June 2018
Tax cut windfall: Regional VIC loses out
New analysis from the Australia Institute shows regional Victoria would receive below average benefits compared to the average Australian household from income tax cuts, outlined in the 2018 federal budget. The figures represent the change in household disposable income (after tax income) as a percentage of change in the national average. Modelling also took into
WA tax cut windfall
The Australia Institute has analysed the average electorate household benefit* from the income tax cuts announced in the 2018 Budget, as a proportion of the National Average benefit. The figures represent the change in household disposable income (after tax income) as a percentage of change in the national average. “It’s very visible in a state
Tax cut windfall: Regional NSW loses out
New analysis from the Australia Institute shows that regional NSW would receive below average benefits compared to the average Australian household from income tax cuts, outlined in the 2018 federal budget. The figures represent the change in household disposable income (after tax income) as a percentage of change in the national average. Modelling also took
Braddon loses out on tax cut windfall
A new report from the Australia Institute shows that Tasmanian families living in the federal electorate of Braddon benefit less than most other Australian electorates from the income tax cuts outlined in the 2018 federal budget. The figures represent the change in household disposable income (after tax income) as a percentage of change in the
SA loses out on tax cut windfall
New analysis from the Australia Institute shows that South Australians are amongst those to benefit least from income tax cuts outlined in the 2018 federal budget, compared to the average Australian household. The figures represent the change in household disposable income (after tax income) as a percentage of change in the national average. Modelling also
Mayo poll shows income and company tax cuts unpopular
The Australia Institute commissioned ReachTEL to conduct a survey of 1031 residents across the federal electorate of Mayo on the evening of 5 June 2018. Key results: 2-Party Preferred: Centre Alliance 58% Liberal 42% Two thirds (65%) of respondents think the Senate should oppose the top end income tax cuts When given a list of
Wentworth biggest winner from income tax cuts, Nationals seats benefit least
The Australia Institute has analysed the average electorate household benefit* from the income tax cuts announced in the 2018 Budget, as a proportion of the National Average benefit. The figures represent the change in household disposable income (after tax income) as a percentage of change in the national average. “This tax cut is highly selective.
May 2018
For First Time, Less than Half of Workers Have a ‘Standard Job’
For the first time on record, less than half of employed Australians hold a ‘standard job’: that is, a permanent full-time paid job with leave entitlements.
Government Spending Power Could Support Stronger Wage Growth
Australia’s state and federal governments could help solve the problem of stagnant wages by better leveraging their own spending power.
62% of tax cuts benefits go to highest income earners
Budget proposes Australia’s progressive tax system be overhauled to put majority of workers on the same tax rate. [Report – see PDF below] The Australia Institute has issued a briefing paper which modelled the distributionary effects of the proposal, showing the benefits flow overwhelmingly to the highest income earners who get 62%, while just 7%
Evidence backing Scott Morrison plan to expand Pension Loan Scheme
Reported moves to expanded the under-utilised Pension Loan Scheme (PLS) to allow pensioners access to the scheme would be a welcome budget breakthrough. “This is sensible economic reform which will allow those on the aged pension to effectively access some of the value of their home without having to sell it,” said Ben Oquist, Australia
23.9 tax ‘speed limit’ arbitrary at best
A new report from the Australia Institute shows the recently announced 23.9 tax-to-GDP cap is entirely arbitrary, and that a strict tax cap with no policy change will severely limit choices in Government spending. The report shows 23.9 per cent is the average tax-to-GDP ratio between the introduction of the GST and the Global Financial
Don’t blame it on the deficit: WA
A report released today by the Australia Institute’s Centre for Future Work shows Western Australia’s recent budget deficit is the result – not the cause – of deteriorating economic conditions.
