Media Releases
March 2014
New Acland Coal Mine Assessment Deeply Flawed
The New Acland coal mine is applying to expand its operations in one of Australia’s most productive agricultural regions, the Darling Downs. The mine has been controversial since it began, in its impact on the agricultural economy, and in clearing out the town of Acland where now only one resident remains. The New Acland Mine
February 2014
Great Barrier Reef at risk if Coal Train Approved
The North Galilee Basin Rail project is not in the best economic or environmental interests of Queensland and should not be approved according to The Australia Institute’s submission to the Queensland Government today. It is inexcusable that a cost-benefit analysis has not been demanded by the Newman government before looking to approve the 300 kilometre
MR: Consumers likely to lose out if Australia signs secretive trade deal
Australians hold serious concerns about a secretive trade deal which risks a blow-out in the cost of medicines, less Australian television content and relaxed labelling of genetically modified foods, according to a new report being released by The Australia Institute today. The report titled “A democracy deficit?” shows that only 11 per cent of people
December 2013
MR: Aussies in the dark about risky TPP trade deal
Most Australians aren’t aware of a trade deal which could risk environmental laws, increase the cost of medicines and enable corporations to sue Australian governments, according to a new survey by The Australia Institute. The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is currently under negotiation and establishes a free trade area including Australia, the United States of America,
MR: Vanishing Acland ignored by miners in Darling Downs
The economic benefits of a major Queensland coal project in the Darling Downs were exaggerated and the negative impacts underplayed, according to an analysis by The Australia Institute. There are currently 28 proposed mining projects in Queensland and the state government has committed to doubling coal production and exports by 2030. One of the projects
MR: What do Libs have against poor Nats?
National Party constituents will be hardest hit by the federal Coalition’s plans to repeal the low income superannuation contribution, according to new analysis by The Australia Institute. The Australia Institute examined 2011 census data to estimate the number of workers earning $37,000 or less who will to be affected by the cut. The findings show
November 2013
MR: CSG not worth risk to health & environment
Health and climate impacts suggest unconventional gas is not the best option for Australia’s energy future, according to research released today. The research paper Is fracking good for your health? is co-published by The Australia Institute and The Social Justice Initiative. It examines existing research to analyse the impacts of unconventional gas – coal seam gas (CSG),
MR: Today is Go Home On Time Day
Today is the fifth annual Go Home on Time Day, an initiative of The Australia Institute and beyondblue which aims to promote work-life balance and mentally healthy workplaces. Executive Director of The Australia Institute Dr Richard Denniss said it was exciting that more than 350 businesses and organisations have registered to participate and will be
October 2013
MR: Institute warned of direct action cost blow out
Today’s Climate Change Authority report suggests that the government’s direct action plan is flawed, as found in research by The Australia Institute. In 2011, The Australia Institute was the first to publish findings that the Coalition’s direct action plan is likely to cost $11 billion per year and is unlikely to find sufficient greenhouse gas
MR: Clean energy exploration thrown out with mining tax
The federal Coalition is hampering the exploration and development of an untapped clean, green and reliable energy source by repealing the Minerals Resource Rent Tax, according to The Australia Institute. The Bill proposing to scrap the mining tax also eliminates the geothermal energy exploration deduction recently introduced under the Labor government. The deduction helps make
MR: Australia no longer a nation that lunches
Taking a lunch break has become a thing of the past for millions of Aussie bosses and their employees, a new survey has revealed. The survey, conducted by The Australia Institute and beyondblue for this year’s national Go Home on Time Day initiative, found that 3.8 million people routinely don’t take a lunch break, with
MR: What Australians don’t know about CSG
Everyday Australians are feeling uneasy and under-informed about the risks surrounding the extraction of coal seam gas (CSG), according to new research by The Australia Institute. A survey of more than 1400 people makes up part of the research paper What Australians don’t know about CSG. Respondents were asked about their knowledge of, and concerns
September 2013
MR: Businesses urged to focus on work/life balance to boost productivity
Go Home on Time Day – 20 November 2013 – is an annual initiative of The Australia Institute and beyondblue aimed at promoting mentally healthy workplaces and the importance of work/life balance. beyondblue CEO Kate Carnell AO said something is very wrong in Australia’s workplaces because people are working longer and longer hours, but productivity
National ‘Go Home on Time Day’ gives Aussies a break
Mark and then sync all your calendars – Wednesday 20 November is this year’s national Go Home on Time Day (www.gohomeontimeday.org.au). Go Home on Time Day is an annual initiative of The Australia Institute, in partnership with beyondblue. The Day is a light-hearted way to start a serious conversation about work-life balance. Businesses of all
Abbott risks health and environment for free trade
