Media Releases
August 2024
Private company gatekeeping information detrimental to public debate
Following the refusal of Darwin International Airport to host billboards advertising Australia Institute research findings, the Australia Institute will be seeking to place similar ads in every capital city airport in the country.
2% Levy on Gambling Revenue Could Replace Free-To-Air Advertising Spend
A small levy on the many billions of dollars that gambling companies extract from Australians could compensate the media for revenue lost from a potential gambling advertising ban, with enough left over to increase funding for the ABC, new research from the Australia Institute shows.
Tax System Turbocharging Wealth Inequality in Australia
The wealth of Australia’s richest 200 people nearly tripled as a share of GDP over the last two decades, as inequality grew to new record levels in the country, the Australia Institute has shown.
AUKUS Expansion Reveals Folly of Blind Allegiance
An expansion of the already troubled AUKUS deal is yet another example of how Australia’s alliance with the United States makes our country less safe, the Australia Institute has said.
$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.
Majority of Australians oppose increasing public funding for political parties and candidates, but alternatives exist
A majority of voters oppose the public funding of political parties and candidates, and increases to this funding, to run election campaigns and cover administrative costs, according to new research from the Australia Institute.
July 2024
Victorian Electoral Recommendations a Mixed Bag for Democracy
Electoral recommendations from a Victorian parliamentary committee should spur action on truth in political advertising laws, but others need further consultation.
Government’s New Gas Exploration Permits Put Climate at Risk
The Federal Government’s granting of several new gas and sea dumping (also known as Carbon Capture and Storage) exploration permits in Australia is a disaster for the climate that will increase Australia’s emissions.
Queensland deepfake underscores need for truth in political advertising laws
A recent Artificial Intelligence (AI)-generated “deepfake” video of Labor Premier Steven Miles highlights Queensland’s lack of truth in political advertising laws that would defend against deception and misinformation in the democratic process.
Biden’s Withdrawal Highlights a System in Turmoil, Australia Must Step Up Independence
The continued political turmoil in America following the withdrawal of President Joe Biden from the 2024 Presidential race is an opportunity for Australia to adopt a more confident and constructive approach to dealing with a Trump-style America – more strident and demanding, and less predictable.
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.
Rex Patrick Loses FOI Delays Legal Battle, Pledges to Continue
Former senator and transparency advocate Rex Patrick has lost his appeal to the Full Federal Court challenging the Australian Information Commissioner’s multi-year delays in handling FOI reviews. Some of Patrick’s outstanding FOI reviews have been awaiting decision for almost four years. In a longstanding legal battle, Patrick sought to draw a line in the sand
Rise of minor parties and independents upends old predictive models; demands power sharing rethink
Australia was never exclusively a “two-party system”, a reality that is getting harder to ignore as minor party and independent representation grows, according to new research from the Australia Institute. While power sharing has always been a feature of Australian parliaments, the declining major party vote demands a more mature and nuanced analysis of electoral
SA ICAC: Commissioner Resignation Must Trigger Rethink on Integrity Backslide
The resignation of the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption, the Honourable Ann Vanstone KC, should trigger a rethink of the debilitating and troublesome changes to the ICAC that were rushed through the South Australian Parliament in 2021.
Dutton’s divestiture plan would help with cost-of-living, keep lid on inflation
The Coalition’s proposed divestiture powers to break up major hardware and grocery retailers could help keep inflation down and assist with cost-of-living pressures. “The introduction of divestiture laws is a sensible tool to stop large companies like Woolworths and Coles misusing their market power. It would be good for prices at the checkout and help
New union rights to boost workplace cooperation
New rights for volunteer union delegates are set to make workplaces more, not less, cooperative, according to a new analysis by the Australia Institute.
June 2024
Majority of Australians Back Action to Track and Address Child Poverty
Four in five Australians (83%) want the Federal Government to officially define and measure poverty levels, and for income support payments to be boosted to prevent children from living in poverty, according to new research by the Australia Institute.
Open Letter Calls for Parliament to Protect Democracy, Close Major Gaps in Electoral Laws
Leading civil society organisations have signed an open letter, coordinated by the Australia Institute and published today in The Canberra Times, calling on the Parliament of Australia to safeguard Australia’s democracy by addressing major gaps in the nation’s electoral laws.
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.
Momentous budget and planning decisions must be based on current environmental data
Leading environment and policy groups are calling on the Tasmanian Government to make the decade-long-delayed State of the Environment Report public before several key financial and planning decisions are made by the government and the parliament later this year.
Professor Joseph E. Stiglitz Australian Speaking Tour: July and August 2024
Professor Joseph E. Stiglitz, Nobel Laureate, former World Bank Chief Economist, and best-selling author and professor at Columbia University, will visit Australia from late July 2024 for a national speaking tour to discuss Australia’s growing inequality, the levers available to governments to address it, and his latest book, ‘The Road to Freedom: Economics and the Good Society’.
Majority support for Assange’s release and return home
A majority of Australians (57%) want the Biden Administration to drop the prosecution of Julian Assange and allow him to return home to Australia, according to new Australia Institute research.
SA’s political donation ban ambitious, but must safeguard diversity of voices
The Malinauskas Government’s electoral amendment bill could represent a potential paradigm shift in South Australian politics, but risks adverse outcomes unless carefully tested in a parliamentary inquiry.
Superannuation tax concessions entrench income and gender inequality
Australia Institute research finds women and low-income earners are being left behind by a superannuation tax concession system that disproportionately benefits high-income earners and men.
NACC’s decision puts responsibility for Robodebt response back on government
The decision by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to not investigate potentially corrupt conduct by public servants administering Robodebt highlights the gaps in Australia’s accountability and anti-corruption regime.
Majority of Australians back digital free-to-air sports coverage
Australia Institute research has found a majority (56%) of Australians want free-to-air sports coverage to be available on the internet.
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.
Privatised Profits, Services Failure: Consumers Worse Off After Three Decades of Competition Policy
New analysis from the Australia Institute shows that the privatisation, deregulation, and outsourcing of public services has failed to provide economic or social returns to Australians.
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