It was established in 1943 and has been a significant player in the public policy debate ever since. Our aim is to promote an understanding and appreciation of the free society and free enterprise and, in so doing, to advance the interests of the Australian people. Those interests include prosperity and full employment, the rule of law, democratic freedoms, security from crime and invasion, and high standards in education and family life. In identifying and arguing for the best means of securing the values in which we believe, the IPA enters the public policy debate in a number of different ways. We also organise conferences, lecture series, expert discussions, boardroom lunches and our regular 'Dialogue' series.
All regular publications are available in hard-copy format on subscription.
The IPA's structure has evolved into one in which key policy units form its foundation. These key units are supported by an editorial and publishing office located in Western Australia and a head administrative office in Melbourne. In association with the University of Melbourne, we are also a partner in the Full Employment Project. The IPA's independence is one of its most valuable assets and it maintains its integrity in two ways. First, we make extensive use of our own Research Committee and external referees for our monographs, for many of the Backgrounder series and for any other publication that might be controversial or highly technical.