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Economics
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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.
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.
April 2024
Funding a fairer education system
The NSW education system is increasingly inequitable. Private schools receive public funding and tax concessions that have enabled multimillion dollar developments and salaries in excess of $1 million, while public schools struggle.
December 2023
The PALM Scheme
Australia’s meat processing and agricultural industries are employing an increasing number of temporary workers on the PALM Visa scheme from Pacific Island nations and Timor-Leste.
Ensuring equitable access to Voluntary Assisted Dying
The Australia Institute is grateful for the opportunity to make a submission to the review of the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2023. The ACT Government and Minister for Human Rights Tara Cheyne should be commended for introducing this bill.
October 2023
University Councils, Transparency and the Adelaide University Merger
Howard-era reforms to higher education have led to a lack of transparency and democratic accountability within the councils that govern Australia’s public universities.
May 2023
Fossil fuel subsidies in Australia 2023
In 2022–23, Australian Federal and state governments provided a total of $11.1 billion worth of spending and tax breaks to assist fossil fuel industries.
February 2017
An own coal?
With exports to key markets declining, Indonesia’s huge coal industry is pinning its hopes on expansion of domestic coal use. Current policy would triple numbers of coal-fired power stations and ignore Indonesia’s huge renewable energy potential.