Australian Public Policy Institute

The Australian Public Policy Institute is an independent public policy institute in Australia,[1] previously named the James Martin Institute for Public Policy.[2]

The Institute is based in Sydney and Canberra, Australia and was established in 2021 as a government and university joint venture[3] between the New South Wales Government[4] and three Australian universities: the University of Sydney,[5] University of Technology Sydney,[6] and Western Sydney University.[7] The University of New South Wales,[8] Charles Sturt University[9][10] and the University of Wollongong[11][12] have since joined the partnership.

The Institute aims to promote evidence-based policy in Australia.[13] APPI was included in an analysis of evidence institutes around the world undertaken by the Paul Ramsay Foundation,[14] and its research has been referenced in Parliamentary reports[15] and testimony in government enquiries.[16] It has also been referenced as a possible alternative to government contracting for external consultants.[17]

Its recent projects include child protection and out-of-home care reforms,[18][19] Australian Government reforms for funding university teaching and scholarship,[20] support for the New South Wales Anti-Slavery Commissioner on the office’s Strategic Plan[21][22] and the regulation and governance of artificial intelligence.[23] The Institute offers an annual round of grants to university research teams.[24] Recent successful projects have explored facial recognition technology,[25][26] Indigenous-led climate solutions,[27] and electric vehicle uptake.[28] It also offers fellowship opportunities for projects focused on housing,[29][30] increasing productivity in manufacturing,[31] and other government policy priorities.

APPI hosts public conferences including the annual Oration, last delivered by Australian Governor-General Sam Mostyn AC[32] and previously by former Premier Dominic Perrottet.[33][34]

The Institute is led by Libby Hackett,[35] former CEO of UK's University Alliance. The Chair of the Board is Peter Varghese AO, former Secretary of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.[36]

References

  1. ↑ "James Martin Institute for Public Policy". onthinktanks.org. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
  2. ↑ APPI (2025-05-22). "The Australian Public Policy Institute launched". Australian Public Policy Institute. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
  3. ↑ "Sydney alliance puts academics 'respectfully inside policy tent'". Times Higher Education (THE). 2022-04-19. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
  4. ↑ Reform, Education and Skills (2022-04-29). "Strategic projects and initiatives in higher education". education.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
  5. ↑ "New public policy institute welcomes Chair". The University of Sydney. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
  6. ↑ "New independent public policy institute launched for NSW". University of Technology Sydney. 2021-08-02. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
  7. ↑ University, Western Sydney. "Western joins James Martin Institute for Public Policy". www.westernsydney.edu.au. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
  8. ↑ Templeton, Louise (28 February 2023). "UNSW Sydney joins James Martin Institute for Public Policy". UNSW. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  9. ↑ Charles Sturt University. "Charles Sturt joins prestigious James Martin Institute for Public Policy". news.csu.edu.au. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
  10. ↑ Dodd, Tim (28 February 2023). "UNSW and Charles Sturt Uni join the James Martin Institute". The Australian. p. 2.
  11. ↑ Dodd, Tim (13 February 2024). "The University of Wollongong has joined the James Martin Institute". The Australian. p. 1.
  12. ↑ "2024: UOW and James Martin Institute partner to deliver impactful policy outcomes - University of Wollongong – UOW". www.uow.edu.au. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
  13. ↑ Post, HEPI Guest (2022-08-10). "Does open access to research provide the potential for improvements in UK governmental policy development?". HEPI. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
  14. ↑ "Evidence Institutes: Lessons for Australia from the UK, US and Canada". www.paulramsayfoundation.org.au. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
  15. ↑ "Key issues for the 58th Parliament - Incarceration of Aboriginal people". www.parliament.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
  16. ↑ "Existing frameworks are key to AI regulation". Law Society Journal. 2024-03-11. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
  17. ↑ Ivison, Duncan (2023-11-01). "Universities can help fix governments that are hooked on consultants". The Mandarin. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
  18. ↑ "'Love and hope for children': push to transform the child protection system". www.newcastleherald.com.au. 2024-08-21. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
  19. ↑ Holmes, Dan (2024-09-02). "Trust and support, not just safety, the keys to child protection success: report". The Mandarin. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
  20. ↑ Accord Report - Higher Education Teaching and Scholarship – Proposed New Funding Model. Canberra, Australia: Australian Department of Education. 5 June 2024.
  21. ↑ admin. "Strategic plan, reports and discussion papers". Communities and Justice. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
  22. ↑ McGregor, Abigail (June 2024). "NSW Anti-Slavery Commissioner's Strategic Plan: An overview". Norton Rose Fulbright. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
  23. ↑ Williams, Shannon (28 December 2023). "James Martin Institute guides NSW in AI development leadership". IT Brief.
  24. ↑ "Two Sydney Academics awarded public policy funding". The University of Sydney. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
  25. ↑ "HTI wins James Martin Institute for Public Policy Grant". University of Technology Sydney. 2022-11-15. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
  26. ↑ Santow, Edward; Perry, Lauren; Farthing, Sophie (2023-12-10). "Digital ID will go mainstream across Australia in 2024. Here's how it can work for everyone". The Conversation. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
  27. ↑ "Driving Indigenous-led climate solutions on Aboriginal land". University of Technology Sydney. 2023-11-30. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
  28. ↑ Gaton, Bryce (2024-12-05). "Apartment EV charging: Maybe not so hard, but it does need support". The Driven. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
  29. ↑ Ward, Mary (2024-05-11). "Families lose out in Sydney's new housing push, say planners". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
  30. ↑ Kerr, Sophie-May (2024-06-26). "From units to homes: How Australian policymakers could lead the way on family-friendly housing". The Mandarin. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
  31. ↑ Balinski, Brent (2024-10-02). "Some SME-centric solutions for lagging technology adoption". Australian Manufacturing Forum. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
  32. ↑ "Speech for the Australian Public Policy Institute 2025 Oration". Office of the Official Secretary to the Governor-General of Australia.
  33. ↑ "The James Martin oration". nswliberal.org.au. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
  34. ↑ White, Daniella (2022-09-27). "Parents to be able to escalate complaints about teachers, schools, to new support team". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
  35. ↑ Institute, James Martin. "Meet the Team". James Martin Institute of Public Policy. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
  36. ↑ Mandarin, The (2025-09-25). "Movers & Shakers: Mills takes tax board chair, Longo departs ASIC". The Mandarin. Retrieved 2025-10-21.