Media Releases
January 2019
Coalition Facing Uphill Battle in Boothby
New analysis from The Australia Institute has found that nearly one in five Liberal voters in Boothby are now less likely to vote for the party after Malcolm Turnbull was dumped as Prime Minister. Furthermore, the majority of Boothby voters support increased spending on health and education over tax cuts and register overwhelming support for
Majority of Australians support Senate crossbench, which saved $23b of renewables from Coalition cuts
A new report from The Australia Institute’s Climate and Energy Program has shown the Senate crossbench’s role in preventing the Coalition Government from abolishing three renewable energy policies (The Clean Energy Finance Corporation, ARENA and the Renewable Energy Target) resulted in $23.4 billion worth of investment in renewable energy, from 2013–2018. The ‘Saved by the
South Australians Back EVs While Govt Drags Feet
New research from The Australia Institute shows that South Australians strongly support electric vehicles and want governments at all levels to implement a range of policies that would encourage more electric vehicles onto our state’s roads. “We South Australians are well and truly ready for more electric vehicles on our roads and it’s high time
December 2018
“Unique fraud risks” for $3.2 billion water fund
Newly released documents show the Commonwealth faces “unique fraud risks” in relation to the management of environmental water in the Murray Darling Basin. An audit written by Ernst and Young (EY) found the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder, and the near $3.2 billion worth of water it controls, was at risk of being defrauded by state
Emissions claims get third-degree
Despite some improvement in electricity sector emissions, new research from The Australia Institute shows there is no doubt that national greenhouse gas emissions are in fact climbing, confirming a 26% emissions reduction target for the electricity sector is not high enough. The Australia Institute Climate & Energy Program has released the December National Energy Emissions
Inequality Getting Worse, Aussies Say, as Report Lays Out Blueprint for Change
A majority of Australians (63%) think our society has become more unequal over the last ten years while even more (79%) believe that governments should be doing more to reduce inequality. The new survey data has been released along with a landmark report from Australia21 and The Australia Institute, outlining a path to a more
Boothby Polling: Strong Support for Protecting the Bight in Tightly Contested Seat
The Australia Institute commissioned ReachTEL to poll the federal seat of Boothby (722 respondents) on the evening of 11 December 2018. Key Findings: 51/49 TPP favouring Liberal Party MP Nicolle Flint 83.6% of Boothby resident support giving the Great Australian Bight World Heritage Protection, with more than half (54.2%) of Boothby residents strongly supporting the
Fighting climate change with fossil fuel free zones
A new report released today by The Australia Institute explores how Fossil Fuel Free Zones (FFFZs) could contribute to action on climate change. Written by Fergus Green of the London School of Economics and Political Science, the paper draws on the history of Nuclear Weapon Free Zones that helped limit the proliferation of nuclear weapons.
Response to Federal ICAC Announcement by Government
“Today’s announcement by the Prime Minister is a welcome acknowledgement that the Government sees tackling corruption is important for the health of our democracy and we need new structures to address the problem,” said Ben Oquist, Executive Director of The Australia Institute. “However, while the problem of corruption has been acknowledged, only half the solution
Future of Collective Bargaining on the Brink
Collective bargaining in private sector workplaces could be almost extinct by 2030 under current rules, new research from the Centre for Future Work shows.
Taxpayers foot the bill for secret Adani deals
The Queensland Government is offering major financial subsidies to Adani’s coal project, including a secret deal on royalties worth hundreds of millions and a free access road worth $100 million, shows a new report from The Australia Institute. The report estimates the royalty deal will lend Adani between $215 million to $385 million, on terms
Top scientists “strongly reject” Fracking Inquiry emissions findings – call again for ban on fracking
A joint statement by 41 of Australia’s top scientist and experts, published today by The Australia Institute, has “strongly rejected” the WA Fracking Inquiry’s analysis of potential greenhouse gas emissions that the Government relied on to lift the fracking moratorium. Signatories to the joint statement include many of Australia’s leading climate scientists, unlike the Fracking
No Fairy-Tale Ending for Menindee Lakes Proposal
The viability of a proposal to reconfigure and manage the Menindee Lakes put forward by Kevin Humphries, the outgoing member for Barwon, has been called into question in a report released today by The Australia Institute. Recent backlash by Lower Darling communities against the Basin Plan’s proposed Menindee Lakes Water Savings project prompted the proposal
New Climate Index Cements Australia’s Place as Climate Laggard
Australia is firmly at the bottom of a new index of major greenhouse gas emitters, ranking 55 out of 60, putting it in the same group as President Trump’s USA, and Saudi Arabia when it comes to rising emissions and poor climate policies. The Australia Institute Climate & Energy Program has contributed to the 2018
Workers’ Share of Economic Pie Shrinks Again
For the third consecutive quarter, the share of Australian GDP paid out in wages, salaries and superannuation contributions to workers has shrunk. Data for the September quarter of 2018, released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on Wednesday, shows that labour compensation accounted for just 46.85% of total economic output – one of the lowest on record.
