The aim of the research is to address the question: what explains Australia’s policy mix of social security benefits and mutual obligation conditions for the long-term unemployed? In particular the project is exploring the role of institutional and administrative changes in shaping developments in social security policies by analysing changes to unemployment policies, representation and administrative arrangements in Australian social security since 1983.

This PhD is supervised by Laura Davy (primary), Peter Whiteford and Philip Mendes.