Media Releases // South Australia
March 2021
Australia Institute Welcomes SA Government Back Down on EV Tax
The Australia Institute has welcomed the decision from the South Australian Government not to introduce an electric vehicle tax in July of this year. “The Australia Institute welcomes the decision of the South Australian Government, but a delay of one year is not enough,” said Noah Schultz-Byard, SA Director at The Australia Institute. “This EV
January 2021
SA Government Key to Unlocking Solar on Rental Properties: New Report
New research from The Australia Institute has set out a series of recommendations for government, along with key policy design principles, which would increase the number of residential solar installations on South Australian rental properties.
December 2020
Leaked Government Paper: EV Tax Will ‘Discourage Uptake’, ‘Face Strong Opposition’
Putting a new tax on electric vehicles without related concessions, as has been proposed in Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia, would likely face strong opposition and discourage Australians from purchasing zero and low emissions cars, a leaked intergovernmental document has shown. The analysis of potential models for state based Road User Charges for
November 2020
EV Road User Charge: ‘A Great Big New Tax on Not Polluting’
The State Government’s proposed road user charge for electric vehicles, as announced in the Budget, is a backwards and unnecessary step for the state that contradicts its supposed commitment to increasing the uptake of EVs into the future, The Australia Institute has said. Key points: The State Government is planning to introduce a ‘road user
EV Road User Charge: ‘A Great Big New Tax on Not Polluting’
The State Government’s proposed road user charge for electric vehicles, as announced in the Budget, is a backwards and unnecessary step for the state that contradicts its supposed commitment to increasing the uptake of EVs into the future, The Australia Institute has said. Key points: The State Government is planning to introduce a ‘road user
SA Budget: Rush to Surplus Risks State’s Economic Recovery
Following the release of today’s State Budget, The Australia Institute has suggested that efforts to return to an early surplus will harm South Australia’s economic performance and undermine the state’s employment recovery from COVID-19. Key findings: According to the State Government, the budget will return to surplus in 2023-24. Previous recessions have shown that unemployment
SA Business and Community Leaders Back Call for Adelaide Formula E Grand Prix
The Australia Institute and a range of South Australian business and community organisations are calling for Adelaide to become a host city for the Formula E Grand Prix. A full page advertisement in today’s Advertiser newspaper uses Australia Institute research to show that the idea of hosting the race in Adelaide is broadly supported by
October 2020
Climate of the Nation 2020: South Australians Concerned about Climate Fires, want Renewables Led Recovery
In the wake of the devastating Black Summer bushfires, an overwhelming majority of Australians (82%) and South Australians (81%) say they are concerned about climate change resulting in more bushfires, according to a new benchmark report released today by the Australia Institute’s Climate & Energy Program. The annual Climate of the Nation report has tracked
Key to Reforming National Electricity Market: Build On Demand Response
Australia’s electricity sector is being revolutionised by the rise of renewable energy and storage, but new analysis from the Australia Institute’s Climate & Energy Program shows the current energy market framework is holding these technologies back. In 2018 the Federal and State/Territory Governments tasked the Energy Security Board with designing a new National Electricity Market
September 2020
Words Before Waste: South Australians Call for More Consultation on Federal Radioactive Waste Plan
New research shows that, while South Australians are divided on the issue of a nuclear waste dump, a clear majority believe more consultation should be undertaken before any final decision is made regarding a proposed disposal and storage facility near Kimba on the Eyre Peninsula. The Australia Institute recently surveyed 510 South Australians about the
August 2020
Trust Deficit: Voters Want More Transparency, Greater Penalties for Rorting MPs
New research from The Australia Institute shows three in five South Australians (58%) do not trust Members of State Parliament when it comes to claiming their salary and benefits. The Australia Institute survey of 510 South Australians between 23 and 27 July 2020 also showed voters want to see every MP’s full salary and benefits
July 2020
JobSeeker Supplement Cut: 22,000 South Australians Put into Poverty, Including 3,000 Children
New analysis from The Australia Institute shows the Government’s decision to cut the JobSeeker Coronavirus Supplement by $150 per week in September will push 22,000 South Australians into poverty, including 3,000 children. The economic modelling undertaken after last week’s announcement also shows that, nationwide, the cut will push 370,000 Australians, including 80,000 children, into poverty.
