Media Releases

December 2017

November 2017

NEM in transition while South Australian wind and rooftop solar throw down challenge to NEG

The Australia Institute’s Climate & Energy program has released the latest electricity update of its National Energy Emissions Audit, covering October and November. Written by respected energy analyst Hugh Saddler, the Audit shows that Australia’s energy system is in transition, regardless of the political turmoil the change is creating. [Full report] “Brown coal generation continues

Corruption fighters and former judges design national corruption watchdog

The Australia Institute’s National Integrity Committee of corruption fighters and retired judges is in Canberra today to launch a blueprint of design principles which will be used to advise policy makers 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

Plan to use Trump tax cuts to boost Australian case backfires

As advocates of cutting corporate taxes have attempted to cast Donald Trump’s tax cuts as a reason for Australia to follow suit, analysis of the plan has exposed more evidence of the flaws in the economic case for the Coalitions’ planned big business handout which would cost the budget $65 billion dollars. The report from

Queenslanders – North and South – back Adani loan veto: poll

A new ReachTEL poll of over 2,181 Queenslanders, commissioned by The Australia Institute, has found strong support for Queensland parties choosing to veto a federal subsidised loan for the Adani coal project. To accompany the polling (full results in PDF below), The Australia Institute has also released new research on the economic case for the

October 2017

Hundreds of Adani-related documents from DFAT – FOI

An FOI request from The Australia Institute has revealed the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has “several hundreds of pages” of documents relating to Ministers and officials making formal representations to foreign financiers to back the Adani project.  “With ‘several hundreds of pages’ of relevant documents across multiple parts of the Department of Foreign

Australia’s emissions are rising, not falling

Media release 24 October 2017  The Australia Institute released a new briefing note showing that Australia’s emissions are rising rapidly, in contrast to the United States, China and the rest of the world. “The government has completely failed to put in place a suit of policies that will reduce our emissions,” said senior economist at The

Tasmanian salmon industry faces major risks

The Australia Institute Tasmania today released a new report Salmon stakes: Risks for the Tasmanian salmon industry, outlining the serious risks Tasmania’s salmon industry faces if its environmental and social impacts are not managed. “The salmon industry is important to Tasmania and has tripled in size over a decade. Rapid growth is always brings problems,

Poll: Voters back renewables and ambitious emissions reductions for the NEG

New polling three key Liberal seats of Warringah, Wentworth and Kooyong on the National Energy Guarantee (NEG) policy shows voters overwhelming support pricing carbon, would be more likely to support a NEG that achieves 50% renewable energy, and do not think the NEG will lower electricity prices and back the States keeping their own renewable

Australians prefer demand response over new power stations: Poll

New polling of 1,421 Australians, released today by The Australia Institute’s Climate & Energy Program, shows voters would prefer to see governments increasing energy conservation rather than building new power stations. A recent report by Dan Cass explains that demand response allows energy consumers to sell ‘negawatts’ of reduced demand into the National Electricity Market,

ARENA and AEMO on the money with Demand Management

The Australia Institute’s Climate & Energy Program says the demand response pilots announced by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) will reduce electricity prices for consumers. “ARENA and AEMO have taken action to deliver security through innovation, something that should be welcomed by all sides,” Australia Institute executive director,

72% of Coalition voters want a Clean Energy Target

The Australia Institute’s new Climate & Energy Program has today released national polling showing 78% support for a Clean Energy Target (CET). 72% of Liberal and National Party voters support a CET. Just 11% of respondents did not want a CET. “The public, industry, investors and experts are all crying out for some policy direction,”

Voters back the states in energy debate

A new national poll on gas issues shows voters overwhelming support state fracking moratoriums and blame exports for gas price rises. A survey of 1,421 Australian residents, conducted by The Australia Institute through Research Now between 17 and 26 September 2017, showed twice as many support (49%) a moratorium on fracking than oppose it (24%).

September 2017

No loss of revenue and overwhelming support to phase out pokies – so why would Tasmania keep them?

Modelling by The Australia Institute has found any impact to the state budget from phasing out poker machines in pubs and clubs could be negated through increasing taxes on poker machines in casinos.  New polling released today shows strong support for phasing out poker machines in pubs and clubs in Tasmania, even among Liberal voters.

Modelling finds Australia’s Paris commitment requires 66-75% renewable energy by 2030

The first major report from The Australia Institute’s Climate & Energy Program evaluates the energy policies required to meet Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets set by the Abbott government and pledged at the international climate summit in Paris. The Climate & Energy Program was launched following the transfer of the Climate Institute’s intellectual property

Coal country backs renewable energy – Poll

A new ReachTEL poll, commissioned by The Australia Institute’s Climate and Energy Program, asked residents of the electorates of Hunter and Shortland about energy policy, including government investment in coal, renewables and the Liddell coal power station. Strong majorities in the coal electorates (61% and 57%) preferred government investment in renewables than in coal (32%

Jobs survey reveals underemployment and unpaid work key issues for Tasmanian workers

The results of the combined Australia Institute Tasmania and Unions Tasmania’s jobs survey are in and they spotlight underemployment and unpaid work as key issues for respondents. While Tasmania’s unemployment rate sits at around the national average at 5.6% the survey results have revealed that underemployment is a critical issue for many Tasmanian workers. The

McArthur River Mine economic benefits of $1.5B dismissed as ‘Wishful Zincking’

The Australia Institute has released a scathing criticism of economic modelling in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Glencore’s zinc mine expansion. “Glencore claim up front that the expansion of McArthur River would generate taxes and royalties of over $1.5 billion,” said Rod Campbell, Research Director of The Australia Institute. “But it’s not until you

Mining lobby dominated by foreign interests

New research released today by the Australia Institute shows that the mining industry is dominated by foreign corporate interests that are spending hundreds of millions of dollars influencing our political process. The report finds that: Total revenue of mining lobby groups over the last 10 years is $524,150,431, with the Minerals Council of Australia accounting

August 2017

Federal ICAC needed to fill the gaps

New research released today by The Australia Institute identifies significant gaps in federal anti-corruption measures, as calls grow for a federal anti-corruption commission. The report [full report see PDF below] finds that: There are significant gaps in the jurisdiction and investigative powers of the federal agencies responsible for scrutinising the public sector and government No

ABC funding, independence under threat

Cuts and curtailment of operations of the ABC are on the table as Turnbull Government negotiations with Pauline Hanson’s One Nation to pass controversial cross-media ownership laws. The Australia Institute has today published a full-page advertisement in the Sydney Morning Herald alerting Australians to the imminent threat to national broadcaster and calling on Coalition and

Support for conscience vote on marriage equality – Poll

New ReachTEL polling, released by The Australia Institute and Australian Marriage Equality, shows voters in seven key electorates not only support marriage equality but strongly support their MPs having a conscience vote on the issue. The electorates polled were Brisbane (Evans), Goldstein (Wilson), La Trobe (Wood), Leichhardt (Entsch), Mallee (Broad), North Sydney (Zimmerman) & Wentworth

The Global Financial Crisis: what Australians think 10 years on

New polling released today asked Australians about the federal government’s handling of the global financial crisis (GFC). 1,408 residents were asked about Australia’s economy during the GFC, in particular the government stimulus spending. Australians have strong positive views about the government’s GFC response overall. Almost two thirds (62%) of Australians agree the GFC would have

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