Build Australia publishes essays, opinion and analysis from Australians who think seriously about this country's future, and believe we can dream bigger, do more and build a better nation.

We hold submissions to a high bar — not to gatekeep, but because the ideas we publish should be worthy of the movement they're part of.

What are we looking for?

There is no specific topic or area that we are explicitly looking for — only things which are relevant to the future of Australia, and charged with pragmatic, informed optimism.

Your submission may be focused on culture, energy, education, housing, defence, creative industry, what it is to be Australian, infrastructure, history, R&D or anything in between.

Editorial principles

If you want to write for Build Australia, your work should reflect the following principles:

Build up, don't tear down

We lead with yes, and. That means you can speak truth to power, call out failure, name what isn't working — but every critique should point toward something better.

Take us somewhere

Great writing moves people before it convinces them. We want essays with a point of view, a voice, a narrative arc. This platform is not the place for academic papers. If an average punter can't feel why this matters to Australia, the argument hasn't landed.

Write from Australia

Draw on our history, our industry, our landscape, our contradictions. The best essays here couldn't have been written by someone without genuine skin in Australia's game — and couldn't have been published anywhere else.

Ground it in evidence

Anchor your claims in facts, figures and primary sources. A strong argument doesn't need to dress up as something more than it is.

Write for everyone

This is a broad tent. Write toward shared purpose, not division. Essays that pit Australians against each other — by class, politics, geography or identity — are not what we're here for.

How are essays reviewed and selected?

Build Australia has a small editorial group who review and greenlight submissions.

This group of 3–4 trusted voices uphold the editorial standard of Build Australia's published work.

What are the requirements?

When you submit, include a short cover note declaring any conflicts of interest. The editors will treat this in confidence, but it's a key part of ensuring we are transparent and mission-focussed.

On the use of LLMs in your writing process. We have an extraordinarily high radar for AI slop. If your prose hints of being non-human, you need to take another pass. We are not opposed to the use of AI (obviously) but this platform is for human content.

There is no specific word length required but something in the realm of 1,000–1,500 words is a good benchmark.

How to submit

Please email gday@buildaustralia.com with Essay: [essay title] in the subject line.

Include the body of the essay in the email, or a link to an accessible Google Doc / Notion file or other.