August 2023
Extract: Heat – Life and Death on a Scorched Planet by Jeff Goodell
When heat comes, it’s invisible.
Multinational miners rue the day Palaszczuk and Dick delivered for Queenslanders
Queensland’s revised coal royalty system has delivered billions to the state, and NSW could be following suit. But as always, the mining industry is keen to let hysteria get in the way of a good policy.
April 2023
Can carbon offsets save the environment?
If you’ve ever ticked ‘yes’ to offsetting your carbon emissions when you booked a flight, it might have felt like you were doing something good. Planting some more trees to make up for your trip certainly offsets our guilt. But does it actually take carbon out of the atmosphere?
January 2023
The Safeguard Mechanism and the junk carbon credits undermining emission reductions
One of Labor’s key policies to reduce emissions is the Safeguard Mechanism. But how does it work, and how effective is it at actually reducing emissions?
June 2021
Open Letter: G7 Leaders should end not just coal, but also oil and gas finance in 2021
Originally published by the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Reuters News. On June 11-13, World Leaders will gather at the G7 summit. There, they plan to adopt an agenda to “build back better from coronavirus and create a greener, more prosperous future”. We, the undersigned economists, believe that this means decisively shifting finance
November 2020
SA EV Tax Backlash Grows – Parliamentary Opposition Continues to Mount
The Australia Institute has welcomed the decision from the South Australian Labor and Greens parties to oppose the Marshall Government’s proposed Electric Vehicle Tax. “The Australia Institute welcomes the decision of the South Australian Labor Party and the South Australian Greens to oppose the electric vehicle tax,” said Noah Schultz-Byard, SA Director at The Australia
September 2019
Climate of the Nation 2019 wrap
The annual Climate of the Nation report has tracked Australian attitudes on climate change for more than a decade.
This is the second Climate of the Nation report produced by The Australia Institute, continuing the work of the Climate Institute (2007-2017).
September 2018
An Open Letter to the Western Australian Government calling for permanent ban on fracking
PDF of Open Letter can be downloaded in full here. Full text of open letter and list of signatories below. Dear Premier and Ministers of the Government of Western Australia — Unconventional oil and gas development in Western Australia should not go ahead under any circumstances. The consequences of global warming are already extremely serious;
Climate of the Nation 2018 wrap
The annual Climate of the Nation report has tracked Australian attitudes on climate change for over a decade. This is the first Climate of the Nation report produced by The Australia Institute, after being produced for a decade by the Climate Institute. Key findings > 73% of Australians are concerned about climate change, up from
February 2018
Renewables as Climate Strategy: Generating Power From Energy
Clean energy technology is becoming competitive with fossil fuels, globally. This provides the basis for a new strategic approach to solving the political aspect of the climate threat.This is a speech given at ‘Imagining a Different Future Conference’, Hobart, on 8 February 2018, hosted by the University of Tasmania, the University of Utrecht Ethics Institute,
November 2017
Open Letter – 26% for the electricity sector does not make economic sense
An open letter, published as a full-page advertisement in today’s Australian Financial Review, calls for a higher emission reduction target for the electricity sector – well above the 26% proposed by the government’s National Energy Guarantee (NEG). — See full letter in pdf below — Signatories to the letter comprise high-profile business leaders, CEOs, academics,
February 2017
Bob Inglis speech to National Press Club
‘How conservatives can lead on climate action in the age of Trump’ Republican Congressman, Bob Inglis, National Press Club address: We’re in the midst of 2 weeks of travel in your magical land. We’ve been in Sydney where we enjoyed the beauty and the fun of the beach at Manly, the Circular Quay precinct, productive
How the Gospel helped Republican Bob Inglis to champion climate action
In Australia as a guest of Canberra-based think-tank The Australia Institute, former Republican Congressman Bob Inglis had initially assumed that climate change was nonsense. From South Carolina’s Republican heartland, Bob Inglis tells Adam Morton in a Fairfax interview: “I didn’t really know anything about it except that Al Gore was for it, and, as I
August 2014
Mining Economics Workshop – Powerpoint
If you’d like to give a presentation on the economics of mining, get in touch with us and we can give you the background information you need.
Mining Economics Workshop – Gas Fact Sheet
Gas fields covering NSW farmland and forests are approved largely on the basis of the claims they make about jobs and economic benefits. The gas industry employs some people and generates economic activity, but often not to extent claimed by industry advocates. This fact sheet will assist with arguing against the industry’s shonky economics.
