Media Releases
November 2024
Gas companies export $36 billion of gas from Queensland, pay zero tax … again
Global energy corporations exporting coal seam gas from Queensland paid no company tax – again – in 2022-23, on $36 billion of income.
The crushing cost of a university education: Hungry, sleep-deprived students loaded with debt
A new report shines a light on the skyrocketing cost of a university education in Australia, with students skipping meals, living in poverty and forced to work full time while also studying full time.
October 2024
NACC needs urgent reform
The National Anti-Corruption Commission is at the crossroads.
Carbon credit trickery: more credits will lead to more emissions — and more climate damage
Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen has approved the further development of new ways for big polluters to buy carbon credits, which would enable them to keep polluting and, in fact, pollute more. Last week, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese looked Pacific leaders in the eye and promised real action on climate change. Today, the
Our broken super and pension systems condemn retirees to poverty
Australia’s “broken” superannuation and pension systems are condemning a growing number of retirees to financial misery in their sunset years. More than one in five Australians live in poverty when they retire. And that number is growing. With housing affordability at an all-time low, many Australians now face the brutal double whammy of going through
Minister shows lack of leadership again, as endangered species faces extinction
Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has, once again, delayed making an important decision to save the endangered Maugean skate in Tasmania’s Wilderness World Heritage Area.
Profiting from pain: how the big 4 banks cash in on battling borrowers
Australia’s big four banks make more than $200,000 profit from an average Australian home loan.
Queensland election: A clear message to Federal Labor
Queensland voters have sent a clear message to Federal Labor – Popular progressive policies win over a large number of voters.
What’s the big idea? Australia Institute Launches Publishing Imprint
The Australia Institute is launching its own publishing imprint, Australia Institute Press.
Top Australian scientists unite in defence of science on Maugean skate
An ancient and endangered skate (related to rays and sharks), which can only be found in a remote corner of western Tasmania, could be wiped out by salmon farming, prompting an extraordinary warning from some of the nation’s foremost marine scientists. 14 Professors and five Fellows from the Australian Academy of Science are among more than
On your bike. Policies to increase rates of active transport
A new report by The Australia Institute shows that less than 1% of federal road funding goes towards infrastructure for active transport like bikes and scooters.
Miles government policies popular with Queenslanders: poll
As opinion polls suggest the Miles Labor Government is closing the gap on the Liberal National Opposition ahead of this Saturday’s state election, new research from The Australia Institute reveals most Queenslanders support cost of living, environmental and reproductive rights policies. The research follows existing Australia Institute polling research which finds most Australians support proven
Transparency Summit blows the whistle on Australia’s culture of secrecy
Integrity experts, academics and parliamentarians gather in Canberra today for the Australia Institute’s Transparency Summit: Secrecy is not security, held in collaboration with the Human Rights Law Centre, Whistleblower Justice Fund, Alliance for Journalists’ Freedom and Transparency International Australia. The Transparency Summit connects those have been stonewalled – and explain why open government and public access to information is
Net more white collar crooks by giving whistleblowers a slice of the criminal pie
Employees who expose rip-offs like price gouging, tax evasion, wage theft, collusion or insider trading would be rewarded with a slice of the millions of dollars they help recover under reforms proposed by the Australia Institute.
Experts warn WA Government of gas price threat from Woodside’s export extension
New Australia Institute analysis shows that Woodside’s North West Shelf (NWS) Extension proposal represents a major threat to WA’s domestic gas market. The proposal is seeking approval from WA Environment and Energy Minister Reece Whitby. Today The Australia Institute is joined by two former WA premiers, Carmen Lawrence and Peter Dowding, and oil and gas
Australia can make speeding fines fair with proportional model: Report
Making traffic fines proportional to drivers’ incomes, as is done in Finland, is a fairer system according to a new report from The Australia Institute, supported by Uniting Vic Tas and Financial Counselling Victoria.
Latest report on failure of offset program supports move from net zero to real zero
An academic report released today outlining the failure of carbon offsets has found Australia’s biggest carbon credit method is barely removing any greenhouse gas from the atmosphere. The report adds to the significant body of independent analysis demonstrating that Australia’s carbon credits are not effectively storing or avoiding carbon emissions, and when used as carbon
NACC Paladin finding raises more questions than answers
A report by the National Anti-Corruption Commission into payments to a former Department of Home Affairs official by a company with a lucrative contract with Home Affairs raises more questions than answers. Bill Browne, Director of the Australia Institute’s Democracy and Accountability Program, says the report is disappointing when it comes to transparency and public
SA Government secrecy over proposed changes to electoral laws a bad sign for trust in politics
The South Australian Government has refused to disclose submissions to its consultation into proposed changes to electoral law.
