The Australia Institute surveyed a nationally representative sample of 1,502 Australians in March 2026 about their attitudes to Australian whistleblowers. The survey was developed in collaboration with the Human Rights Law Centre and Whistleblower Justice Fund. The results show that: More than four in five (87%) Australians support or strongly support stronger legal protections for

Despite excitement among some in the media about the benefits of indexing tax brackets to the rate of inflation, this paper shows Australians have been much better off without indexation. Had indexation of personal income tax thresholds applied over the last 30 years a taxpayer on average weekly earnings would now be $147 a week

Mining companies in Australia used almost 8 billion litres of diesel in 2023-24, a quarter of Australia’s total, 3.5 times more than agriculture, and more than all of the country’s 2.9 million dual-cab utes combined. Eliminating diesel subsidies for mining would encourage electrifying mining equipment, improving Australia’s fuel security and budget balance while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Trusts help the wealthy avoid taxes and protect assets from creditors. The use of trusts is growing rapidly in Australia; the number of trusts has almost tripled in the last 30 years. There are now more than 1 million trusts with combined assets of $2.9 trillion and annual income of $601 billion. Revenue equivalent to nearly a quarter of the Australian economy now flows through some form of trust.

New data in the 2026 Federal Budget and Senate gas tax inquiry further demonstrate that Australia needs a gas export tax. Gas is still given away for free. Petroleum Resource Rent Tax (PRRT) revenue is going down, not up. PRRT raises less money than HECS repayments or beer excise. Japan still raises more tax on Australian gas exports than the Australian Government does, even since the 2023 deduction cap took effect.

The National Electricity Market needs fundamental reform to improve transparency, clarify accountability and help achieve the clean energy transition. This paper provides a pathway to reform, including splitting the Australian Energy Market Operator into two bodies: a market operator and a national grid and system authority.

The Australia Institute commissioned polling on attitudes towards gambling advertisements. A national poll was conducted by YouGov, which surveyed 1502 Australians between 12th Mar to 19th Mar 2026, using an online polling methodology. The results show that: Three in four Australians (77%) would support a ban on gambling advertisements. A majority of Australians support a

Shane Rattenbury is stepping down as Member of the Legislative Assembly of the ACT, after 18 years in office. For the entire duration, the ACT Greens have been in sole balance of power in the Legislative Assembly – that is to say, they have been the only bloc that decides which party forms government. From

The Australia Institute commissioned polling on voters’ attitudes towards on attitudes towards the relationship with the United States, Trump and the Iran war. A national poll was conducted by YouGov, which surveyed 1502 Australians between 12th Mar to 19th Mar 2026, using an online polling methodology.

The big four banks make $229,000 in profit on the average 30-year home loan for owner-occupiers. An analysis of the data suggests big banks profit disproportionately from housing loans to owner occupiers.

The Coalition has announced a policy of indexing the personal income tax scales. If ever implemented tax indexation would pit the government against the Reserve Bank by stimulating the economy when it was inappropriate, which is why the Fraser Government abandoned tax indexation.

Australians living in non-urban areas are dying younger, often from preventable diseases. These deaths could be avoided if these communities had access to timely and affordable healthcare. With access to care, including primary, specialist, and allied health services, diseases can be diagnosed, managed, and even prevented.

uComms conducted a survey of 1,906 members across the Nation on behalf of The Australia Institute during the evening of 27th April 2026 using a self-completed and open-ended automated SMS and voice polling methodology.

Medical misogyny, where systemic, conscious, or unconscious gender biases affect how a patient is treated by the healthcare system, can create significant gendered imbalances in healthcare.

Since signing the Paris Agreement in 2015, Australia’s fossil gas exports have doubled, and coal exports have increased significantly. Large exporters of fossil fuels, like Australia, avoid scrutiny of their inaction on climate by emphasising domestic emissions and avoiding discussion on fossil fuel production. The Santa Marta Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels offers

The Wood Mackenzie modelling is mostly irrelevant to the gas industry in Australia. They modelled a gas project that doesn’t exist, a tax proposal no one is asking for, and claimed that it would lead to a country no one would invest in.

