The PM and the education minister have made big noises about easing cost of living pressures for Australians with large HECS/HELP debts. But they’ve been very slow to do anything about the high cost of getting a degree in the first place.

The size of the public service has been one of the sharper issues in this election campaign. But so far, the debate has been about “cuts” or “no cuts”, “working from home” or “back to the office you go”.

The Coalition costings arrived at the last minute… and it was quickly obvious why.

We’re in the final days before the 2025 Federal Election. Sifting through slogans and dodging dreary debates, the team at the Australia Institute has put together a list of practical ideas that have been missing from the mainstream.

On Sunday in Hobart over 6,000 people protested against the harmful practices of foreign owned salmon industry in Tasmania. The Australia Institute’s Tasmanian director, Eloise Carr, spoke to rally participants about recent changes to national nature laws and how the Institute has raised this issue with the UN. Seventeen civil society organisations have written to

Climate and nature crises won’t pause while politics plays out.

Sky News says community independent MP Allegra Spender supports more Coalition motions than Greens motions. But They Vote for You says Spender votes with Greens MPs more often than Coalition MPs. That both those claims are made about the same person is proof that voting comparisons are fraught. It is just as confusing when it

The housing crisis continues to grip Australia and it’s a central part of this election campaign. Unfortunately, while both major parties have made housing policies key parts of their election platforms their policies mostly tinker around the edges and fail in four key ways. They do not address Australia’s distortionary, expensive, and regressive tax concessions

How is it that in Australia, one of the richest countries in the world, we feel poor? 

Today the AEC promised “bingo cages, blindfolds and balls” – in other words, they finalised the candidates for the upcoming federal election, and randomly decided which order they will be displayed on the ballot paper.

A competitive and diverse news industry is key to a democratic society, keeping institutions accountable and transparent. But the ability of Australia’s Fourth Estate to perform that role is increasingly in doubt. Australia was once labelled the “land of the newspaper” by British visitors, with a flourishing and diverse news industry, but for over a

Full preferential voting is a proud Coalition reform – one that benefits every political persuasion Compulsory voting and full preferential voting make up the backbone of Australian democracy, and protect us from voter suppression and disengagement seen in other countries. We owe both to the parties of the centre-right, what would become the Liberal–National Coalition.

At the National Press Club today, Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor was asked about how few women the Liberal Party is nominating as candidates.

Some quickfire analysis from Greg Jericho, Chief Economist

The Australian Government’s latest report into the state of live music – “Am I Ever Gonna See You Live Again?” – makes some great recommendations, including for: tax offsets to be given to venues that host live music; training and education programs to help foster a love of music among young people; a rebate or

In 2024 we saw some welcome developments for working women, led by government reforms. Benefits from these changes will continue in 2025. However, this year, technological, social and political changes may challenge working women’s economic security and threaten progress towards gender equality at work Here’s our list of five areas we think will impact on

Multilateralism plays a vital role in advancing climate justice. The representation of Small Island Developing States in the United Nations – both individually and through alliances such as AOSIS – has played a transformative role in advancing global climate justice and action.

“Demanding better from our leaders is often met with threats like ‘well if you push too hard then you’ll get nothing’.” “Ignore this. It shows you’re winning.” Watch: In his opening remarks, Richard shows how far we have come since the Australia Institute’s first Climate Integrity Summit 3 years ago. Wrapping the Summit up, Richard

This session exposes the myth that Japan’s energy security depends on Australian LNG imports and reveals that the energy “security” narrative by policymakers serves commercial interests rather than reflecting genuine energy vulnerability or regional instability.

Dr Emma Shortis will examine the United States’ changing influence and the broader reconfiguration of the global geopolitical landscape.

Representing conflict-affected countries, the g7+ advocates for sustainable, inclusive solutions to address the interconnected challenges of climate resilience, peacebuilding, and development.

Too many corporate and government climate strategies continue to rely on offsets, carbon capture and storage and the land and ocean’s natural ability to absorb carbon.

Despite frequent claims that Australia is ‘too small to make a difference,’ historical evidence demonstrates our nation’s outsized role in influencing international norms and policies.

Robust, science-based climate action depends on the integrity of communication—including in journalism, advocacy, and the regulation of information.

As we face the escalating impacts of climate change, the decisions we make today define the opportunities, rights, and wellbeing of future generations.

Far from costing Australians, decisive climate action will, in fact, strengthen Australia’s economy, security, community wellbeing and international influence.

As economic challenges in Pacific Island Countries are compounded and exacerbated by the climate crisis, the strength of what the Australian Government calls ‘the Pacific family’ is being tested.

Last night, Liberal Senator Jane Hume announced they’d done a deal with the Albanese Labor Government on electoral laws – and some twelve hours later, it became law, having been rushed through both houses of Parliament. Labor’s compromises with the Coalition have worsened the bill even further: Instead of a disclosure threshold of $1,000, which