October 2020
Coalition’s Tax Cuts Favour Men Over Women
New analysis from The Australia Institute has found that the Government’s income tax changes announced in the Budget will disproportionately advantage men over women, both now and into the future. Men will receive three in every five dollars of tax benefit in this financial year and then seven in every 10 dollars of the benefit
Tax Cuts: Temporary for Low and Middle Earners, Permanent for High Earners
New analysis from The Australia Institute has found that the income tax changes announced in the Budget yesterday will disproportionately advantage wealthy Australians both now and into the future. The limited, temporary benefit that will flow to Australians on low and middle incomes this year will be replaced by larger, permanent tax cuts given to
Opportunity Cost: At Least 160,000 Jobs Lost by Backing Tax Cuts Over Investment
The $16.9 billion spent on the early introduction of tax cuts in financial year 2021-22, as announced in the Budget, would create at least 160,000 fewer jobs than investing the same amount into healthcare, education and other public services, new analysis tonight from The Australia Institute has found. Key findings: According to the Government, the
Investing in Services, not Tax Cuts, would Create 162,000 Jobs
New research from The Australia Institute has shown that investing $13 billion into services such as healthcare and education would create 162,000 jobs across Australia. That is between seven and 12 times the number of jobs that are likely to be created by bringing forward the Stage 2 income tax cuts by a year. Key
480,000 Jobs Rely on QLD Public Service, Cuts Would Deepen the State’s Recession
With state budget deficits a potential issue in the coming Queensland election, new research from the Centre for Future Work shows that cutting public sector jobs and wages would directly undermine the delivery of essential public services at a challenging time in Queensland’s history. Moreover, misplaced fiscal austerity would also hurt the state’s economic recovery by reducing spending, employment and production in the private sector. These effects would be especially severe in regional and remote QLD, which is most reliant on public service jobs.
Queenslanders to lend Adani $271 million in royalty deal
The Australia Institute has criticised the Queensland Government’s deal to subsidise the Adani coal project via a royalty deferral deal. The long-running negotiations between Adani and the Queensland Government will allow the coal mine to ‘dig now, pay later’ at a secret, but certainly discounted, interest rate. Key points: The royalty deal has been reported
Taxing Our Way to Prosperity: Nordic Countries, Reality Expose Anti-Tax Ideology
New research from The Australia Institute’s Nordic Policy Centre shows there is no evidence for claims that higher levels of taxation have a negative impact on economic growth. As Australia’s economy begins to emerge from the COVID-19 recession, a comparative study of 188 countries has shown that higher levels of taxation, such as those found
September 2020
Income Tax Cuts Panned: National TV Ad Campaign, 40 Experts Target Government’s Economic Plan
A national advertising campaign opposing the early introduction of the Government’s income tax cuts will begin airing on SKY and commercial television this week. The campaign is being supported by more than 40 prominent Australians, including: Bernie Fraser, former governor of the Reserve Bank Stephen Grenville, former deputy governor of the Reserve Bank John Hewson
Early Income Tax Cuts: Men to Gain More Than Twice as Much as Women
New modelling from The Australia Institute has shown that bringing forward the Government’s income tax cuts will disproportionality advantage men over women, despite women being hardest hit in terms of lost employment due to the COVID-19 recession. Key findings Total employment in March and April fell 3.9 percent for men and 5.3 per cent for
Tasmanian Tax Reform Needs to be on the Agenda Now
The Australia Institute today released a report commissioned from economist Saul Eslake exploring tax reform possibilities for Tasmania as it emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic and recession. The report proposes reforms in three areas of Tasmania’s state taxation system: Replacing stamp duties on the transfer of land (conveyance duty) with a broadly-based land tax, levied
Polling: Voters Want JobSeeker Boost, Government Spending over Tax Cuts
New research from The Australia Institute has shown more voters want to see Government spending going towards supporting those looking for work and spending on infrastructure and services than for it to be used to hand out income tax cuts. The Australia Institute poll of 1017 Australians between 10 and 11 September 2020 showed, when
New Analysis: 12,000 Community Service Jobs at Risk Due to Funding Uncertainty
New economic research shows up to 12,000 community service jobs are at risk due to the Federal Government’s failure to confirm whether federal funding for community service organisations will be maintained. The new report released today by the Australia Institute’s Centre for Future Work demonstrates the economic importance of Commonwealth pay-equity funding at a time
New Analysis: Fast-Tracking Tax Cuts a Stimulus Failure
New research from The Australia Institute demonstrates that bringing forward Stages 2 and 3 of the Government’s income tax cuts would mainly benefit high income earners and have a very poor stimulatory effect on the economy. Key findings The benefits of bringing forward the income tax cuts would mainly go to high income taxpayers who
August 2020
Time to Pay Workers for Data Produced at Work
With the incidence of workplace monitoring increasing during the pandemic lockdown, new research shows that workers should be compensated for the secondary use of data gathered in the course of their employment. The Australia Institute’s Centre for Responsible Technology have made a submission to a NSW inquiry into the future of work, arguing that information
Tasmanians still missing out on revenue from fish farms
Results from Norway’s latest salmon auction again highlights the low price Tasmania is putting on its assets. This week, in Norway, a total of 30 Norwegian salmon farming companies purchased additional salmon licenses worth NOK 5.9 billion or AUD $921.2 million. The Norwegian Ministry of Trade Industries and Fishing stated that it had now sold
Failure to Invest in New Tech Damaging Economy, Incomes & Jobs
Startling new research from the Centre for Future Work shows that Australia’s economy is now regressing in its use of new technology, with negative implications for productivity, incomes, and job quality.