April 2018
What do Australians think large companies would do with a tax cut
A new national poll has asked 1,557 Australians what they think large companies are likely to do with a company tax cut. A majority (61%) of respondents think that increasing worker’s pay would be the very bottom of the list of priorities for large companies receiving a tax cut. 63% think increasing executive pay, and
Australia is a low tax country
Open letter calls for more tax, not less in order to address inequality and ensure ongoing prosperity as Australia Institute research shows Australia ranks 8th lowest of 35 OECD members in tax to GDP. The open letter is signed by prominent economists and public figures including former PM&C Secretary Dr Michael Keating, Nobel laureate Peter
New record lows for foreign aid: report
Since the Coalition’s 2014 decision to cut foreign aid funding by $1.4 billion per year, Australia’s foreign aid record has not improved, with the 2017-18 Budget representing new lows for aid funding, a new report from policy think tank The Australia Institute finds. The reports suggest that Australia’s aid spending, already at record lows, could
March 2018
68% of PM’s electorate oppose company tax cuts
Wentworth poll shows just 27.3% support for cutting rate on profits of large companies. Poll of Brisbane shows low support for cuts to taxes and services. Polling released today by The Australia Institute of Malcolm Turnbull’s affluent federal seat shows about the same number of voters want the company tax rate increased (26%) as want
February 2018
Tasmanians don’t believe company tax cuts will increase wages
New polling released today by The Australia Institute Tasmania shows that even Liberal voters in the state do not believe that company tax cuts will increase workers’ pay. The poll of 925 Tasmanians, conducted by ReachTEL for The Australia Institute, found only 10.8% believed that giving large companies a tax cut would increase workers’ pay,
Company Tax: Research promoted in TV advert challenges $65 billion cuts
A TV advertisement which will begin airing nationally today features research from The Australia Institute into the government’s $65 billion dollar company tax cuts plan. Building on research showing a lack of evidence that company tax cuts promote either jobs or growth the advertisement identifies the likelihood that the gift to the corporate sector will
December 2017
Polling shows Americans and Australians united in opposition to cutting company tax
ReachTEL polling released today by The Australia Institute, asked voters in three blue-ribbon Liberal electorates about cutting the company tax rate. The poll comes as proponents of the cuts site the progress of deeply unpopular Republican tax plans as a reason for Australia to follow suit. The GOP tax plan has been widely repudiated by
November 2017
Plan to use Trump tax cuts to boost Australian case backfires
As advocates of cutting corporate taxes have attempted to cast Donald Trump’s tax cuts as a reason for Australia to follow suit, analysis of the plan has exposed more evidence of the flaws in the economic case for the Coalitions’ planned big business handout which would cost the budget $65 billion dollars. The report from
Queenslanders – North and South – back Adani loan veto: poll
A new ReachTEL poll of over 2,181 Queenslanders, commissioned by The Australia Institute, has found strong support for Queensland parties choosing to veto a federal subsidised loan for the Adani coal project. To accompany the polling (full results in PDF below), The Australia Institute has also released new research on the economic case for the
October 2017
Hundreds of Adani-related documents from DFAT – FOI
An FOI request from The Australia Institute has revealed the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has “several hundreds of pages” of documents relating to Ministers and officials making formal representations to foreign financiers to back the Adani project. “With ‘several hundreds of pages’ of relevant documents across multiple parts of the Department of Foreign
Tasmanian salmon industry faces major risks
The Australia Institute Tasmania today released a new report Salmon stakes: Risks for the Tasmanian salmon industry, outlining the serious risks Tasmania’s salmon industry faces if its environmental and social impacts are not managed. “The salmon industry is important to Tasmania and has tripled in size over a decade. Rapid growth is always brings problems,
What does the MCA stand for? Mainly Coal Advocacy
A new report from The Australia Institute shows that the Minerals Council of Australia’s coal advocacy is out of all proportion with its members’ interests The Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) represents companies that mine a wide range of minerals, yet delivers three times more media coverage for coal than for any other mineral. Analysis
September 2017
No loss of revenue and overwhelming support to phase out pokies – so why would Tasmania keep them?
Modelling by The Australia Institute has found any impact to the state budget from phasing out poker machines in pubs and clubs could be negated through increasing taxes on poker machines in casinos. New polling released today shows strong support for phasing out poker machines in pubs and clubs in Tasmania, even among Liberal voters.
Jobs survey reveals underemployment and unpaid work key issues for Tasmanian workers
The results of the combined Australia Institute Tasmania and Unions Tasmania’s jobs survey are in and they spotlight underemployment and unpaid work as key issues for respondents. While Tasmania’s unemployment rate sits at around the national average at 5.6% the survey results have revealed that underemployment is a critical issue for many Tasmanian workers. The
McArthur River Mine economic benefits of $1.5B dismissed as ‘Wishful Zincking’
The Australia Institute has released a scathing criticism of economic modelling in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Glencore’s zinc mine expansion. “Glencore claim up front that the expansion of McArthur River would generate taxes and royalties of over $1.5 billion,” said Rod Campbell, Research Director of The Australia Institute. “But it’s not until you
CSIRO paying lobbyist on fringe of climate and energy debate
The Australia Institute is today releasing a new FOI showing that the CSIRO pays membership fees to the Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) of $10k a year. The CSIRO is an associate member of the Minerals Council of Australia (MCA), the mining lobby group known for its forceful campaigns against effective action on climate change.
Mining lobby dominated by foreign interests
New research released today by the Australia Institute shows that the mining industry is dominated by foreign corporate interests that are spending hundreds of millions of dollars influencing our political process. The report finds that: Total revenue of mining lobby groups over the last 10 years is $524,150,431, with the Minerals Council of Australia accounting
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