Research
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Economics
- Banking & Finance
- Employment & Unemployment
- Future of Work
- Gender at Work
- Gig Economy
- Industry & Sector Policies
- Inequality
- Infrastructure & Construction
- Insecure & Precarious Work
- Labour Standards & Workers' Rights
- Macroeconomics
- Population & Migration
- Public Sector, Procurement & Privatisation
- Retirement
- Science & Technology
- Social Security & Welfare
- Tax, Spending & the Budget
- Unions & Collective Bargaining
- Wages & Entitlements
- Young Workers
- Climate & Energy
- Democracy & Accountability
- Environment
- International & Security Affairs
- Law, Society & Culture
November 2024
PALM visas, superannuation and tax
The Pacific-Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme is often presented as being beneficial to all parties—Australia, Pacific workers, and those workers’ home countries. In reality, the benefits are weighted in favour of Australia.
Electric vehicle policies in NSW
For NSW to meet its emissions reduction targets it will need a broader range of policies to encourage the uptake of EVs. New policies should help reduce the upfront cost of EVs, encourage the purchase of EVs as fleet vehicles, and require anyone who sells an EV to provide a ‘state-of-health’ report on the car’s
Why batteries trump hydrogen for buses
Hydrogen fuel cell buses are expensive, require more infrastructure, and do not deliver real-world reductions in emissions. Electrifying Australia’s buses should be a priority for state governments for air quality and climate reasons.
Polling – Northern NSW rescue helicopter
The Australia Institute surveyed a representative sample of 800 NSW residents to test their knowledge about how much Westpac contributes to the running cost of the Northern NSW Rescue Helicopter, also known as the Westpac Rescue Helicopter. Although Westpac is the naming rights sponsor of the rescue helicopter, Westpac provides less than 10% of its
Premium price: The impact of climate change on insurance costs
Around the world, climate change is increasing the costs of insurance and Australia is no exception.
University is expensive
In less than 20 years, the average HECS-HELP debt for people in their 20s has more than doubled.
October 2024
Reducing poverty in retirement
Australia has a much higher poverty rate among people aged over 65 than Sweden and Norway. Unlike Australia, Sweden and Norway’s robust public pension systems ensure retirement security. Australia could reduce levels of poverty in retirement by increasing spending on the Age Pension. This could be funded by reducing the inequitable tax concessions on superannuation given to high income earners.
Profit in home lending
The big four banks make $200,880 in profit on the average 30-year home loan for owner-occupiers.
Submission: Transport and Infrastructure Net Zero Roadmap and Action Plan
Emissions from the transport sector are growing, which means it is set to be the largest contributor to Australian emissions by 2030. Ambitious policy change is urgently needed in this area. Under current government policy, transport sector emissions will remain above the 2005 baseline through to 2030.
Polling – Queensland Labor policies
Key results The Australia Institute surveyed a representative sample of 1,041 Queensland residents about whether they support 12 policies introduced by the Queensland Labor Government. The results show that: • Each of the 12 policies is supported by most Queenslanders. • The net effect of each of the 12 policies is to make Queenslanders more
Proactive investment
As Australia’s cities continue to grow, policies that incentivise more people to walk, cycle, and ride electric ‘micro-mobility’ devices could help reduce congestion. However, less than 1% of federal road funding is spent on active transportation. Unless funding is increased, Australia will continue to lack the infrastructure needed to reduce car dependency.
Submission – Inquiry into the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Reconsideration of Decisions) Bill 2024
The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Reconsideration of Decisions) Bill 2024 seeks to limit the time allowed to reconsider decisions, and on those who may seek reconsideration, to three years.
Whistleblowing While You Work
Over 20 years ago the Australia Institute recommended creating a rewards system for whistleblowers. In the decades since, rolling corporate scandals have revealed white-collar crime is pervasive while American rewards systems have proven highly successful. By instituting a whistleblower rewards system Australia can more effectively uncover, combat, and deter these crimes, promote ethical business behaviour, and broadly benefit societal wellbeing.
Doing it Tough
This report documents the results of a recent survey of Australian adults regarding their experience of the cost of living crisis. Australian workers are doing it tough. Costs are increasing faster than wages and incomes. Those with less are doing it the toughest.