TAFE system supports $92.5 billion in annual economic benefits
New research from the Australia Institute’s Centre for Future Work shows the TAFE system supports $92.5 billion in annual economic benefits through the direct operation of TAFE institutes, higher incomes and productivity generated by the TAFE-credentialed workforce, and reduced social benefits costs.
Key Gillard-Era Reform Carbon Price Would Have Saved 72 Million Tonnes of Emissions
New research from the Australia Institute’s Climate & Energy program shows that had the Gillard Government’s carbon price remained in place, Australia’s emissions would be 25 million tonnes lower in 2020 and 72 million tonnes lower over the last five years. Key Findings: Over the carbon price period, Australia’s emissions declined by approximately 2%, and
July 2020
JobSeeker Supplement Cut: 22,000 South Australians Put into Poverty, Including 3,000 Children
New analysis from The Australia Institute shows the Government’s decision to cut the JobSeeker Coronavirus Supplement by $150 per week in September will push 22,000 South Australians into poverty, including 3,000 children. The economic modelling undertaken after last week’s announcement also shows that, nationwide, the cut will push 370,000 Australians, including 80,000 children, into poverty.
Post-COVID Manufacturing Renewal Represents Potential $50 Billion Boost to Economy
New research from the Australia Institute’s Centre for Future Work reveals that Australia ranks last among all OECD countries for manufacturing self-sufficiency. While this indicator confirms the dramatic decline of domestic manufacturing in recent years, it also reveals the enormous potential benefits that would be generated by rebuilding manufacturing back to a size proportional to our national needs: including $180 billion in new sales, $50 billion in additional GDP, and over 400,000 new jobs.
JobSeeker Cut to Push 370,000 into Poverty, Including 80,000 Children
New analysis from The Australia Institute shows the Government’s announcement to cut the JobSeeker supplement by $150 per week would push 370,000 Australians into poverty from September, including 80,000 children. The specially commissioned modelling undertaken after Tuesday’s announcement also shows that the cut will result in hundreds of thousands of Australians would struggle to pay
JobKeeper Review: Scheme Encourages Sacking Casuals, Non-Resident Workers
A new discussion paper from The Australia Institute has shown that the JobKeeper scheme is encouraging businesses to dismiss ineligible employees, meaning casuals employed for less than a year and non-resident workers have been disproportionately affected by job losses in recent months. Key findings: Of those working for a business that received JobKeeper the number
A Better JobKeeper: Targeting Support to Workers, Businesses in Need
A new discussion paper from The Australia Institute has proposed a model for how the Federal Government’s JobKeeper policy could be reformed, allowing the package to be retained and improved while clawing back spending in situations where the payments are no longer needed. The proposal comprises a model that would see businesses pay increased tax
Cutting JobSeeker Would Put 650,000 into Poverty, Including 120,000 Children
New economic modelling from The Australia Institute has shown that if the government removes the JobSeeker Coronavirus Supplement in September it will be forcing more than 650,000 Australians, including 120,000 children, to live in poverty. The new report, from The Australia Institute’s senior economist Matt Grudnoff, also shows that if the supplement is cut, hundreds
G20 analysis: Australian stimulus spending four times more on fossil fuels than clean energy
Ahead of the G20 Finance Ministers’ meeting this week, 14 expert organisations from around the globe, including the Australia Institute, have launched a COVID-19 tracker of fossil fuel and clean energy stimulus. The Energy Policy Tracker shows that the world’s 20 richest countries, who together account for 80 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, have
Consumer & Citizen Groups have Serious Concerns About Google Fitbit Takeover
Consumer and citizen groups have significant concerns that Google’s proposed takeover of wearables manufacturer Fitbit would be a game-changer not only for how people interact with the online world but also for digital and related health markets. Regulators around the world – in particular those concerned with antitrust compliance and data privacy – must therefore
Dirty Secret: Fossil Fuels Worst Performing Sector in the Stockmarket
Research published today by The Australia Institute shows that fossil fuel stocks have been the worst performers in the Australian stock market over the last decade. Fossil fuel stocks have lost around half their value in the first quarter this year with the COVID crisis compared to 23% for the wider market, continuing a decade-long trend of
June 2020
Eden-Monaro Polling: Voters Want JobKeeper Extended Beyond September Cliff
New research from The Australia Institute has found that nearly two thirds of voters in the electorate of Eden-Monaro want the Government’s JobKeeper program extended for some or all industries beyond its current September expiry date. The Australia Institute commissioned uComms to conduct a survey of 643 residents across the New South Wales federal electorate
Nordic Countries Show Free Childcare Key to Economic Recovery
The Government’s decision to end free childcare come July is at odds with its own economic goals, as new research by The Australia Institute’s Nordic Policy Centre reveals policies that make it easier for women to choose to go back to work will see the country recover faster from the COVID-19 economic crisis while also reaping
The Reconstruction Memorandum: Building a Better Australia
A new discussion paper from The Australia Institute has outlined how Australia could emerge from the COVID-19 crisis as one of the richest countries in the world while gaining long-lasting benefits from economic stimulus projects and a renewed faith in the effectiveness of democratic governance. “The response to COVID-19 will cost hundreds of billions of
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