Media Releases

November 2019

Statement in response to the Attorney General Hon. Christian Porter’s National Press Club Address

In November 2017, the National Integrity Committee formed to design a blueprint of design principles to be used to advise policymakers on the best model for a federal anti-corruption watchdog. Former NSW ICAC Commissioner David Ipp AO QC, former President of the Queensland Court of Appeal Margaret McMurdo AC, and Chair of Transparency International Anthony

‘Go Home on Time Day’ 2019: Australian Employers Pocketing $81 Billion Worth of Unpaid Overtime, Report Reveals

New research from The Australia Institute’s Centre for Future Work estimates that Australian workers are currently working an average of 4.6 hours of unpaid overtime each week, which translates to 6 weeks of full time work without pay, per employee, per year – with an annual worth of $81.5 billion for Australian employers.

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

Truth in Political Advertising: Its Time Has Come

The Australia Institute welcomes the ALP Campaign Review recommendation for “truth in political advertising legislation based on the South Australian model be investigated and pursued in the Australian Parliament” (pp 64). In the Australia Institute’s submission to JSCEM highlighted the South Australian model as a demonstration of how Truth in Political Advertising legislation currently works in other jurisdictions, and noted

Hands Off NSW Climate Laws

The fight to protect NSW climate laws has stepped up, with experts launching a statewide television commercial today to send Premier Gladys Berejikilian a clear message – don’t put coal over climate. Under unprecedented pressure from the coal industry, the Berejiklian Government is moving to amend the NSW laws that require the full climate change

Rise in Diesel Cancels Out Electricity Emissions Reduction

New research shows that an increase in diesel combustion emissions during FY11 to FY18 almost completely cancels out the decrease in emissions from electricity generation in the National Electricity Market (NEM) over the same period. The Australia Institute Climate & Energy Program has released their latest National Energy Emissions Audit, analysing the electricity sector over

October 2019

Voters still back a Takanya/Tarkine national park over logging

A Ucomms poll commissioned by the Australia Institute of 1,136 residents across Tasmania on the evening of 22nd October, found almost two thirds of Tasmanians want to see takayna/Tarkine protected rather than logged. Despite state government plans to log old growth and rainforest in takanya/Tarkine, support for preserving the forests in a national park remains

University-to-Job Pathways Key to Boosting Graduate Employment Outcomes

New research shows active strategies to directly link university degrees to a job are needed, to better support university graduates as they negotiate a rapidly changing labour market. The report, by the Australia Institute’s Centre for Future Work, shows that employment outcomes for university graduates have deteriorated significantly since the Global Financial Crisis, with only

Nuclear Power Uninsurable and Uneconomic in Australia

New research has revealed that financial services in Australia will not insure against nuclear accidents, and if developers of nuclear power stations were forced to insure against nuclear accidents, nuclear power would be completely uneconomic. The Australia Institute’s submission to the Inquiry into the prerequisites for nuclear energy in Australia, shows that establishing a nuclear

Midlands coal, the wrong project in the wrong market at the wrong time

Several market and physical challenges exist for a new proposed coal development in Tasmania’s southern midlands, according to a new briefing paper released by the Australia Institute Tasmania today. The company seeking to develop the project, Midland Energy, is looking to raise capital in the U.S.A. where it is claiming coal demand is “rampant” in Asia

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

Emissions High, Productivity Low: National Energy Emissions Audit

New research shows Australia is not on track to meet the aims of the National Energy Productivity Plan (NEPP), warning that poor energy productivity is a major cause of both rising emissions and energy costs. The Australia Institute Climate & Energy Program has released the latest National Energy Emissions Audit, analysing the electricity sector over

New Analysis: Monetary Policy Spent

Monetary policy in Australia is no longer effective and the task of stimulating the economy should be taken up by a more active fiscal policy, shows new research by The Australia Institute. The report, Monetary Policy is Spent: It’s Fiscal Policy or Bust by David Richardson senior research fellow at The Australia Institute, shows that

Adani yet to contact regulators on rail-royalty deal

Research released today by The Australia Institute shows that preparations have not begun on parts of the Adani royalty deal, which is due for completion on Monday 30 September. Key findings The Adani royalty deal allows Adani to defer royalty payments and pay them back at discount interest rates. Estimates for the value royalty-related subsidies to Adani range from

ACT: First Outside Europe to 100% Renewable Transition

The Australian Capital Territory is set to become the first major jurisdiction outside Europe to transition from a fossil fuel-based supply to 100% renewable electricity, according to a new report released to by the Australia Institute Climate & Energy Program. The new research finds that on 1 October 2019, an energy offtake agreement with Hornsdale

Poll: Boosting Surplus not a Priority

New research shows seven in ten Australians (72%) think that, if Australia is at risk of a recession, the Government should prioritise economic stimulus over the budget surplus. The Australia Institute surveyed a nationally representative sample of 1,464 Australians about their economic priorities. Key Findings: 72% of Australians say that, if Australia is at risk

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

South Australia: World Leader in Renewables and Energy Market Transition

New research shows South Australia’s success in managing the electricity grid while simultaneously bringing a large volume of renewables into the energy mix, has positioned the state as a world leader in managing renewables transitions The Australia Institute Climate & Energy Program has released the latest National Energy Emissions Audit, analysing the electricity sector over

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