This special episode of Community Matters comprises a keynote presentation from Matt Grudnoff, Senior Economist at The Australia Institute, who makes the case as to why everyone in the community sector needs to care about taxation reform if we want to achieve a Fairer Australia.  

Recorded at the University of Wollongong on the 20th of February 2026 this presentation explains the need and achievability to increase Australia’s revenue base through sensible and fair taxation reform.  

Matt argues that community services, rather than fighting for a share of highly constrained funding, should instead be arguing for reform of the taxation system to increase government revenue.  Such reform would mean we could easily afford to deliver the programs and services we need to support the Australia we want with healthy communities and a cohesive society.  

As Matt explains, “If we want a civilised society we have to pay more tax”.  However rather than higher taxes for low and middle income families Matt is talking about tax reform at the top end of wealth where corporations and the super-rich are presently getting an unfair advantage in Australia.  With increased taxation on our gas exports, wealth, superannuation and housing Matt illustrates how we could easily afford the services we need.  

With the reforms presented here Matt demonstrates how Australia could raise an additional $110 billion per annum that would allow the community sector to deliver on it's promises of a Fairer Australia.

The alternative, in the face of increasing austerity and a cost of living crisis – to continue to compete for a smaller and smaller slice of an insufficient pie – will just provide window dressing on growing inequality and reduced social cohesion in Australia.   

This essential episode demonstrates why it is urgent that the community sector takes an interest to advocate for significant and meaningful taxation reform in Australia.

 Links and Resources: 

·         Graphs as presented in this episode can be viewed here: Community Matters Podcast — Community Industry Group

·         The Australia Institute Website:The Australia Institute – We Change Minds

·         Gas: The Facts (how Australia is currently failing to tax it’s precious natural resources): Gas: The Facts – The Australia Institute

·         Who should pay more tax? Article by Matt Grudnoff: The simple question at the heart of the capital gains tax debate: who should pay more tax, minimum-wage workers or wealthy investors?

Acknowledgement of Country

Community Industry Group' podcast is recorded on beautiful Dharawal Country, and we acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land, and their Elders.

We acknowledge and respect their continuing culture, the world’s oldest living culture, and the contribution they make to the life of this region and our country.

We acknowledge that we live and work on Aboriginal land and recognise the strength, resilience and capacity of Aboriginal people.

Music Credit:

”Jarvic 8” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/