ReachTEL conducted a survey of 738 residents across the federal electorate of Dickson, 747 residents across the federal electorate of New England, and 762 residents across the federal electorate of Page during the evining of 17th December 2015. Results in attachment below.

The economic assessment of the Rix’s Creek Extension Project, written by consultants KPMG, heavily overstates the benefits of the project while largely ignoring potential costs. Key flaws are: High coal prices. Unorthodox treatment of wages. Assumption that most external costs are fully offset or mitigated, with no consideration of risk around these impacts. Minimal detail

The Australia Institute, in conjunction with Pitt&Sherry produce the CEDEX monthly. The CEDEX is the benchmark indicator for Australia’s carbon emissions and an up to date snapshot of vital data from the energy sector. CEDEX has been providing a comprehensive and early indication of key GHG and energy trends in Australia since 2009 and is

There is little support in blue-ribbon Coalition electorates for using any extra revenue raised from a 15 per cent GST to cut company taxes, new polling shows. Reducing company tax rates was by far the least popular option when voters in four coalition-held electorates were asked to choose between four alternative ways to use extra revenue if the GST rate is lifted to

Economic assessment has been at the centre of controversial planning decisions on mining and coal seam gas projects in New South Wales (NSW) for several years. The Australia Institute welcomes the efforts of the NSW Government and NSW Department of Planning and Environment to improve the standard of economic assessment.

A new report by The Australia Institute outlines a solution to the twin problems of incentives for retirement of coal fired generation and funding rehabilitation liabilities.

In 2015 the NSW Department of Planning and Environment commissioned The Australia Institute to assess the economic costs and benefits of policy changes to the State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) (Codes SEPP). One change was to expand the use of Complying Development Certificates (CDCs), which speed assessment processes for types of

This paper attempts to critically examine proposals to cut company tax rates by looking at the circumstances of some of the main company tax-payers, namely the top 15 listed companies in Australia. The conclusion is that none of these companies are likely to significantly change their behaviour as a result of any cut in company

This paper explores the cost of unpaid overtime, the extent to which Australian workers fail to take a break and the cost of work bleeding into everyday life.

A new report by The Australia Institute shows that local businesses in unconventional gas regions in Queensland believe that gas development led to deterioration in their finances, local infrastructure, social connections and labor force skills.  The analysis of mostly gas industry funded research also highlights survey results by the CSIRO that found less than a

The Australian government has recently approved Adani’s Carmichael coal project. If built, it would be the biggest coal mine in Australia. This briefing note puts the vast scale of Carmichael into context.

The Australia Institute has made a submission on the Environmental Impact Statement of the Bylong Coal Project, a proposed new thermal coal mine located south of the Hunter Valley in NSW.  The economic assessment of the Bylong Coal Project is not suitable for decision making purposes. It lacks transparency, is based on flawed methodologies and

The benefits of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) are being promoted as Australia considers one agreement with China and another with 12 countries in the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP). However, analysis and experience shows that FTAs over promise and under deliver. 

Homeshare programs match older householders who live alone with younger homesharers. Homesharers live with householders rent free and in return keep the householders company and perform ten hours per week of basic chores. Homeshare helps homesharers find accommodation, but more importantly helps older householders live independently in their own homes. Australians overwhelmingly want to continue

New polling shows strong support for a moratorium on new coal mines in two of the safest Liberal seats in the country.  The ReachTEL poll of 694 residents in Wentworth and 679 in North Sydney was conducted in the wake of an open letter, signed by 61 prominent Australian’s, called for a global moratorium on

A new report by Richard Denniss, Chief Economist at The Australia Institute, identifies an emerging economic risk of building ‘too many coal mines’. The report examines the potential economic harm flowing that a major expansion and construction of new coal mines can result cause, including: Lower coal prices associated increased supply (and associated reductions in

Too Close for Comfort : How the coal and gas industry get their way in Queensland. Examines the relationship between the Queensland Government and the fossil fuel industry. The report reveals a pattern of secrecy, a lack of accountability and transparency and a fast moving revolving door between the highest level of the bureaucracy and government, where political

In July 2015 The Australia Institute conducted a national opinion poll of 1408 people through Research Now. Respondents were selected to produce a representative sample based on gender, age and state. Questions relating to the performance, pay and position of the Vice Chancellors of Australia’s Universities are compiled in a polling brief available here. The

The Australia Institute, in a new partnership with engineering consultants Pitt & Sherry, will now be publishing the highly regarded Carbon Emissions Index (CEDEX) report. The CEDEX is the benchmark indicator for Australia’s carbon emissions and an up to date snapshot of vital data from the energy sector. The new CEDEX report will now, for the

The Airly Coal Mine project is a small, underground mine in the Capertee Valley, north of Lithgow, NSW. It is currently being assessed by the NSW Planning Assessment Commission (PAC). The economic assessment of the project is highly unreliable and its conclusion that the project would provide economic net benefit to the state has no

The mining and forestry lobby campaign to remove tax-deductibility for certain non-for-profit organisations they deem contrary to their business interests, does not have the support of the Australian public, according to new polling.  Hearings recommence tomorrow in the Government’s inquiry into the administration, transparency and effectiveness of the Register of Environmental Organisations.  Many Coalition politicians

In 2015 the federal government gave $4b in subsidies to the mining and fossil fuel industry, in the previous six years the Australian government has spent $17.6b in support for these industries. Over 75% of the people agree that fossil fuel subsidies should be redirected to essential services.  

Australia is one of the richest nations in the world, at arguably the richest point in our history. Yet our commitment to foreign aid is declining. The Coalition government plans to cut aid funding by $1.4 billion per year or 33 per cent by 2017-18. To put our aid budget in perspective, however, we need

The Australia Institute has made a submission on the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Abbot Point Growth Gateway Project. The EIS economic assessment is based on flawed economic analysis and ignores the most important economic questions around the project – is it likely to proceed and if so, is it in the

Regional media is viewed as an essential democratic institution by regional Australians, with   95 per cent accessing some type of local content each week. Regional media is an important source of news, weather, and emergency information. It also contributes to a sense of community and identity within a region. However, regional media is in decline

The NSW Government is currently accepting submissions on how to establish a community benefits fund from the potential development of a coal seam gas (CSG) industry in the state. A Discussion Paper has been published by the Division of Resources and Energy. The Australia Institute has written extensively on the economics of gas in Australia.

The Planning Assessment Commission for the Mt Thorley-Warkworth Continuation Project (Warkworth Project) has requested further submissions relating to a proposal to change the State Environmental Planning Policy (mining, petroleum production and extractive industries) (Mining SEPP). The current Mining SEPP requires consent authorities to give the “significance” of a resource the greatest weight in their assessment