment in prevention, better connections between services and smarter use of digital technology and AI can improve outcomes and reduce funding and workforce pressures over time. Fiscal sustainability matters, but sustainability and equitable access should not be treated as competing objectives.
While in Canberra I also had the opportunity to discuss the need to improve regulation and regulatory processes to enable dynamism and innovation, and to lift housing supply. There is a clear interest in reforms to support a strong economy and social compact, but designing good policy is only part of the task. Building a constituency for change will be just as important. On that front, we will be kicking off our next major partnership project on improving regulation in Australia and will share more about that project soon.
Not surprisingly, housing sector developments remain a topic of debate across the country. Our economists are exploring this debate in our latest series of economic briefings across the country (CEDA trustees will have received personal invitations by email). While sudden changes to the value of most people’s largest asset can be confronting, our view is that these concerns have largely overlooked the longer-term trajectory of house prices.
Even factoring in the recent decline, home prices nationally have increased by around 50 per cent since the pandemic. Over the past decade, they have nearly doubled. These figures help to provide context for the 1.3 per cent decline in average national housing prices seen since their peak in March.
Many of you may have seen the announcement of my appointment to the Reserve Bank’s Monetary Policy Board. It is a significant and independent responsibility, and I am honoured to have the opportunity to contribute my experience and understanding of the Australian economy to the Board’s work. Thank you to the members who have sent messages of congratulations.
Join us in Brisbane on September 1 at Shaping the Future of Aged Care QLD, as we explore how providers can navigate reform implementation, rising compliance demands, workforce and financial pressures, while improving care access, quality and experience.
Hear a major address from Premier Roger Cook in Perth on September 8, as he outlines his vision to make Perth a capital for the Indian Ocean Rim.
At the Energy Security VIC event in Melbourne on September 15, leaders across the energy sector will discuss how they are balancing supply, demand, and security during periods of vulnerability, and planning for a resilient, sustainable energy future.
Welcome to our new members TAFE SA and Future CoLab 3000. Thanks for joining us.