July 2009
Tax cuts favour the rich
Discusses how the July 2009 tax cuts are highly skewed towards the rich. High-income earners get $41 per week and low-income earners get nothing at all.
June 2009
World blood donor day: Australians happy to give their blood for free
The national survey of 2000 adults found that the notion of paying blood donors does not have widespread community support. Seventy-one per cent (71%) of respondents did not think that donors should be paid for their time when they donate blood.
April 2009
Paid parental leave pays for itself and boosts the economy
Australia could introduce a paid parental leave scheme that pays for itself, creates nearly 9,000 new jobs and boosts the economy. The flow-on effect of paid parental leave on women’s participation in the labour market is likely to generate additional GDP of at least $2.5 billion and additional Government revenue of $625 million. This means
December 2008
Choice of Fund fails to engage consumers
The Choice of Fund Policy has failed to resolve widespread consumer disengagement with superannuation. As few as four per cent of workers switch super funds each year and around half of this is ‘passive’ choice due to job change or fund closure. Choice of Fund has also been largely unsuccessful in lowering the number of
Telemarketing: a waste of time and money
The value of time wasted on unsolicited telemarketing calls in Australia amounts to $1.58 billion annually. Two in three Australians believe that telemarketing should be banned altogether.
October 2008
Character tests make bad law
Highlights how the Australian Government has increasingly been making judgments about the character of individuals in migration and other areas over the last decade.
August 2008
May 2008
March 2008
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
$20 million Medicare Levy Surcharge tax scam
High income earners are using low-cost private health insurance products to avoid the Medicare Levy Surcharge according to a report released today by the Australia Institute. The Institute’s analysis uses unpublished ABS data to estimate that the practice is costing Australian taxpayers $230 million a year in lost revenue. The findings are made in Using
June 2007
March 2007
February 2007
December 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
March 2006
January 2006
October 2005
September 2005
July 2005
June 2005
May 2005
General Enquiries
Emily Bird Office Manager
mail@australiainstitute.org.au
Media Enquiries
Glenn Connley Senior Media Advisor
glenn.connley@australiainstitute.org.au