Gas in WA: Exports
If Western Australia was a country, it would be the world’s third largest exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG). Yet, despite the huge amounts of gas produced in WA annually, recent media reports claim the state is heading for a gas shortage. How can WA be running short of gas when it is a globally
Polling – National Anti-Corruption Commission public hearings
The Australia Institute surveyed a nationally representative sample of 1,005 Australians about the circumstances under which the National Anti-Corruption Commission should be allowed to hold public hearings. 67% of Australians say that public hearings should be held under either unlimited circumstances or when a public hearing would be in the public interest, more frequently than
An Industrial Strategy for Domestic Manufacturing of Onshore and Offshore Wind Energy Towers and Equipment
Australia could create more than 4300 quality direct jobs by making its own wind towers instead of importing them, according to new research by the Centre for Future Work. At present, all wind towers installed in Australia are imported from overseas with most coming from China.
Refining Fines
Traffic fines in Australia hit low-income earners disproportionally hard. One potential solution to this problem is traffic fines that are proportional to the income of the offender. This discussion paper outlines one way of applying this model – drawn from Finland –to Australia, including a breakdown for states.
Leaving Money on the Table: Foregone Economic Gains from Continued SRS Underfunding
The Commonwealth government’s current offer to fund public schools to just 22.5% of the agreed Schooling Resource Standard would leave much of the current school funding shortfall unrepaired. This would squander many of the economic benefits that would otherwise result from full public school funding. Based on disaggregation of previous estimates of the economic benefits generated by stronger school funding and hence scholastic outcomes, we estimate the failure to fulfil the 25% Commonwealth contribution required for full SRS funding would ultimately forego GDP gains of $3.5 to $5 billion per year, and impose net fiscal costs on government (all levels) of $0.6 to $1.5 billion per year.
Submission to Validation (State Coastal Policy) Bill
The Tasmanian Government’s draft legislation to fast-track changes to the State Coastal Policy through Tasmanian Parliament ignores legislated process and due diligence. The proposed changes have the potential to weaken the State Coastal Policy, erode protection to the natural and cultural values of Tasmania’s coast, and undermine statewide strategic planning.
Submission: Inquiry into Australia’s youth justice and incarceration system
A submission to the inquiry into Australia’s youth justice and incarceration system, summarising an earlier Australia Institute report.
Fuel security in Australia and the International Energy Agency’s 10-point plan
Australia has long-running challenges in relation to liquid fuel security and transport emissions. In response to the “energy security emergency” arising from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the International Energy Agency published a 10-point plan to improve fuel security by cutting oil use by 6% within four months. Two years later, Australian governments have implemented none of the IEA’s recommendations.
Risky Business
Australians continue to invest in the production of nuclear weapons through their superannuation. In 2023, major superannuation funds invested at least $3.4 billion in companies that produce the worst weapons of mass destruction.
Financial regulatory framework and home ownership
Home ownership rates have been declining in Australia for most of the 21st century. At the
same time the proportion of people in private rentals is increasing. Housing is becoming
increasingly expensive as a larger share of the existing housing stock is purchased by
households not to occupy but as an investment. The result of this is that the proportion of
rental properties is rising and so the proportion of households who rent is also rising. This
then explains why home ownership rates are falling.
September 2024
Impact of fire ants in Queensland electorates
Red imported fire ants are one of the world’s most invasive pest species and attempts to eradicate them from South East Queensland are currently under-resourced.
Submission: Proposals to increase voter engagement, participation and confidence in NSW
The Democracy & Accountability Program has a significant body of work on voter engagement and participation in Australia and on the weaknesses in NSW’s political finance system that could undermine public confidence in democracy in the state.
Polling – Young Australians’ participation in live music
The Australia Institute surveyed a nationally representative sample of 1,009 young Australians aged 16 to 25 about their participation in live music. The results show that: The most common barrier to attending music events is cost, with three in five 16–25-year-olds (59%) selecting it as a barrier, and 35% identifying it as the most significant
Submission to the Tasmanian Integrity Commission consultation on: The use and misuse of public resources in parliamentary elections’
The proposals highlighted in this submission provide prioritised measures that would make the use of public resources in parliamentary elections more democratic and ensure public money is better spent.
August 2024
What is the case for more gas?
The Future Gas Strategy, published in May 2024, sets out the Albanese Government’s plan for gas production and consumption in Australia between now and 2050.
Money and power in South Australian elections
The cost of party and candidate campaigns in the 2022 South Australian election exceeded public funding by $3.3 million. The shortfall was covered with private funding, including political donations.