The Productivity Commission Inquiry into Social Services

In June, the Productivity Commission announced the start of an inquiry commissioned by the Government into “More effective social services”. It has published an issues paper (summary here) for public comment by 2 December. The inquiry focuses on the “purchase” of social services, which could imply increased contracting out or privatisation of the provision of a broad range of services. The Commission defines social services as including health care, social care, education and training, employment services and community services, so the inquiry is wide-ranging in its scope, but it will not look at the level of funding, the level of welfare benefits or carry out an evaluation of specific social policies. This seminar will provide a brief look at the Productivity Commission and its other inquiries, and then discuss the implications of the Social Services inquiry in more detail. Speakers include Bill Rosenberg (Policy Director/Economist at the CTU) on the Productivity Commission, Eileen Brown (Senior Policy Analyst at the CTU) on the terms of reference of the inquiry and some of the inherent dangers, Peter Glensor (Executive Director, Social Development Partners) on its potential impact on the social sector, and Jan Rivers from Public Good on how it relates to the role of the state.