The Coalition’s newly announced trade policy leaves the federal government vulnerable to legal action from international companies, according to The Australia Institute. Hours before voters head to the polls, the opposition has announced it would use investor-state dispute settlement clauses in free trade agreements. The move would give foreign companies the right to take action
August 2013
Canberra recession likely under Coalition cuts
Thousands of private sector jobs will be lost and Canberra could go into recession if the Coalition follows through on its promise to cut 12,000 public service jobs in the capital, according to a new analysis by The Australia Institute. It remains unclear whether the Coalition plans to make all of the job cuts in
Rudd wins back youth but many still undecided
Kevin Rudd’s return as Prime Minister is winning Labor the youth vote, but nearly a third of young Australians remain undecided, according to new research by The Australia Institute. The survey of more than 950 people aged 17-24 asked respondents about their voting intentions, whether they vote the same way as their friends and family,
CSG regulation should be federal issue
The federal government should do more to protect agricultural land from coal seam gas mining, according to a new report commissioned by The Australia Institute. The research, released today, was untaken by the Australian Network of Environmental Defender’s Offices. It identifies areas of the Constitution of Australia which would allow for national reforms to protect
Federal politicians – don’t pass buck on mining & CSG
The Commonwealth government has the power to protect Australia from the negative impacts of coal mining and coal seam gas and shouldn’t pass responsibility to the states, according to new research commissioned by The Australia Institute. The research, released today, was untaken by the Australian Network of Environmental Defender’s Offices. It identifies areas of the
Mixed messages from Abbott on Tasmanian jobs
The Opposition’s pledge to create jobs in Tasmania could be undermined by its plan to reduce the size of the public service, a new analysis by The Australia Institute reveals. The analysis shows Tasmania could lose more than 200 jobs under the Opposition’s planned public service job cuts. The Australia Institute used historic separation rates
QLD job losses dismissed to make way for China First mine
The Queensland government’s approval of Clive Palmer’s latest coal mine and rail project shows a blatant disregard for the thousands of jobs that will be lost as a result, according to The Australia Institute. Waratah Coal’s own economic impact statement shows the China First mine will see 3,000 people losing their jobs, primarily across Queensland.
Youth issues could decide the election
Jobs for young people, housing, marriage equality and university funding are the top issues for young Australians ahead of the federal election, according to research by The Australia Institute. The new survey of more than 800 people aged 17-25 asked respondents to nominate the top five issues that would be likely to sway their vote.
Australians feeling safer- a good news story
Australians are feeling safer and property crime rates are falling, but new research by The Australia Institute suggests election promises and government policies that get ‘tough on crime’ aren’t helping. The report Tough on Crime looks at links between feelings of safety, rates of property crime and the role of crime policies. The property crime
July 2013
Gas industry’s multimillion dollar fib
The gas industry’s claims that new gas supplies are needed to bring down energy prices are misleading and incorrect, according to The Australia Institute. APPEA has today launched a national multimillion dollar campaign claiming that without developing new gas supplies Australia will lose jobs and energy prices will continue to soar. But research from The
What’s choice got to do with it?
The financial disadvantage Australian women will face in retirement has nothing to do with whether they have a family, according to new research by The Australia Institute. The paper What’s choice got to do with it? found that women retire with substantially less savings than men, even if they don’t have children or care for
Australians trust ABC over commercial media
More than half of Australians do not trust commercial media, new research by The Australia Institute has found. The new survey of more than 1400 people asked respondents to rate their trust in the ABC and commercial media on a scale from ‘do not trust’ to ‘do trust’. “Many Australians rely on information provided through
Disinterested youth feel no party represents them
More than a million young Australians feel no political party best represents the needs of young people, according to research by The Australia Institute. The new survey of more than 800 respondents aged 17-25 found 47 per cent believe no party best represents them. “This should act as a warning to our politicians that it’s
Consumers to pay more when gas sold overseas
Households in eastern Australia are about to be hit with more gas price increases which could see wholesale prices triple, according to new research from The Australia Institute. The independent think tank’s paper Cooking up a price rise finds that wholesale gas prices will rise from around $3 or $4 a gigajoule to around $9
Abbott keeps us guessing on public service job cuts
New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland could lose well over a thousand jobs each under the Coalition’s planned public service job cuts, according to new research from The Australia Institute. The Institute has launched an analysis of the economic impacts of the Coalition’s proposed public service job cuts, and is today releasing some initial findings.
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