November 2024
Millions of Australians plant a seed for a healthy life and a healthy planet
From the humble backyard vegetable patch to herb gardens on the kitchen windowsill – 9 million Australians are now growing their own food, according to new research from The Australia Institute, in partnership with Grow It Local.
Unplugged: NSW government EV Strategy failing, as sales fall
The NSW government’s latest push to get motorists to buy electric vehicles is failing, according to new research from The Australia Institute.
Climate change driving insurance premiums adding to cost of living pressure and inflation
Climate change is driving an enormous increase in the cost of insurance with premiums massively outpacing price rises for nearly all other goods and services, making it unaffordable for many Australians.
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.
October 2024
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
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
September 2024
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
WA gas policy changes: East coast-style mess looms
The Western Australian Government’s changes to the state’s domestic gas policy give companies more opportunities to export gas and further reduce domestic gas supply, said The Australia Institute. Key Findings: Exports of gas are threatening the stability of WA’s gas market. The policy changes announced today allow more of WA’s domestic onshore gas to be
Overdue report delivers scathing assessment of Tasmanian Government’s environmental record
The State of the Environment Report released today shows that Tasmania’s unique environmental assets have been severely impacted by years of neglect from the state government, the Australia Institute has said. Key Findings: The Tasmanian Government has released the first State of the Environment Report in 15 years. The report shows that the Government has
No Shortage of Gas or Profits — Only Shortage of Tax
Australia Institute research has shown that there is no shortage of gas in Australia, in either the short or medium term, and that it is gas exports that are putting pressure on domestic supply. Continued attempts by the gas industry to claim a domestic shortage while expanding gas exports show that there is no shortage of
Analysis: 95% of Government Revenue not from Mining Industry
Claims from the mining industry that they are significant funders of public services in Australia are overblown, ignore the fact that their profits are made off the back of public resources, and are heavily publicly subsidised, the Australia Institute has said. Key Points: Taxes and royalties paid by the mining industry make up just 5 cents
Scrap fuel tax rebates for mining industry, not farmers
The Fuel Tax Credits Scheme should be scrapped for the mining industry, not farmers, the Australia Institute has said in response to calls at today’s National Farmer Rally to keep the tax rebate for the agricultural industry. Key Findings: The Fuel Tax Credits Scheme, also called the Diesel Fuel Rebate, is a subsidy for fossil
Pure Farce: Gas Import Proposal Shows Extraordinary Export Failure
Plans to import LNG to Australia reveal the extraordinary failure of consecutive Australian governments to stand up to multinational gas corporations, the Australia Institute has said. Key Points: Australia is one of the biggest exporters of gas in the world, alongside Qatar. Around 80% of Australia’s gas is exported as liquefied natural gas (LNG). Over
August 2024
$41 billion of new fossil fuel projects are gobbling up construction supply chain
$41b of committed resource and energy infrastructure projects is soaking up construction capacity that could otherwise be used to build essential infrastructure, such as housing and roads.
NT motorists pay 32 times more in rego than the gas industry pays in royalties: New research
Motorists pay almost 32 times more in vehicle registration than the gas industry pays in royalties in the Northern Territory, according to new Australia Institute research.
Off-Peak Hot Water: One Simple Change to Support Renewable Rollout
Australia’s off-peak hot water systems should be reconfigured to consume electricity in the middle of the day, rather than at night, according to new research from the Australia Institute and Buildings Alive.
July 2024
Big ute loophole cost taxpayers over $250 million in 2023
Tax breaks for huge, American-style utes cost Australians over $250 million in foregone revenue in 2023, according to a new report from the Australia Institute.
June 2024
Two-thirds of Australians refuse to pay more for nuclear: new research
Two in three Australians (65%) are not prepared to pay anything extra to have nuclear power in the nation’s energy mix, according to new research from the Australia Institute.
Zero royalties charged on $111 billion in WA gas sales
Australia Institute research has found that 73% of gas exported from WA attracts zero royalty payments, effectively giving a public resource to multinational gas corporations for free.
May 2024
Gas exports: 56% given to corporations royalty-free
Australia Institute research has found that 56% of gas exported from Australia attracts zero royalty payments, effectively giving a public resource to multinational gas corporations for free.
WA Gas Royalties Set to Plummet: Budget Analysis
Australia Institute analysis of the 2024 WA Budget shows the meagre contribution of gas royalties to state government revenue will plumet to just 0.6% over the next 4 years.
First Nations Consultation Protected, Gas Industry Still Winners From Flawed PRRT
The Labor Government and Australian Greens working together to remove a deeply flawed schedule from the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Legislation Amendment (Safety and Other Measures) Bill represents a small victory for the community, however the need to fix the Petroleum Resource Rent Tax (PRRT) collect more revenue remains.
2024 Budget: No Priorities, Lacks Ambition
The 2024-25 Federal Budget is a missed opportunity for the Government to solve the key underlying structural problems causing growing inequality, focusing instead on small announceables.
Fossil fuel subsidies hit $14.5 billion in 2023-24, up 31%
New research from the Australia Institute has found that state and federal governments provided $14.5 billion in subsidies to fossil fuel producers and major consumers in 2023-24 – the equivalent of $27,581 for every minute of every day, or $540 for every person in Australia.
Fuel Tax Credits system continues to drive fossil fuel use and emissions
The Australia Institute has released new research on Australia’s largest fossil fuel subsidy, the Fuel Tax Credits Scheme (FTCS).
Simple changes to Petroleum Resources Rent Tax could raise $18 billion: new analysis
Simple reforms to the Petroleum Resources Rent Tax could raise $18 billion over the next four years, new Australia Institute research has found. The report, A Stronger PRRT Cap, demonstrates that straightforward reforms would raise more revenue than the government’s proposed 90% cap on the expenses oil and gas companies can deduct from their PRRT
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