The Australia Institute commissioned polling on voters’ attitudes towards rights for people employed in Australia as part of the PALM visa scheme, including the right to change employer. A national poll was conducted by YouGov, which surveyed 1502 Australians between 12th Mar to 19th Mar 2026, using an online polling methodology.

Japan taxes energy imports through its Petroleum and Coal Tax, which raises AUD $8 billion per year on average. Of this $8 billion, around $1.8 billion comes from taxing gas imports into Japan. This is more than the $1.4 billion per year that Australia’s Petroleum Resource Rent Tax (PRRT) raises in total. Japan raises $710

Australia’s gas exporters pay little tax and royalties, employ few people, push up gas and electricity prices for Australian families and businesses, and worsen the climate crisis. If the Albanese government again delays major reform to the taxation of Australia’s gas export industry, these costs to Australian taxpayers will continue to mount. Refusing to tax

Australian elections are accompanied by a flurry of pamphlets, posters, forums, advertisements and signage. This comes to a head on election day with school fetes, sausage sizzles and other community events. This “festival of democracy” enriches the civic experience and makes compulsory voting a pleasure and a custom as well as a duty.

Few Australians have interacted with their representative or would feel comfortable doing so, and the numbers have become worse over the last decade as the number of people per MP increased. More MPs would increase the talent pool for ministries, reverse the growth in physical size of rural and regional electorates, and make MPs more

The Australia Institute commissioned polling on voters’ attitudes towards tax concessions for property investors, like the capital gains tax discount and negative gearing. A national poll was conducted by YouGov, which surveyed 1502 Australians between 12th Mar to 19th Mar 2026, using an online polling methodology. UComms conducted a survey of 1184 voters in the

Updated analysis by the Australia Institute reveals that a fair and appropriate increase to the minimum wage, and accompanying increases to award rates, would not have a significant effect on inflation. The analysis examines the correlation between minimum wage increases and inflation going back 30 years, and finds no consistent link between minimum wage increases

Artists, authors, musicians and other creatives have a huge impact on Australian culture, how Australians see themselves, and how the world sees Australians. Australia’s arts and culture cannot be produced overseas, and cannot be moved offshore. It must be made here. 

Five news polls conducted for The Australia Institute reveal an overwhelming majority of Australians want a gas export tax to fund improvements in services like health and aged care.

Australia’s wealth of natural gas reserves mean that the Commonwealth could be benefitting from the high prices caused by conflicts in Ukraine and Middle East. If a 25% tax on Australia’s natural gas exports had been enacted in 2022 it would have already raised $63.8 billion, which could fund a range of social services for

To get a firearm licence in Australia requires having a “genuine reason” to own a gun. In most jurisdictions, this requirement can be satisfied by being a paid-up member of a sports shooting club. Shooting groups promote this fact, advertising that you can join “from the comfort of home”. This may explain why up to 253,000 NSW firearms licences list shooting sports or recreational hunting as a reason for gun ownership, but fewer than 36,000 people in NSW participated in either activity in 2025.

Redbridge, on behalf of The Australia Institute, surveyed a nationally representative sample of 2,010 Australians about their knowledge of, and opinions on, abortion. The results show that the majority (62%) of Australians support access to abortion. Across voting intentions, a majority of respondents support access to abortion.

Fossil fuel subsidies cost Australian governments $16.3 billion in 2025–26, an increase of 9.4% on the previous year. This is a larger increase than the 7.6% growth of the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Growth in fossil fuel subsidies is driven by the federal government’s Fuel Tax Credit Scheme, which cost $10.8 billion in 2025–26. Growth

War in the Middle East will likely increase global energy prices. Australian Government choices will determine how hard this price spike hits Australian households, how huge gas export company profits are and how much tax revenue Australia will collect.