Asian groups call on Australia to stop new fossil gas projects
Non-government organisations from Japan, South Korea and Taiwan have signed an open letter urging Australia to stop new fossil gas projects. The letter was published as a full-page advertisement in The Sydney Morning Herald and The Canberra Times, coordinated by The Australia Institute. The groups say that Asia’s energy systems are shifting to use more
“Nature Positive” summit can’t conceal nature negative policies
A full-page advertisement published this morning by the Australia Institute warns that government policies and actions are overwhelmingly “nature negative” despite the NSW and Federal governments co-hosting the world’s first “Global Nature Positive Summit” in Sydney today. Published this morning in The Sydney Morning Herald and The Canberra Times, the advertisement highlights that Environment Minister
President of Timor-Leste, José Ramos-Horta, visits Australia as guest of the Australia Institute to discuss independence, peace and security
José Ramos-Horta, President of Timor-Leste and Nobel Peace Laureate, has arrived in Australia for a week-long national speaking tour. President Ramos-Horta is a guest of the Australia Institute for two key public events. The Australia Institute is celebrating its 30th anniversary. President Ramos-Horta’s visit will focus on the importance of geopolitical issues and the need
IMF confirms — tax concessions distorting Australia’s housing market
Findings released today from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) align with existing research from the Australia Institute that tax concessions are distorting Australia’s housing market. The IMF noted that “tax breaks, including from capital gains tax discount and superannuation concessions, could be phased out to generate a more equitable and efficient tax system”. Supporting the
Big Super is still investing in nuclear weapons
A new report has found that despite claiming not to invest in ‘controversial weapons’ 13 of the top 14 Australian super funds are still investing in nuclear weapons companies, in some cases even in an option described as ‘responsible’, new research from The Australia Institute and Quit Nukes has found. Key results At least $3.4
Negative gearing and capital gains tax discount driving up house prices
Restricting negative gearing and scrapping the capital gains tax discount would make housing more affordable and increase home ownership rates, the Australia Institute has said in a recent submission. Key Findings: A major cause of rising house prices has been increased demand from investors. Restricting negative gearing to newly built housing and scrapping the capital
September 2024
Report: Fire ants to kill 6 Queenslanders and cost households $188 million annually if not eradicated
As fire ant numbers surge across Brisbane and the Gold Coast, new research shows Queensland households could be hit with an annual bill of $188 million, if they are not eradicated. The report, released by the Australia Institute, estimates that, if fire ants are allowed to spread, every year they could cause six deaths, trigger 116,000 medical visits and
Coles, Woolies’ Secret Pricing Deal Undercuts Inflation Claims
Coles and Woolworths seem to take turns offering items on sale, showing that they are more concerned with protecting their market power than competing against each other, Australia Institute research has revealed. The ACCC this week launched legal action against Coles and Woolworths for misleading consumers through discount pricing claims on hundreds of products at
Open Letter Calls on Government to Set Timeline for End of New Fossil Fuel Projects
A group of Australia’s leading climate and environment organisations have signed an open letter, coordinated by the Australia Institute and published today in the Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, and The Canberra Times, calling on the federal government to tell Australians when it will stop approving new coal, oil and gas projects. The open letter
Coal Mine Approvals Undermine Climate Goals, Government Rhetoric
The approval of three new coal mines in the Hunter Valley, during a rapidly escalating climate crisis, is shocking given the federal government’s stated commitment to climate action, the Australia Institute has said. Key Points: The federal government has approved three coal mines in the Hunter Valley Whitehaven Coal’s Narrabri Underground Mine Stage 3 Extension
ACCC Suing Supermarkets as Price Gouging Drives Inflation, Rate Hikes
The ACCC launching legal action against Coles and Woolworths today for misleading consumers reinforces the findings of Australia Institute and Centre for Future Work research, that showed inflation is higher because of big businesses price gouging. Key Points: The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has launched legal action against Coles and Woolworths for misleading
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