CPD Board Director John Menadue AO presented "What is the health service for? Where is the strategy in health reform?" for the Victorian Healthcare Association's Annual Conference in Melbourne, 17 October 2008.

Eva Cox outlines her response to the Rudd Government's announcement of a $4.8 billion dollar pension relief package which was announced as part of the October 14 2008 recession bailout. The Rudd Government claims to be pursuing evidence based policy but this is not obvious in much of what it is doing, says Eva. Rather, it often seems to display levels of cynical populism, especially with this payout.

The Hon Lindsay Tanner MP addressed the CPD in Melbourne on Wednesday September 10. In his address, Mr Tanner described his role as Minister for Deregulation as much more than 'Dr No': "deregulation is a lot more than simply striking out poor regulation. We want to ensure that the Commonwealth develops the capability to regulate better...Achieving this will...require us to open up the regulatory reform process to include the insights of those citizens and firms who are subject to regulation."

A big crowd joined guest speakers Lee Rhiannon (Senator, NSW Greens) and Janet Albrechtsen (The Australian) for CPD’s second Common Ground on Wednesday, 13 August 2008 at Sydney's Customs House.