New research from The Australia Institute has shown that a majority of Australians plan to save the tax cuts announced in the Budget, bringing into question their ability to stimulate economic activity. The Australia Institute poll of 1005 Australians between 8 and 9 October 2020 also showed a majority of Australians think the Budget will

New analysis from The Australia Institute has found that the 2020-21 Budget has set a new record for items deemed ‘nfp — not for publication’ because the item is classified, still under negotiation, or commercial in confidence. Budgets always have some items marked up ‘not for publication’, but Australia Institute analysis shows the 20-21 Budget

New analysis from The Australia Institute has found that the Government’s income tax changes announced in the Budget will disproportionately advantage men over women, both now and into the future. Men will receive three in every five dollars of tax benefit in this financial year and then seven in every 10 dollars of the benefit

New analysis from The Australia Institute has found that the income tax changes announced in the Budget yesterday will disproportionately advantage wealthy Australians both now and into the future. The limited, temporary benefit that will flow to Australians on low and middle incomes this year will be replaced by larger, permanent tax cuts given to

The $16.9 billion spent on the early introduction of tax cuts in financial year 2021-22, as announced in the Budget, would create at least 160,000 fewer jobs than investing the same amount into healthcare, education and other public services, new analysis tonight from The Australia Institute has found. Key findings: According to the Government, the

New research from The Australia Institute has shown that investing $13 billion into services such as healthcare and education would create 162,000 jobs across Australia. That is between seven and 12 times the number of jobs that are likely to be created by bringing forward the Stage 2 income tax cuts by a year. Key

With state budget deficits a potential issue in the coming Queensland election, new research from the Centre for Future Work shows that cutting public sector jobs and wages would directly undermine the delivery of essential public services at a challenging time in Queensland’s history. Moreover, misplaced fiscal austerity would also hurt the state’s economic recovery by reducing spending, employment and production in the private sector. These effects would be especially severe in regional and remote QLD, which is most reliant on public service jobs.

The Australia Institute has criticised the Queensland Government’s deal to subsidise the Adani coal project via a royalty deferral deal. The long-running negotiations between Adani and the Queensland Government will allow the coal mine to ‘dig now, pay later’ at a secret, but certainly discounted, interest rate. Key points: The royalty deal has been reported

New research shows Tasmania’s management of its spectacular marine environment needs urgent attention to ensure Tasmanians can continue to enjoy economic, social, cultural and environmental benefits into the future.   The report, released today by The Australia Institute Tasmania, and the Tasmanian Independent Science Council, shows that an integrated approach to managing Tasmania’s coastal waters is

New research from The Australia Institute’s Nordic Policy Centre shows there is no evidence for claims that higher levels of taxation have a negative impact on economic growth. As Australia’s economy begins to emerge from the COVID-19 recession, a comparative study of 188 countries has shown that higher levels of taxation, such as those found

A national advertising campaign opposing the early introduction of the Government’s income tax cuts will begin airing on SKY and commercial television this week. The campaign is being supported by more than 40 prominent Australians, including: Bernie Fraser, former governor of the Reserve Bank Stephen Grenville, former deputy governor of the Reserve Bank John Hewson

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

New modelling from The Australia Institute has shown that bringing forward the Government’s income tax cuts will disproportionality advantage men over women, despite women being hardest hit in terms of lost employment due to the COVID-19 recession. Key findings Total employment in March and April fell 3.9 percent for men and 5.3 per cent for

The Australia Institute today released a report commissioned from economist Saul Eslake exploring tax reform possibilities for Tasmania as it emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic and recession. The report proposes reforms in three areas of Tasmania’s state taxation system: Replacing stamp duties on the transfer of land (conveyance duty) with a broadly-based land tax, levied

New research from The Australia Institute has shown more voters want to see Government spending going towards supporting those looking for work and spending on infrastructure and services than for it to be used to hand out income tax cuts. The Australia Institute poll of 1017 Australians between 10 and 11 September 2020 showed, when

