Why has means-testing fallen out of favour in Australian public policymaking? The idea of means-testing is to direct government support to those who need it most. Increasingly however, governments are opting for universal spending programs – from energy rebates and EV concessions, to subsidies in childcare and aged care. Professor Robert Breunig asks why, and makes the case for tighter means-testing.
Related reading: Home Truths: The case for rebalancing toward better means testing, Policy Institute Australia (June 2026)