November 2015
Costings reveal Pension Loan Scheme could unlock billions for retirees
New costings from the Parliamentary Budget Office show the government could help retirees boost their own incomes at nearly no cost to the budget by making the Pension Loans Scheme (PLS) available to all who wish to use it. The costings complement research by The Australia Institute which made the economic case for expanding the
Homeshare: It’s on for young and old
Australians are getting older and almost all of us want to live in our homes for as long as we can. But can we afford the services that will keep us living at home? Research released today by The Australia Institute shows that around 80 per cent of Australians are worried that they won’t be
August 2015
The 0.4%
The Abbott Government’s move against environmental law is an unjustified overreaction according to a review of legal action under the EPBC act by The Australia Institute. 3rd party appeals to the Federal Court have only affected 0.4% of all projects referred under the legislation. — Download briefing paper available below — “Proper third party appeals
July 2015
The goon show: How the tax system works to subsidise cheap wine and alcohol consumption
A new report has exposed Australia’s wine tax system as corporate welfare, with Australians paying a billion dollars a year to subsidise the wine industry. Unlike beer and spirits, which are taxed based on their alcohol content, wine is taxed on its wholesale value. As a result, cheap wine attracts far less tax than beer
Voters in blue-ribbon Coalition seats back the ABC
Polling released today reveals strong opposition to Coalition cuts to the ABC. The ReachTEL poll was conducted in seats represented by Christopher Pyne, Malcolm Turnbull and Joe Hockey in late April. Results: Do you support or oppose the government’s decision to reduce funding to the ABC in last year’s budget? 59% of Joe Hockey’s constituents
May 2015
Broaden access to Pension Loan Scheme: Crossbenchers
Senators Jacqui Lambie, Glenn Lazarus, Ricky Muir and Nick Xenophon will today call on the government and opposition to back broadening access to the Pension Loan Scheme (PLS) to any retirees who wish to use it. Press Conference: Senators together with The Australia Institute executive director, Richard Denniss, will be available for comment 10:45am, APH
Super Tax Concessions distribution gets more top-heavy as costs explode
The latest modelling of Superannuation Tax Concession distribution shows the inequality is growing as the cost to the budget surges. $12.2 billion, 41% of all concessions, are going to the top 10% of households. $17.8 billion, or 60%, go to the top 20%. “That leaves 80% of Australians to share the remaining 40% of what
April 2015
CIS, Grattan, Per Capita, TAI and 1 in 2 Australians: expand Pension Loans Scheme for fairer retirement
As debate continues over ‘means testing the family home’, new polling shows 1 in 2 Australians think the government should require retirees with expensive homes to fund their own retirement incomes, through an existing but little known government scheme called the Pension Loans Scheme (PLS). “The PLS is essentially a government provided reverse mortgage, but
Turnbull, Bishop, Hockey, Abbott electorates – top negative gearers
While a large number of people take advantage of negative gearing for residential investment properties in Australia, the majority of the benefits, in dollar terms, are more narrowly focused. A paper released yesterday by The Australia Institute showed how the benefit of negative gearing was distributed by income and aged groups. Today TAI released data
ALP dip their toe in the $30 billion pool of super tax concessions
Richard Denniss, Executive Director of The Australia Institute and long-time advocate of overhaul to the super tax concessions scheme, has welcomed moves on the issue by the Australian Labor Party but says it needs to be the start, not the end of the conversation. “Providing generous tax concessions to people who are already far too
March 2015
Australia’s Housing Crisis – For the Ages
A new research paper from The Australia Institute reveals that home ownership rates in Australia are falling across all age groups, most significantly for people in their 50’s. Middle income earners are experiencing the sharpest decline in ownership rates. The Australia Institute attended a housing roundtable hosted by Opposition Treasurer, Chris Bowen, in Sydney on
Australia world leader – in population growth
Australia has the fastest population growth of major developed countries, and projections show a reduced infrastructure spend per capita, putting huge pressure on major cities. “Since the 2000 Olympics the population of Australia has grown by 25 per cent. In fact, since the Sydney Olympics, Australia’s population has grown more than the entire population of
IGR: Garbage in – Garbage out
The Intergenerational Report is a deeply flawed document based on deeply flawed assumptions according to Dr Richard Denniss, Executive Director of the Australia Institute. “The Intergenerational report should provide an opportunity to start a conversation about the Australia we want to have in the coming decades, instead it simply tries to scare the public into
February 2015
TAI challenges CPA on GST modelling
The Australia Institute (TAI) has challenged modelling and analysis used in a report from the Certified Practicing Accountants (CPA) which argues for increases to the GST. The CPA report assumes that the economy will grow more quickly because of cuts to taxes funded by the increase and broadening of the GST. “The economic model used
Can you eat the family home?
Both major parties are right to say pensioners can’t eat their homes – but only because the government won’t let them, argues The Australia Institute. The new Social Services Minister Scott Morrison is concerned about retirees who are cash poor but asset rich. Labor Deputy Leader Tanya Plibersek raised similar concerns, saying: ‘You can’t eat
Loopholes not Leaners Costing the Budget Billions
New government figures reveal superannuation and housing tax breaks for the wealthy are costing the budget ten times as much as leaving the GST off fresh food. The Treasury statement also shows that the cost of one form of tax concession for superannuation is set to double. “The Abbott government says it will do anything
December 2014
Continuing mental healthcare critical for smooth reintegration after prison and less crime
New research finds that improved connections with health services for people leaving prison and their families is a critical first step in addressing mental distress and ensuring smooth reintegration into the community. Unlocking Care, a new report from The Australia Institute, finds that the incidence of moderate and severe mental health issues increases after release
Majority of Australians favour solar and wind-powered future
New research from the Australia Institute finds that the health and environmental impacts of wind and solar technologies are far less detrimental than fossil fuels. Two reports were released today, examining the impacts of, and broad public attitudes toward, wind power and solar energy. They find Australians are overwhelmingly more interested in a future fuelled
Tax and budget cuts – a double disadvantage for Australian women
Women could be made billions of dollars better off if the Government considered gender issues when formulating the Budget, a new report from The Australia Institute reveals. Released today, The budget’s hidden gender agenda report finds that – in good times and in bad – women are getting a rougher deal than men from budget
November 2014
Work/life balance worsens under burden of unpaid overtime
Work/life balance worsens under burden of unpaid overtime Millions of Australian workers are losing the battle for better work/life balance due to excessive unpaid overtime and feel they have little control over how to change the situation, new research by The Australia Institute reveals. Released to coincide with today’s national Go Home on Time Day, Walking the
April 2014
MR: Super tax breaks the ‘Hindenburg’ of the federal budget
A new report released today by The Australia Institute outlines how the age pension could be strengthened by tackling overly generous and unfair superannuation tax concessions. Sustaining us all in retirement: The case for a universal age pension, by David Ingles and Dr Richard Denniss, shows super tax concessions will soon cost more than the
December 2013
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: 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
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
August 2013
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
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
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