We are an unusual coalition of climate, union, community and business groups supported by researchers from the University of Sydney’s Policy Lab
Inspired by the global Green New Deal, and motivated by the interconnected health, economic, racial, and climate crises revealed by COVID-19 we are working together to reimagine how our economy and government work.
The Real Deal Report
In our first report, we present a Real Deal for Australia. The old dichotomies of free markets or big states, and jobs or the environment, are false and inadequate. Civil society, strengthened by deep collaboration with academia, business and government has a key role in shaping a state and an economy that supports everyone to live good lives.
We outline five benchmarks that can guide the development of a Real Deal, building on the best of existing research on the Green New Deal and the social and economic impacts of the pandemic.
Major public investment is back, but policy must be attuned to the shape of the economy, too.
The pandemic exposed pre-existing inequalities and injustices that must be addressed for good.
We need bold community vision for an economy that serves us all, and a plan to make it happen.
A Real Deal is generated by the active participation of people in decisions that affect them.
Collaboration is the foundation for a Real Deal that can deliver long-lasting solutions.
Together, these benchmarks distinguish a Real Deal on the basis of whether it is genuinely transformative, addresses inequality and insecurity, makes plans for meeting social and environmental needs, and is both participatory and collaborative.
The strength of the project lies in our coalition: instead of creating fast policy, driven by specific issues, we focus on relationships first. Our method is grounded in co-design with a set of groups that do not traditionally work together. We aim to show that it is possible to share challenges and find common ground even in a time of crisis.
Get the report here