John Cain Lunch February: Tackling Meaningful Tax Reform - The Elephant in the Room

All our lives, we’ve been told that hard work leads to economic security and a good life. For many younger Australians, particularly those without family wealth, this now feels like a lie.

Younger workers face higher tax rates than millionaires, property investors, or wealthy retirees because our tax system rewards the wrong things - accumulation, speculation and rent-seeking.

Instead of being able to set up their lives, young people are loaded up with increased education and housing debt, or stuck paying unaffordable rents to grow the wealth of others, all while real wages decline.

There is broad agreement among economists, social security experts, business leaders and the community sector that Australia’s tax and transfer system needs structural reform: to lift productivity, realise the benefits of a net zero economy, fund the essential social services and infrastructure upon which we all rely, and reduce inequality within and between generations

Yet we are told repeatedly that the restructure needed is “too politically difficult” to be attempted. We cannot continue this way. Our children and grandchildren deserve better.

Ahead of the 2025 federal election, Per Capita and partners are hosting a Community Tax Summit to demonstrate that the community has the appetite for this “big conversation”, and show that a genuine, everything-on-the-table approach to tax and transfer reform is both needed and wanted in the next term of Parliament.

Hear from Think Forward's Thomas Walker about the "Tax Wealth Not Work" campaign, and from Per Capita's Emma Dawson about the upcoming Community Tax Summit.

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Thomas Walker is an economist, geographer, and CEO of Think Forward, a not-for-profit organisation founded and run by younger Australians. Think Forward undertakes research, education, and advocacy to inspire intergenerational care and dialogue in policymaking and facilitate transformational change in our economic and tax systems.

Tom has advised federal politicians, regularly speaks to the media and was appointed to the Federal Government's Aged Care Taskforce. In 2025, Tom has big plans, launching Think Forward’s education program (Tik Tok Tax) and call to action advocacy campaign (Tax Wealth, Not Work).

Emma Dawson is Executive Director of Per Capita. She has worked as a researcher at Monash University and the University of Melbourne; in policy and public affairs for SBS and Telstra; and as a senior policy adviser in the Rudd and Gillard Governments.

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Attend our in-person lunch and discussion at 12:30pm or watch the live stream remotely.

Live stream will commence at:
1:00pm AEDT (NSW, ACT, VIC, TAS)
12:30pm ACDT (SA)
1:002pm AEST (QLD)
11:30am ACST (NT)
10:00am AWST (WA)

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Register here to reserve a seat at our Graduate House event. Your ticket includes lunch from 12:30pm followed by a discussion from 1pm.

If you purchase an Online Ticket, you will be able to watch the live stream online. You'll receive the link by email.

Per Capita is committed to keeping its events accessible to those who may not be able to purchase a ticket. For this reason we are making a number of Concession Tickets available for unwaged/student/full age pension concessions. These tickets cover the cost of lunch plus a free ticket to the discussion.

Free tickets are available to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in recognition of the fact that this event is being held on stolen land. Please email info@percapita.org.au to request a free ticket.

If you are able to and would like to help us increase the number of Concession Tickets available, please consider a donation on top of your ticket purchase.