Media Releases

July 2021

New Analysis: The Critical Role of the States in COVID-19 and Beyond

Australia’s states and territories have taken the lead in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, representing a potential re-alignment of state-federal relations, according to new research by the Australia Institute’s Democracy & Accountability Program. Polling shows that the proportion of Australians who rate their state/territory government as doing a better job of handling the crisis has reached

Majority of Australians support UNESCO Great Barrier Reef ‘in danger’ listing

More than seven in ten (72%) Australians support UNESCO’s recommendation to add the Great Barrier Reef to the World Heritage ‘in danger’ list, just 11% oppose. Furthermore, Queenslanders are most likely (50%) to think that climate change is the largest threat to the Great Barrier Reef and least likely (4%) to think that the health of the Great Barrier Reef is not threatened.

Coalition Policies Will Not Improve Productivity According to Treasury

New analysis of the Intergenerational Report reveals Treasury does not believe that any of the policies introduced by the Coalition Government in the last six years will have any measurable impact on Australia’s productivity growth in the coming decades. Key Findings: The latest Intergenerational Report (IGR 2021) reveals that the Treasury Department is more pessimistic

Anti-China Rhetoric Leaves Australia Fearful of Attack but Opposed to War: Polling

New research by the Australia Institute’s International & Security Affairs Program has revealed that a similar number of Australians think China will attack Australia soon or sometime (42%) as Taiwanese think that China will attack Taiwan (51%)—a result that may have been stimulated by recent strong-arm tactics by the Government of China, and anti-China rhetoric

Vast Majority of Australians Prefer Funds for War Memorial Expansion to be Spent Elsewhere

New research from the Australia Institute finds that one in two Australians would prefer the funds budgeted for the expansion of the Australian War Memorial to be spent on services such as health and education, a further one quarter (26%) of Australians would prefer the money to be spent on veterans’ support services. Just 13% of Australians prefer the funds to be spent on the redevelopment of the Australian War Memorial.

June 2021

SA Treasurer Imports Victoria’s ‘World’s Worst’ EV Tax

The South Australian Treasurer’s plan to import Victoria’s electric vehicle tax will cause the state to fall behind other jurisdictions with better EV policies, such as New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, The Australia Institute has said. “The Treasurer may say he’s not in the business of importing taxes from Victoria, but that’s

Open Letter: 59 Eminent Australians & Legal Fraternity call on PM to Fulfil Election Promise and Legislate National Integrity Commission

59 eminent Australians, former Judges and members of the legal fraternity have penned an open letter to Prime Minister Scott Morrison, calling for the urgent establishment of a National Integrity Commission, citing the Government’s election promise to have such a body legislated within 12 months of taking office. Signatories to the open letter include The

The Great Gas Gouge: ACCC, AER Investigation Welcomed by Energy Retailers, Australia Institute

Electricity retailers and the Australia Institute have welcomed confirmation that the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) are investigating a series of “high-price events” in May where it seems that withholding of supply in the National Electricity Market (NEM) led to massive increases in the wholesale price. Key points:

Australia Institute Welcomes NSW Nation Leading EV Strategy

The Australia Institute has welcomed the New South Wales Coalition Government’s Electric Vehicle Strategy released today. The NSW Government electric vehicle strategy includes: $3,000 rebates on the purchase of 25,000 new EVs under $68,750, Exemption from stamp duty for EVs below $78,000 from September 2021 and all EVs from 2027, A deferral of their EV

Pressure on SA as NSW Reveals Nation Leading EV Strategy

The Australia Institute has welcomed the New South Wales Coalition Government’s Electric Vehicle Strategy released today and called on the South Australian Government to show similar leadership in their State Budget on Tuesday. Key points: Today the NSW Coalition Government announced an electric vehicle strategy that includes: $3,000 rebates on the purchase of 25,000 new

Australian Manufacturing at Risk from Morrison Resistance to Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism at G7 Summit

New analysis by the Australia Institute Climate & Energy Program shows that the use of carbon border adjustment mechanisms, to be under discussion at the G7 Summit this week, will put Australian industry and manufacturing processes – mainly steel, aluminium and alumina, at risk if Australia continues its recalcitrant role on the global stage. At

Majority of Australians Support Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccine for Aged Care Workers

The Australia Institute surveyed a nationally representative sample of 1,001 Australians about their attitudes towards making the COVID-19 vaccine mandatory for workers in contact with vulnerable demographics. Key Findings: More than three-quarters of Australians (77%) agree with making the COVID-19 vaccine mandatory for workers in contact with vulnerable demographics, such as aged care workers. Only

Groups in Australia and Japan join forces to highlight damage caused by their nations’ coal trade / 日本とオーストラリア団体、石炭が及ぼす影響を強調

日本語は以下 ↓ Civil society groups in Australia and Japan have teamed up to release a new report that examines the damage caused by coal mining in Australia and coal consumption in Japan, shining a light on the costs of Japan’s reliance on Australian coal. The report by the Australian Conservation Foundation, the Australia Institute and

