Media Releases
September 2023
Labor Voters Overwhelmingly Support Royal Commission into Offshore Detention
Australia Institute research shows a strong majority of Australians, including an overwhelming majority of Labor voters, support the establishment of a Royal Commission into offshore detention. The Australia Institute surveyed voters about recent allegations of potential corruption and bribery in relation to the management of Australia’s offshore detention network and asked their opinion about potential
Consulting firms a corrosive and conflicted influence on NSW Government
New research from The Australia Institute reveals the corrosive and conflicted influence of consulting firms on NSW Government processes.
Federal government advice annihilates salmon industry claims of sustainability in Macquarie Harbour
The Australian Government has released new Conservation Advice aimed at preventing the extinction of the Maugean skate in time for Threatened Species Day 2023.
67% of Australians Don’t Want Philip Lowe to Move Immediately into Private Sector
The Australia Institute surveyed a sample of 1,501 Australians about how long the outgoing Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia, Philip Lowe, should have to wait before being able to begin work at a private bank.
NSW Government Coal Royalties Decision to Raise $2.7 Billion
The Australia Institute congratulates the NSW Government on increasing coal royalties, potentially raising an extra $2.7 billion over four years. “This is a good move by the NSW Government that will benefit the NSW economy and community,” said Rod Campbell, research director at the Australia Institute. “Collecting more royalties from the fossil fuel industry allows
August 2023
SA Voice Polling: Majority Support for “Yes” in Key State
The Australia Institute surveyed a representative sample of 605 South Australians about the upcoming referendum to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.
South Australia Proves Australia’s Freedom of Information System can be Fixed
The Australia Institute will attend a Senate Inquiry today to highlight flaws in Australia’s broken freedom of information (FOI) system and argue for much-needed reforms modelled on South Australia’s approach.
3 in 5 Aussies back adapting policy over election promises
Research from the Australia Institute shows that a majority of Australians support governments changing economic policy to suit the current circumstances, even if that means breaking an election promise.
Report Reveals True Potential of Fully Funded Public Schools
A new report from the Australia Institute’s Centre for Future Work is calling for increased investment in public school funding to lift flagging school completion rates and spark economic growth.
Polling: Kooyong Voters Want Greater Action on Climate and Corruption
Research conducted by the Australia Institute has found the desire for action on climate change and corruption in politics remains high in the federal electorate of Kooyong.
Tasmanian government backflips on measures to protect depleted fish species
The Australia Institute Tasmania is calling on the Tasmanian government to keep in place protections for depleted fish populations. The Tasmanian government has today announced a backflip on planned measures to rebuild depleted fish populations managed under the Tasmanian Scalefish Fishery. Instead, the government has reopened consultation on the rule changes until September 25 and
Australia’s true unemployment rate lies hidden beneath the surface
The unemployment rate used by the Reserve Bank to help publicly justify policy decisions – including increases to interest rates – is based on strict and outdated definitions that significantly underestimate the actual number of people looking for work, according to new research released today by the Australia Institute.
Polling: Labor Voters Back Native Forest Protection Ahead of National Conference
Research released today by the Australia Institute shows a strong majority of Australian voters want bans on native forest logging extended to New South Wales and Tasmania.
Federal Government Is Legally Obliged to Protect the Endangered Maugean Skate
The Australia Institute has provided Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek with additional evidence that highlights the urgent need to end fish farming in Macquarie Harbour, in further correspondence about Federal Government obligations to protect the endangered Maugean Skate.
Funding and transparency needed for Tasmania’s long-overdue State of the Environment report
Leading organisations have warned that Tasmania’s first State of the Environment report in almost 15 years will not be fit for purpose without an immediate funding boost and increased transparency.
Voters Back Donations Ban for Government Contractors
Research released today by the Australia Institute shows overwhelming national support for a ban on political donations from any organisation that receives funding from government contracts
Restoring Trust Bill a Step Towards Fair Political Finance Reform
The Australia Institute welcomes independent MP for Curtin Kate Chaney’s Electoral Legislation Amendment (Restoring Trust) Bill, a private member’s bill that would implement key electoral reforms.
