Sophia Petrov 

I have had an opportunity to review the submission.  I am really happy with the content as it is.  I am pleased with the process and what you have produced for us in terms of responding to the brief.  I will keep you in mind for any other projects we may need to outsource and am more than happy to recommend you to others.

Policy Director, Council on the Ageing (COTA) Australia

Professor Jeff Borland

Peter Davidson brings to the field of social policy a combination of practical experience and academic perspective that is unrivalled in Australia.

Labour market economist, University of Melbourne; Member, Employment Services Expert Advisory Panel.

Professor Julian Disney

Peter’s skills as an exceptionally rigorous and effective analyst and advocate of social and economic policies have earned him a very high reputation in influential circles.

Director of the Social Justice Project (University of NSW); former chair of Australian Press Council, Anti-Poverty Week, the National Affordable Housing Summit and the National Community Tax Forum; former President, ACOSS.

Professor Dann Finn

Peter has in-depth knowledge of the design, delivery and financing of employment services and social security in a wide range of countries, having completed a PhD and consulted to the OECD on the subject. He is reliable, writes well and has great analytical skills.

Professor of Social Policy, University of Portsmouth; Fellow, Learning and Work Institute, United Kingdom.

Professor John Freebairn

Peter Davidson has an established record of intellectual contributions as an analyst and as a facilitator of positive interactions between the broad range of organisations with an interest in economic and social policy. In taxation and social security, Peter applies rigorous analysis through his own research and evaluation of other studies to develop reform proposals, and explain the impacts of current policies on equity, productivity, revenue and simplicity.

Professor of Economics (University of Melbourne)

Dr Ross Gittins

I speak from decades of personal experience when I say you’ll go a long way before you find a better advisor on tax, social security, poverty and inequality than Peter Davidson. He’s hugely knowledgeable and his heart is always in the right place.

Economics Editor, Sydney Morning Herald: author of Gittinomics and more.

Dr Cassandra Goldie

Peter Davidson is a renowned and highly valued expert in tax-transfer and employment services systems, who has for many years played a leading role in ACOSS’s economic and social policy agenda. He has been the principal architect of major reforms in these areas and is respected across the community, business, unions, government and academic communities.  Peter is a prolific contributor and an excellent writer, with the rare ability to identify clear solutions to complex problems and communicate these to both ‘expert’ and ‘non-expert’ audiences. We are delighted that Peter continues to make a vital contribution to the public policy environment through his role at ACOSS as well as his private consultancy.

CEO, Australian Council of Social Service

Rob Heferen

I have had numerous interactions with Peter whilst I was at The Treasury, on issues such as workforce participation, income support, taxation and superannuation, and always found Peter to be knowledgeable, constructive and very influential.  It would be hard to find someone to match Peter’s wisdom in the tax and transfer system.

Former Deputy Secretary (Revenue) in Commonwealth Treasury and head of the Australia’s Future Tax System Task Force (which produced the ‘Henry Report’ on tax reform)

Ged Kearney

As ACTU President, I worked with Peter Davidson on policy collaborations around unemployment and inequality. He has a strong understanding of how the labour market can exclude and impoverish people and what governments, unions, community and business can do about this.

Member House of Representatives, former President, Australian Council of Trade Unions.

Heather Ridout

Peter is a highly respected player in public policy development in Australia. He understands the importance of working well with all stakeholders – and does so very effectively, and is a person of great capability and integrity.

Board member, Australian Super and Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth; former CEO, Australian Industry Group; Member, Australia’s Future Tax System (Henry Review) Panel.

Jo-anne Schofield

Peter is a tremendous source of advice and expertise and brings a depth of knowledge to all of us working for a fairer more equal society that is unparalleled.  What really sets Peter apart is the generous way in which he shares his thinking with others.  

Professor Miranda Stewart

Peter Davidson is one of Australia’s leading experts in tax and transfer policy and he brings this high level of knowledge and experience in both tax and welfare systems together in practical, original, policy oriented and elegant research and writing. I highly recommend Peter for policy work in this space. 

Professor Miranda Stewart, University of Melbourne; Fellow and former Director, Tax and Transfer Policy Institute, Australian National University.

Serena Wilson, PSM

Peter Davidson is a deep social policy expert with particular expertise in the design of the Australian social security system, employment services and interactions between the tax and transfer systems. He is very knowledgeable about issues of poverty, inequality and hardship and he has worked tirelessly to improve outcomes for disadvantaged people in his role with the Australian Council of Social Service. 

As a senior public servant working on social security and welfare issues for over 30 years, I have had many interactions both formal and informal with Peter over the course of my career in the Australian Public Service.  I have always found him to be respectful, thoughtful and collaborative with a strong, principled strategic focus balanced by a good awareness of trade offs in policy design.  Peter’s excellent analytical skills, his broad and deep knowledge of social policy issues combined with his experience in working with government mean he is very well equipped to make a positive contribution as a social policy consultant.

Serena Wilson PSM, former Deputy Secretary, Department of Social Services, with responsibility for oversight of social security policy (along with many other roles in social policy).