Solar Industry, Solar Consumers and Independent Experts Warn of NEM Fragmentation if Solar Exports Rule Change Goes Ahead

A proposal to charge solar homes and businesses for exporting their excess energy to the grid has been opposed in a joint submission by key stakeholder groups, including the Smart Energy Council, the Australia Institute and Solar Citizens. The joint submission to the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) was also signed by Professor Bruce Mountain

Woodside’s Scarborough Gas Field Equivalent to 15 New Coal Power Plants, Risks Murujuga Rock Art

Woodside’s controversial Scarborough Gas Field would result in an additional 1.6 billion tonnes of emissions—equivalent to building 15 new coal power stations—and places World Heritage Murujuga Aboriginal rock art at risk of being destroyed, new research by the Conservation Council of Western Australia and the Australia Institute shows. Approvals to process the Scarborough gas field

May 2021

Statement in response to National Farmers Federation criticisms of Australia Institute Banking on Australia’s Emissions report

“It is disappointing the National Farmers Federation has chosen to interpret the Australia Institute’s report Banking on Australia’s Emissions as a criticism of the agriculture sector,” said Richie Merzian, climate & energy program director at the Australia Institute. “The Australia Institute recognises that Australia’s farmers are experiencing first-hand the impacts of climate change, and similarly

Most Australians Want to Keep Canberra as Nation’s Capital

The Australia Institute surveyed a nationally representative sample of 1,434 Australians on the connection between politicians and Canberra. Results show that most Australians (65%) think Canberra should remain the capital, politicians should spend more time in Canberra (54%), Parliament should sit more days each year (69%) and were twice as likely to agree the Prime

Statement from The Australia Institute

Statement from The Australia Institute regarding Minister Pitt’s claims that the 1200 Bridges Too Far report by Kate McBride, Australia Institute fellow and fifth generation farmer, into the Murray Darling Basin Plan is ‘full of claims based on false assertions.’ “The Australia Institute stands by its 1200 Bridges Too Far report by Kate McBride, Australia

Majority of Australians Support Limits on Artificial Intelligence and Facial Recognition Technology in Australia

The key measures in the Australian Human Rights Commission ‘Human Rights and Technology’ report released Thursday are strongly endorsed by the Australian public, according to new research. A poll of 1,100 Australians conducted by Essential Research for the Australia Institute’s Centre for Responsible Technology finds majority support for the key measures recommended in the report:

Murray Darling Basin: Billion Dollar SA Water Fund Earmarked for Bridges and Water Storage in NSW

New research from The Australia Institute and Conservation SA shows that money previously earmarked to return 450 gigalitres (GL) of water to the environment in South Australia may be used to upgrade over 1200 bridges and increase water storage capacity in New South Wales irrigation districts. The report investigates the current project proposals under the

New Analysis: Australia doing less than other countries on climate

New research from the Australia Institute reveals that, contrary to claims by the Australian Government of falling emissions, Australia’s national emissions (excluding land use) have risen by 7 per cent from 2005. At President Biden’s Leaders Climate Summit, the Australian Government claimed that it has reduced its emissions by 19 per cent, which is ‘more

EVs Key to Fuel Security & Emissions Reduction: National Energy Emissions Audit

New research by the Australia Institute shows Australia’s dependence on petroleum poses a serious fuel security risk and, with no policies in place to seriously curb petroleum use, the sector’s emissions will eclipse electricity sector emissions by 2030. The report recommends developing and implementing policies to replace petrol-fuelled vehicles with low emission alternatives. The Australia

Preventing Workplace Mental Health Injuries Saves Billions: New Research

New research from the Australia Institute’s Centre for Future Work suggests that by requiring stronger monitoring and prevention measures in Australian workplaces, a significant share of mental illness and injury could be avoided. In addition to reducing the toll of mental illness for workers and their families, these measures would also generate substantial economic and fiscal

New Analysis: Arts & Entertainment Funding Creates 10x More Jobs for Women than HomeBuilder

New research from the Australia Institute shows that, per dollar invested, the arts and entertainment sector employs twice as many men and 10 times as many women as the building construction industry. The research is being released after this week’s Federal Budget which revealed just $223 million for the jobs intensive Art and Entertainment sector,

Budget reveals Integrity Commission off the table

Background: The Commonwealth Integrity Commission staffing changes from 76 in last year’s October Budget down to zero in this year’s Budget reveal that it is not expected before the election. However, note that the Gov hasn’t erased all mention of the integrity commission. They do say it will be legislated, and ACLEI does receive some

The Budget Fails on Tax Reform

“The budget has failed to deliver any meaningful tax reform,” said Ben Oquist, executive director of the Australia Institute. “21 years into the 21st century we still have a tax system that looks more at home in the 19th century. “For too long treasurers have ruled out new taxes. It is time to open up

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