Auditor General’s ‘Watergate’ Report Shows Need for Royal Commission
An Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) report on the Murray Darling Basin has found “information relating to value for money…was limited” for water purchases worth $190 million. The ANAO found that the Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment (DAWE): Did not consistently apply approved policy, planning and guidance to the assessment of all limited tender
April 2020
Green Light for Hydrogen – SA Backs Renewable Energy Exports
New research from The Australia Institute has found that South Australians only support the creation of a hydrogen energy industry in the state if it uses renewable sources of energy. The research was undertaken between March 3rd and 6th 2020, following a summer of disastrous bushfires across Australia and the state. Key findings: – Four
February 2020
Equinor Out – Time to Give Great Australian Bight World Heritage Protection
The Australia Institute has welcomed reports that Norwegian oil giant Equinor is withdrawing from its plans to drill for oil in the Great Australian Bight and has said that the Federal and South Australian governments should now move towards permanent protection and World Heritage listing for the Bight. Australia Institute research has previously shown that
December 2019
Equinor Approved to Drill in Bight Despite Significant Community Opposition
Norwegian oil giant Equinor has been given approval by the regulating body NOPSEMA to drill in the Great Australian Bight, in direct opposition to public opinion, The Australia Institute has said. More than four in five South Australians (84%) want to see the Great Australian Bight given World Heritage Protection and a majority of all
Murray Darling ‘top cop’ blind to Basin’s problems
As Murray Darling Basin Water Ministers meet today to discuss the future of the Basin management, new research by the Australia Institute shows that the Murray-Darling Basin’s new Inspector General, former AFP Commissioner Mick Keelty, has ignored key issues in his first annual report on the Northern Basin. The ministerial council is likely to work on
South Australians Overwhelmingly Reject Allowing Poker Machines to Accept Notes
New research from The Australia Institute has revealed that four in five South Australians (80%) believe that allowing poker machines to accept notes will increase harm in the community. Key findings; – 4 in 5 South Australians (80%) believe allowing poker machines to accept notes would increase the level of harm that results from poker
November 2019
SA Polling: World Heritage Protection for Bight More Popular Than Ever
New research from The Australia Institute has found that, for the first time, more than four in five South Australians (84%) support World Heritage Protection for the Great Australian Bight. That is a 7% increase, when compared to polling undertaken in March of 2019. The research also shows that two out of three South Australians
Poll: Land Tax Aggregation Supported by 4 in 5 South Australians
New research from The Australia Institute has found strong support amongst South Australians for land tax aggregation, funding for affordable housing and measures that would require politicians to reveal personal interests before voting on land tax legislation. Key findings; – 4 out of 5 South Australians (81%) support property portfolio aggregation for taxation purposes –
Equinor Knocked Back Again: NOPSEMA Cites ‘Oil Spill Risk’ and Other Issues
The offshore oil and gas regulator NOPSEMA has once again taken issue with the environmental plan submitted by Equinor as part of their attempts to drill for oil in the Great Australian Bight. Citing a lack of information relating to ‘consultation, source control, oil spill risk, and matters protected under Part 3 of the Environment Protection
South Australia Short-Changed as Norway Makes Bank from the Bight
If Norwegian company Equinor is given permission to drill for oil in the Great Australian Bight, it will likely pay the Norwegian Government more than it will pay in Australian Government taxes and up to 27 times more than they will pay to the South Australian Government, a new report from The Australia Institute has
October 2019
Aggregating Land Tax Good Policy but Cuts Go Too Far: Australia Institute
The Australia Institute’s submission to the State Government’s review of the draft Land Tax (Miscellaneous) Amendments Bill 2019 supports the idea of aggregating land portfolios for taxation purposes but raises concerns about the lost revenue that will result from deep cuts to the state’s top rate of land tax. “The proposed changes to land tax
September 2019
Majority of South Australians Want ‘Formula E’ Championship Race Held in Adelaide
New research from The Australia Institute has shown that more than half (51%) of South Australians want Adelaide to host a fully electric Formula E Championship race, while just 11% of people oppose the idea. Formula E is an electric motor sport series, similar to Formula 1, which has grown in popularity since its inaugural
Majority of Australians want Murray Darling policy to prioritise food security and family farms
New research released today by The Australia Institute shows that the vast majority of Australians prioritise production of food for Australian consumption, and support for family farms in the Murray Darling Basin. When respondents were asked to rank agriculture and water policy goals: Top water policy priorities for the Murray-Darling Basin include: Three quarters of
August 2019
Bight Drilling to Threaten 27k Jobs, Environment: New Report
New research from The Australia Institute has shown that more than 27,000 jobs in South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania would be put at risk if drilling for oil in the Great Australian Bight is allowed to go ahead and a catastrophic spill occurs. New polling has also revealed that a majority of Australians, while hopeful
July 2019
SA Voters Reject Privatisation, Believe it Caused Energy Price Rises
New research from The Australia Institute has shown that South Australians consider the privatisation of their energy network to be the number one reason for the increasing cost of electricity. Price gouging from power companies was considered the second most likely cause of increasing energy costs, according to the survey. Key findings; – 40% of
June 2019
Equinor’s Bight Plans Rightly Knocked-Back by Regulator
The Australia Institute has welcomed NOPSEMA’s decision to knock-back Equinor’s plans to drill exploratory oil wells in the Great Australian Bight. “NOPSEMA have made the right decision in knocking-back this application. BP and Chevron have already been sent packing and now the other companies lining up to exploit the Bight should take the message and
SA Budget: More Tax Cuts for the Wealthy While Everybody Else Pays
The Marshall Government’s 2019-20 Budget, which doubles down on tax cuts for wealthy property investors while slugging regular South Australians with increased fees and charges, is a disappointing missed opportunity, independent think tank The Australia Institute says. “Increased fees and cuts to services are the price South Australians are being forced to pay because of
Budget Warning for State Gov: Voters Reject Service Cuts, Privatisation
New research from The Australia Institute has found that two out of three voters want the State Government to make up the $517 million GST shortfall announced in the Federal Budget by increasing taxes on wealthier South Australians and property investors. The least popular way for the government to balance the books in its upcoming
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