Dr. Tony Webster

Biography

Tony specializes in public policy economics, impact analysis, complex reform frameworks, and policy program evaluation. He has a particular passion for integrating the disciplines of economics, ecology, and public policy. As a Visiting Fellow at the ANU Institute for Climate, Energy & Disaster Solutions, he leads an economic team working on a forthcoming publication regarding Nature-based Solutions Guidelines for 2025, which assesses flood mitigation options. Tony is also the Managing Director of Policy Partners Pty Ltd, where he provides economic and policy management consulting services to public sector agencies, industry, and not-for-profit organizations. His experience includes professional development training in policy advising, policy writing, and management of policy projects. With broad expertise in Commonwealth budgeting, federal finances, competition policy, financial performance frameworks, regulatory economics, taxation design, agriculture policy, and environment policy, Tony is well-equipped to address complex economic policy issues. Additionally, he is the Managing Director of Ecology Consulting Pty Ltd, which conducts biodiversity assessments for land developments and provides specialist ecology surveys for government agencies. Previously, Tony served as a Commonwealth public servant for 24 years, mostly in the role of economist and policy adviser at the Commonwealth Treasury, where he was Chief Economist at the Murray-Darling Basin Authority, playing a key role in the Basin Plan adopted in 2012.

Research Interests