Media Releases
February 2024
“Just get it done”: New research shows Australians back tax on fossil fuel exports
New research released by the Australia Institute shows a majority of voters back measures to tax fossil fuel exports, as Rod Sims and Ross Garnaut use today’s National Press Club address to call for a fossil fuel tax.
Labor Ahead in Dunkley, Stage 3 Changes a Winner with Voters
Labor leads the Liberal Party 52% to 48% in the Dunkley two-party preferred vote ahead of the crucial March 2 byelection, according to new research from the Australia Institute.
Kooyong, Mackellar and Wentworth Voters Back Labor’s Stage 3 Changes
Voters across the independent seats of Kooyong, Mackellar and Wentworth are strongly supportive of the Albanese Government’s changes to the Stage 3 tax cuts, according to new research from the Australia Institute.
Fels’ Review Confirms Corporate Practices As Key Drivers of Inflation
The Australia Institute welcomes the report of the Inquiry Into Price Gouging and Unfair Pricing Practices, chaired by Prof Allan Fels, and delivered today to the Australian Council of Trade Unions.
Nationals Voters the Biggest Winners from Stage 3
The electorates slated to gain the most from changes to the State 3 cuts are those held by National Party MPs, according to a new analysis from the Australia Institute.
Federal Intervention Required to Call Out Salmon Industry’s Clearly Unacceptable Impacts on Maugean Skate
The Australia Institute Tasmania has provided the federal environment department with substantial new information and evidence of a substantial change in circumstances that should lead to a change to the 2012 decision that allowed large-scale fish farming in Macquarie Harbour.
Real-time disclosures should replace yearly political donation data dump
The Australia Institute is calling for real-time disclosures of political donations ahead of the Australian Electoral Commission’s annual release of political contributions data for 2022–23.
January 2024
High Income Earners, Coalition Voters Among Those Backing Stage 3 Redesign
About half of Australia’s highest income earners on more than $200,000 back a redesign of the Stage 3 tax cuts, according to new research from the Australia Institute.
Tasmanian Government Action Plan Will “Monitor the Maugean Skate Into Extinction”
The Australia Institute Tasmania has found that the Tasmanian Government’s newly released Conservation Action Plan for the Maugean skate comprehensively fails to deal with the number one threat to the critically endangered species: fish farming.
Plastic packaging waste tax could raise billions
New research from the Australia Institute shows a European Union-style tax on plastic packaging could raise nearly $1.5 billion each year.
December 2023
PALM Visa Conditions Exploit Pacific Neighbours Working in Lucrative Australian Industries
New analysis from the Australia Institute has highlighted the extent to which temporary workers from the Pacific Islands and Timor-Leste are supporting essential agricultural and food processing industries, adding weight to calls for much needed improvements to working conditions for temporary visa holders participating in the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme.
Volunteer Firefighters Should Receive Army Reserve Style Support, 85% of Australians Agree
An overwhelming majority (85%) of Australians support better conditions for volunteer firefighters through an Army Reserve style model in the face of longer and more ferocious bushfire seasons, new research from the Australia Institute shows.
New Report Reveals Changing Face and Future of Self-Employment
A new report by the Australia Institute shows self-employment in Australia has changed in recent years, towards fewer business owners and more gig work.
Special Issue of Journal Marks Halfway Point of First Albanese Government
The Journal of Australian Political Economy, a peer-reviewed journal based at the University of Sydney, has today published a special issue evaluating the record of the Albanese government during the first half of its term in office.
Administrative Appeals Tribunal replacement promises qualified appointments made on merit
The Australia Institute’s Democracy & Accountability Program welcomes Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus’ bill to establish the Administrative Review Tribunal and replace the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.
Australia Institute welcomes Government commitment to digital competition
The Australia Institute has welcomed the Australian Government’s response to the ACCC Digital Platform Services inquiry’s fifth interim report.
Qualifications, Not Religion, Should Decide Who Provides Pastoral Care in Public Schools
New research from the Australia Institute and the Rationalist Society of Australia has found that most Australians are unaware that the federal government funds a program under which pastoral care workers in public schools are hired based on religion.
November 2023
Government Decisions Look Set to Send Maugean Skate Towards Extinction
The Australia Institute has today condemned the decision by the Tasmanian EPA to renew fish farming in the Macquarie Harbour. The decision comes just hours after the announcement of a review of salmon farming in the Macquarie Harbour by the Federal Government, under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. However, the Federal Government’s
Farmers Unite to Support Water Buybacks as Water Amendment Bill Clears Senate
Farmers and irrigators have joined the Australia Institute in a national campaign to support voluntary buybacks, with the Water Amendment (Restoring Our Rivers) Bill 2023 passing the Senate today, clearing the way for important Murray-Darling basin reforms to become law.
Voters Trust Labor over Liberals on Cost of Living: Polling
Labor is trusted over the Coalition to manage the cost of living crisis even as more people struggle to make ends meet, new research from the Australia Institute shows.
‘Oh, you shouldn’t have’ – Christmas gift waste expected to top $900 million
More than six million Australians expect to receive presents they will not use or wear and the bulk of these unwanted gifts are destined for landfill, new Australia Institute research shows.
Native Forest Logging Could End with Little Economic Disruption
New research from the Australia Institute, presented to the MONA Forest Economics Congress, shows that an end to native forest logging in Tasmania will have no economic impact on the state as a whole.
Murray-Darling: Irrigators and farmers support water buybacks in new ad campaign
The Australia Institute and farmers will run full-page ads in leading rural newspapers in all Basin States this week supporting water recovery through voluntary buybacks.
JSCEM report opens door to improved representation
The Australia Institute welcomes the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters’ final report for its inquiry into the conduct of the 2022 election. The report picks up several pieces of Australia Institute research and echoes key recommendations. Key committee recommendations include: A possible inquiry into increasing the size of the House of Representatives to reduce
Sweeping Changes Needed to Reduce Influence of Money in Politics: Report
Politicians and political parties would be subject to rigorous scrutiny around their political finances under sweeping recommendations in a new report released today by the Australia Institute.
Employers Steal More than 280 Hours from Workers Each Year: Go Home on Time Day Report 2023
Despite record-low unemployment, Australian employers are still managing to steal more than 280 hours from their employees each year.
Tasmanian Ocean Summit 2023 Calls for Urgent Tasmanian Government Action
The second Tasmanian Ocean Summit, hosted by the Australia Institute on Friday, called for urgent action by the Tasmanian Government to implement wholistic, integrated management in Tasmania’s coastal waters/Sea Country.
Inadequate Electoral Reform Leaves Truth and Transparency Behind
Tasmanians look set to pay one of the highest rates of public funding for election campaigns with the poorest oversight of donations received by political parties, with the Liberals and Labor joining forces to pass electoral reforms in the state’s parliament.
New Report Recommends Statewide Tasmanian Marine Authority
A new Independent Marine Estate Authority with whole-of-government oversight of Tasmania’s Ocean management would be established under a new proposal released today by the Australia Institute.
Australia Institute Welcomes Walkley Award-Winning Journalist Stephen Long
The Australia Institute has today announced the appointment of Walkley Award-winning journalist Stephen Long to the newly established role of Senior Fellow and Contributing Editor.
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