Proposed LNG plant emissions equivalent to 12 coal-fired power stations
New research from the Australia Institute has found that the lifecycle emissions resulting from Tamboran Resources’ proposed Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) processing and export facility in the Northern Territory (NT) would be equivalent to 12 coal-fired power stations every year when operating at full capacity
Overwhelming voter support for rent caps and increased housing spend
Research released today by the Australia Institute shows overwhelming national support for rent caps and direct federal government spending on affordable housing.
Maugean Skate Recovery Team fails to agree to act to protect the skate
The Australia Institute has found that a communique, released late on Friday 4th August by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania, is lacking action to prevent the extinction of the endangered Maugean skate.
Australia at risk of exclusion from renewable manufacturing boom
Australia risks being left out of lucrative new markets for renewable energy-related manufacturing unless government provides an urgent, domestic response to match powerful incentives introduced by the U.S and several other industrial nations. The finding is published in a new report released today by the Australia Institute’s Centre for Future Work, as part of the
An Invitation That Should be Accepted – Leading Judges Support the Voice in Open Letter
An eminent group of retired judges have published an open letter to the people of Australia in support of a ‘Yes’ vote in the upcoming referendum on the Voice.
July 2023
Leading Civil Society Organisations Publish Open Letter Calling for Long Overdue Political Finance Reforms
Australia’s leading civil society organisations have today published a full-page ad in the Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Australian Financial Review and Canberra Times newspapers, calling for long overdue political finance reforms to make politics fairer and more transparent.
80-plus Groups Worldwide Demand End to Greenwashing Maugean Skate Extinction with Farmed Salmon Accreditations
More than 80 organisations from around the globe are calling for the accreditation schemes, Best Aquaculture Practices and GlobalG.A.P., to immediately revoke their ‘sustainability’ certifications from farmed salmon and trout raised in waters adjacent to the World Heritage Area, Macquarie Harbour, Tasmania. The demand comes as federal and state government workshops are held in Hobart
Australians Identify Corporate Profits – Not Wages – as Major Driver of Inflation
Research conducted by the Australia Institute reveals Australians understand that the current rise in inflation has not been driven by wages growth, contrary to the single-minded focus of the Reserve Bank on labour costs over the past two years. The Australia Institute surveyed Australians about their views on the causes of, and solutions to, inflation,
Test of Success: Bullock’s Next Steps to Forge New RBA Era
The Australia Institute has identified five key questions incoming Governor of the Reserve Bank, Michele Bullock must answer – questions that will ultimately measure her success in the role.
MPs and Climate Leaders to Speak at No New Coal and Gas Forum
The Australia Institute will host a public forum at St Kilda Town Hall from 6.30pm tonight, Tuesday 11 July for a community discussion about Australia’s plans for an enormous expansion of fossil fuel exports, its impact on the climate and what can be done. Coal and gas mined in Australia already adds around 1.5 billion tonnes of
Polling: Migrants & Young People Most Likely to Support Voice
The Australia Institute surveyed a nationally representative sample of 1004 Australians about their attitudes towards the upcoming referendum to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. Key Findings: A majority of Australians (52%) say they will vote “Yes” to alter the Constitution to
States and Territories Could Foot the Emissions Bill for Beetaloo Basin
State and territory energy ministers meeting in Tasmania today may be asked to pay the cost of offsetting emissions from proposed fracking operations in the Northern Territory’s Beetaloo Basin. This proposal comes as the Federal Government looks for ways to fulfil a commitment made during the Safeguard Mechanism negotiations to fully offset all emissions from Beetaloo gas development.
Australian and Global Union Leader Sharan Burrow to Deliver Second Annual Carmichael Lecture
Former Australian Council of Trade Unions president Sharan Burrow will deliver the second annual Carmichael Lecture on August 16. Ms Burrow, who was ACTU president for a decade from 2000, was also general secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation between 2010 and 2022. She will speak on the topic ‘Global Worker Solidarity for a
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