If fully unleashed, Australia’s gas resources could be responsible for up to three times the annual carbon emissions of the entire world. A landmark new Australia Institute Climate & Energy Program report, Weapons of gas destruction, commissioned by the Australian Conservation Foundation, is the first time the entirety of Australia’s gas project pipeline and resources

New economic research shows up to 12,000 community service jobs are at risk due to the Federal Government’s failure to confirm whether federal funding for community service organisations will be maintained. The new report released today by the Australia Institute’s Centre for Future Work demonstrates the economic importance of Commonwealth pay-equity funding at a time

The Australia Institute today welcomes the Energy Security Board (ESB) Post-2025 Market Design Consultation Paper, as an important step towards a National Elelctricity Market (NEM) designed to deliver reliability and affordability as coal-fired generators retire. “This report is an invitation to Federal Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor, to lay out his plan

New research from The Australia Institute Climate & Energy Program shows Queensland’s gas and coal power stations are the most unreliable of any state in the National Electricity Market (NEM), with the state’s gas and coal power stations breaking down the most often despite having the newest and most modern coal power plants in the

New research from The Australia Institute demonstrates that bringing forward Stages 2 and 3 of the Government’s income tax cuts would mainly benefit high income earners and have a very poor stimulatory effect on the economy. Key findings The benefits of bringing forward the income tax cuts would mainly go to high income taxpayers who

New research by The Australia Institute shows that parliamentary oversight of Australia’s intelligence agencies is weak compared to others in the ‘Five Eyes’ intelligence sharing alliance between Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United Kingdom & the United States, and that increased accountability and oversight measures should be considered. With the Government considering further expanding the

The National Integrity Committee of former Judges today call on the Morrison Government to release draft legislation for a National Integrity Commission. It has been nine months since Attorney General Christian Porter stated that legislation for the proposed Commonwealth Integrity Commission (CIC) would be released ‘shortly’, and 20 months since the consultation paper for the

Victoria and South Australia are leading Australia’s transition to renewables, with renewable energy capacity at 33%, almost twice that of Queensland and New South Wales at 16% capacity, however new research shows the northern states are ramping up new renewables. The Australia Institute Climate & Energy Program’s latest National Energy Emissions Audit reveals New South

Today, the National Integrity Committee calls on the Morrison Government to release draft legislation for a National Integrity Commission. Such a body is required urgently to have the power to examine allegations of malfeasance and corruption at the most senior levels of Parliament and the Australian Public Service and restore trust in our democracy. It

The Australia Institute’s Centre for Responsible Technology has made a submission to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) regarding its draft news bargaining code, with close of submissions today.  Key Points in Submission: The Australia Institute’s Centre for Responsible Technology supports the implementation of a news media bargaining code proposed by the ACCC. Media

With the incidence of workplace monitoring increasing during the pandemic lockdown, new research shows that workers should be compensated for the secondary use of data gathered in the course of their employment. The Australia Institute’s Centre for Responsible Technology have made a submission to a NSW inquiry into the future of work, arguing that information

Economic modelling suggesting Santos’ Narrabri Gas Project would reduce gas prices is based on cost estimates from Santos itself, not independent analysis from the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) as claimed by Santos. If the independent production cost estimates commissioned and published by AEMO in February this year are used, rather than the figure supplied

Results from Norway’s latest salmon auction again highlights the low price Tasmania is putting on its assets.   This week, in Norway, a total of 30 Norwegian salmon farming companies purchased additional salmon licenses worth NOK 5.9 billion or AUD $921.2 million. The Norwegian Ministry of Trade Industries and Fishing stated that it had now sold

The Australia Institute and consultancy firm, Slattery & Johnson, have released research today based on newly unredacted valuation documents about the $80 million ‘Watergate’ scandal. The documents, provided to independent Senator Rex Patrick last week after a two-year battle, contain the commercial valuation commissioned by the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (DAWR) for negotiations

Startling new research from the Centre for Future Work shows that Australia’s economy is now regressing in its use of new technology, with negative implications for productivity, incomes, and job quality.