Media Releases
December 2017
9,500+ participate in major study of impact of same sex marriage postal survey
With the House of Representatives set to commence debate on marriage equality, The Australia Institute and the National LGBTI Health Alliance have released preliminary* results of an a major survey into the stress impacts associated with the Australian marriage equality debate during the lead up to the postal survey results announcement. More than 9,500 LGBTIQ
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
Choice Cuts – The advantages of cutting emissions in the electricity sector
Research released today by The Australia Institute highlights the difficulties that the National Energy Guarantee (NEG) presents to agriculture, manufacturing and other sectors of the economy. [Full report see PDF below] The NEG looks to reduce emissions in the electricity generation sector by 26% by 2030, in line with our Paris target of 26 to
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
Adani coal mine winners and losers by Queensland electorate
Few electorates will be clear winners if the Adani coal mine goes ahead, new research from The Australia Institute reveals. A limited export market means that Galilee Basin coal projects like the Adani coal mine could come at the expense of Bowen and Surat Basin coal projects. A report released today by The Australia Institute
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
What does the MCA stand for? Mainly Coal Advocacy
A new report from The Australia Institute shows that the Minerals Council of Australia’s coal advocacy is out of all proportion with its members’ interests The Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) represents companies that mine a wide range of minerals, yet delivers three times more media coverage for coal than for any other mineral. Analysis
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
Barnaby and Kelly’s constituents want a Clean Energy Target, not more coal
Polling of over 1,000 voters in the Deputy Prime Minister’s electorate of New England shows strong support for renewable energy investment over coal. The results were similar in the electorate of Hughes, currently occupied by one of the most pro-coal members of the Coalition, Craig Kelly. “60 per cent of voters in New England think
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
Something fishy: research shows minimal economic gain from large cutback in marine protection
The Australia Institute research shows Government proposals to reduce marine protection in Australia and the socio economic impacts of these changes. The Federal Government is currently displaying draft management plans for marine protected areas that wind back 2012 plans to protect large areas of the Coral Sea, waters to the north and west of Australia,
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
CSIRO paying lobbyist on fringe of climate and energy debate
The Australia Institute is today releasing a new FOI showing that the CSIRO pays membership fees to the Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) of $10k a year. The CSIRO is an associate member of the Minerals Council of Australia (MCA), the mining lobby group known for its forceful campaigns against effective action on climate change.
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
Warringah voters set to back marriage equality: poll
In the first poll since the Government announced a postal survey on marriage equality, residents in Tony Abbott’s electorate of Warringah were asked if they supported same sex marriage. 689 residents across the federal electorate of Warringah were asked if same sex couples should be able to get married; 69.7% of voters in Warringah agree
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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