Mining Economics Workshop – Coal Fact Sheet
Coal mines on NSW farmland and forests are approved largely on the basis of the claims they make about jobs and economic benefits. Coal mines certainly employ some peopleand generate economic activity, but often not to extent claimed by industry advocates. This fact sheet will assist with arguing against the industry’s shonky economics.
May 2013
Making sense of government priorities
Between the lines is the Institute’s selective analysis of the policies and politics affecting the wellbeing of Australians. This edition looks at the Resource Super Profits Tax, government advertising and missing out on government assistance.
March 2013
Impact of the mining boom on Australia’s non-mining industries
This presentation provides a summary of key findings from research by The Australia Institute into the economic impacts of the mining boom. It gives an overview of the Australian mining sector, including levels of employment, foreign ownership and subsidies, and looks at the consequences of the boom for non-mining industries like agriculture, tourism, manufacturing and
February 2013
The economic impacts of Australia’s mining expansion: Quick links to TAI research
The Australia Institute (TAI) has been researching the economic impacts of mining activity in Australia. This document provides a brief summary of key facts and links to TAI research papers, policy briefs and submissions currently available online. Key facts Mining ‘crowds out’ other industries: The expansion of mining causes a contraction in non-mining industries, particularly
December 2012
All I want for Christmas …. – NL Dec 2012
This edition of The Australia Institute’s newsletter features: All I want for Christmas …. David Baker The clash between coal and conservation Paola Cassoni Beating around the bush Matt Grudnoff Income and wealth distribution in Australia David Richardson 10th Henry Parkes Oration Prof George Williams And homelessness marches on …. Alison Laird The one early
September 2012
Productivity – lazy workers or lazy analysis? – NL Sept 2012
This edition of The Australia Institute’s newsletter features: Productivity – lazy workers or lazy analysis? David Richardson Gina’s call a bit rich Dr Richard Denniss Exposing the great sunscreen cover-up Dr Gregory Crocetti Measuring fugitive emissions Matt Grudnoff Could you live on $245 per week? Ben Irvine Infographics The economy and social justice Senator Doug
March 2012
Tarkine wilderness another victim of the mining boom – NL March 2012
In our latest TAI newsletter Andrew Macintosh and Deb Wilkinson from the ANU’s Australian Centre for Environmental Law explain the likely threat of the mining boom on the Tarkine. For eight years conservationists have fought to have the Tarkine rainforest in Tasmania included on the National Heritage List. Yet despite its eligibility it is under
December 2011
A great year – 2011 in review
This edition of the Institute’s newsletter features: A great year -2011 in review Dr Richard Denniss Help needed: billions of tax dollars looking for a problem Lin Hatfield Dodds Big change or a lot of hot air? Dr Richard Denniss The rhetoric and reality of the mining boom David Richardson Bulky billing David Baker Why
March 2011
NL 65, March 2011
This edition of the Institute’s newsletter looks at the foundations of Australian attitudes to boat people, patenting human genes, the politics behind the carbon tax, what “Made in Australia” really means and the consequences of high ATM fees. It also examines gambling revenue and the consequences that gambling reform will have on state and territory
December 2010
You may not have realised, but … what our good ideas achieved in 2010
What a year it has been! We’ve witnessed the fall of a Prime Minister, the rise of a woman to the top job, a hung Parliament, a drawn AFL final, a visit from Oprah, the Wikileaks exposé and supposedly a ‘new paradigm’. 2010 has had something for everyone. For The Australia Institute it has been
August 2010
Money and Power: How much is too much for corporate Australia?
Between the lines is the Institute’s selective analysis of the policies and politics affecting the wellbeing of Australians. This edition looks at corporate behaviour, the influence of the resources sector on the climate change and RSPT debates, and corporate donations to political parties.
June 2010
NL 62, June 2010
This edition of the Institute’s newsletter looks at the mining super profits tax, a charter of human rights, Australians missing out on government assistance, the war in Afghanistan, free trade agreements and the PBS, the Institute’s Measuring what Matters project, and peak oil.
May 2010
The Australia Institute’s ‘Budget in Reply’
Between the lines is the Institute’s selective analysis of the policies and politics affecting the wellbeing of Australians. This edition looks at the Budget with regard to climate-change policy, child care and superannuation.
April 2010
Time for a carbon tax; more money for you; measuring what matters
Between the lines is the Institute’s selective analysis of the policies and politics affecting the wellbeing of Australians. This edition looks at a carbon tax; reforming the financial services industry and measuring what matters.
General Enquiries
mail@australiainstitute.org.au
Media Enquiries
Luciana Lawe Davies Media Adviser
luciana@australiainstitute.org.au