Social impact investing

In response to the Financial System Inquiry, the Government has released a discussion paper exploring ways to facilitate the growth of the Australian social impact investing market.

Social impact investments are investments made with the intention of generating measurable social and/or environmental outcomes in addition to a financial return. Social impact investing is an emerging approach that brings together governments, service providers, investors, philanthropists and communities to tackle a range of social and environmental issues.

This discussion paper seeks views on a whole of government position on social impact investing including:

• the potential role of the Commonwealth Government in the social impact investing market;
• principles for social impact investing to guide Commonwealth Government involvement in the social impact investing market; and
• possible Commonwealth regulatory barriers to the growth of the market.

The Government invites all interested parties to make a submission.