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
Local government leaders call for higher PRRT to help adapt to climate change
37 local council leaders from across the country – including Lord Mayor Clover Moore, Lord Mayor of Sydney - have signed an open letter calling on the federal government to increase the petroleum resource rent tax (PRRT) to help fund local communities addressing the impacts of climate change.
Future Gas Strategy underpins emissions, not renewables
The Federal Government’s Future Gas Strategy locks in fossil fuel expansion until 2050 and ignores the fact that the vast majority of Australia’s gas is used for exports, according to analysis from the Australia Institute.
New federal approval for giant WA gas project will release 3 billion tonnes of emissions
The Australian Government has approved key infrastructure for Chevron’s Gorgon LNG Stage 2 expansion that will produce 3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions over the next 50 years.
New Analysis: WA drivers pay more rego than gas companies pay in royalties
New Australia Institute research released today shows that royalty payments by the gas industry are negligible and expected to contribute just 1.3% to this week’s WA budget.
April 2024
Billboard highlights 90% of WA’s gas is exported and mostly royalty free
The Australia Institute has placed a prominent billboard reading “90% of WA’s gas is exported, mostly royalty free” in view of WA’s Parliament, Woodside’s offices and tens of thousands of motorists daily.
Smart, Grid-Interactive Buildings Can Help Solve Electricity Market Woes
New research shows that the country’s energy security can be supported with minimal intervention and investment, simply by changing the time of day that electricity is used and harnessing the power of buildings as thermal batteries.
90% of WA’s gas exported by foreign owned companies who get most of the gas for free
The Australia Institute has placed a full-page advertisement in The West Australian revealing stark findings about the gas industry in Western Australia.
Government Environment Reform Backdown Set to Lock In New Fossil Fuels and Extinctions
More than 100 environment groups have signed an open letter calling for strong environmental law reforms as the Federal Government backs out of its already overdue ‘Nature Positive Plan’ to reform the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act. The open letter, coordinated by the Australia Institute, will appear in the Sydney Morning Herald, The
March 2024
Government approves Santos Barossa pipeline and sea dumping
Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek’s Department has approved a major part of Santos’ controversial Barossa gas export project, the Darwin Pipeline Duplication Project.
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