November 2018
Australia Carbon Emissions Reach New Peak
New government data released today shows Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions are still on the rise and Australia is still not on track to meet our Paris target. New Australia Institute analysis shows emissions are at their highest since June 2011 (before the introduction of the carbon price). “Over the last five years this Government has
WA Government blocks MP briefing on economic research critical of fracking
Fracking in Western Australia would bring few jobs, little revenue and could increase gasprices, according to a new report by Canberra-based think-tank The Australia Institute. The report comes after WA Premier Mark McGowan announced on Tuesday that the statewould open up roughly five million hectares of the state to fracking. The report authors were to
Majority of Australians want ABC protected from political interference
A majority of Australians want the ABC’s independence protected from political interference, and agree the ABC must do more to defend its political independence new research from The Australia Institute shows. Key points: Vast majority of Australians (73%) agree the ABC’s independence should be protected from political interference 61% agree the ABC must do more
Renewables out-compete gas generation: National Energy Emissions Audit
Renewable generation in the National Energy Market (NEM) has reached a new record high, with all new energy generation over the last two months due to eight new solar farms coming online in the NEM, latest findings from the National Energy Emissions Audit show. The Australia Institute Climate & Energy Program has released the November
Julie Bishop still more recognised than PM Morrison
The Australia Institute surveyed a nationally representative sample of 1,459 Australians about which current and former Ministers they had heard of. In the November 2018 poll, despite no longer a Minister, more Australians still recognise Julie Bishop (82%) than current Prime Minister Scott Morrison (75%). “The Australia Institute has been polling ministerial recognition since 2016
Threat of five-fold increase in extreme heat for Western Sydney
Extreme heat days over 35 degrees are projected to increase five-fold in Western Sydney, from 11 days per year to up to a staggering 52 days per year by 2090, according to new analysis from The Australia Institute’s HeatWatch initiative. This landmark Western Sydney HeatWatch report from The Australia Institute Climate & Energy Program serves
34 former judges call on PM: National Integrity Commission now
34 former judges from across Australia have penned an open letter to Prime Minister Scott Morrison, calling for the urgent establishment of a National Integrity Commission. Signatories to the open letter include The Hon Sir Gerard Brennan AC QC, former Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia, The Hon Mary Gaudron QC, former justice
Australians Want a Price on Pollution, Regret Abbott’s Repeal
New analysis from The Australia Institute’s Climate & Energy Program has revealed that the bulk of Australians believe that the Government under Abbott made the wrong decision in scrapping the price on pollution and 63% of people want to see the policy reinstated. “This analysis shows that, despite 2013 supposedly being a referendum on carbon
Welcome Investment in Fair Dinkum Power Jobs and Generation
The Australia Institute Climate & Energy Program responds to the Labor Party’s renewable energy plan announced today as a welcome step in the right direction. “Australia’s electricity sector is in dire need of ambitious and integrated climate and energy policy. Labor’s announcement today is a strong step in the right direction,” says Richie Merzian, Climate
Renewable Energy Boom – up to 60,000 New Australian Jobs by 2030
New analysis from The Australia Institute shows that 53% renewable energy capacity by 2030 would create between 18,000 and 59,000 direct jobs across the country. The analysis is based on the Australian Energy Market Operator’s ‘Fast Scenario’ developed as part of its Integrated System Plan. The wide range of possible employment outcomes depends largely on
‘Go Home On Time Day’ 2018: Australians Owed $106 Billion in Unpaid Overtime, Report Reveals
The 10th annual ‘Go Home On Time Day’ report by The Australia Institute’s Centre for Future Work estimates that Australian employees will work 3.2 billion hours of unpaid overtime for their employers this year, worth an estimated $106 billion in foregone wages.
Carbon Capture & Storage Fails Again: International Energy Agency Report
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) has failed to meet any global or local targets, according to new research from The Australia Institute Climate & Energy Program. The release of The Australia Institute report coincides with today’s International Energy Agency’s (IEA) World Energy Outlook report which suggests there is still a role for CCS, continuing the
SA Shaping as Senate Showdown State for Next Election
New Analysis from The Australia Institute has predicted that South Australia will play a key role in the next Federal Election, with a range of parties and candidates vying for a handful of seats in the Senate that will likely hold significant weight in balance of power outcomes in the new Parliament. “When it comes
Crossbench Tipped for Senate ‘Balance of Power’ After Next Election
New analysis from The Australia Institute has shown that, even under the most optimistic predictions for a potential future Labor Government, it will likely still need to work with the Greens and at least one or two members of the crossbench to get legislation passed through the Senate. With the Coalition similarly incapable of taking
Four Steps to 100% Renewable Electricity
Simple, affordable policies could and should be adopted by federal and state governments to facilitate Australia’s rapid transition to a reliable renewable electricity system while simultaneously reducing electricity prices. This is shown by a new Australia Institute report authored by UNSW Associate Professor Mark Diesendorf. “The community wants to see the country move towards fully
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