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Economics
- Banking & Finance
- Employment & Workers' Rights
- Future of Work
- Gender at Work
- Industry & Manufacturing Policy
- Inequality
- Infrastructure & Construction
- Population & Migration
- Public Sector, Procurement & Privatisation
- Retirement
- Science & Technology
- Social Security & Welfare
- Tax, Spending & the Budget
- Climate & Energy
- Democracy & Accountability
- Environment
- International & Security Affairs
- Law, Society & Culture
May 2003
Trading in Our Health System? The impact of the Australia-US Free Trade Agreement on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
Examines a possible trade-off the Australian Government might be tempted to make in order to achieve a Free Trade Agreement with the US.
February 2003
Funding sport fairly: an income-contingent loans scheme for elite sports training
The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) spent $97 million of taxpayer’s money from 2001-2002 on scholarships for athletes. With each scholarship averaging $23,000 per year, per student, there should be a HECS style sporting scheme. This would entail athletes earning more than $100,000 per annum having to repay the AIS.
December 2002
Tax Flight? An analysis of the ‘duty free’ system in Australia
Duty free stores in Australia have tax exempt status, on goods such as tobacco and alcohol, goods which the government places high taxes on to create a disincentive. The Australian government also loses over $100 million per annum through duty free stores, disproportionately to the wealthiest 20% who can afford to travel overseas. This piece
November 2002
Health Insurance Tax Rort
High-income earners over $50,000 for individuals and $100, 000 for families pay a Medicare Levy Surcharge of 1 %( $500 and $1000 respectively). High-income earners can be exempted from the surcharge if they have private insurance, insurance companies exploit this and provide policies with annual costs under the respective $500 and $1000. The insurance policies
March 2002
Taxes and Charges for Environmental Protection
The structure of the tax system can play an important role in either protecting or causing harm to the natural environment. This report examines existing taxes, charges and related incentives that encourage either environmental protection or degradation in each of the areas of transport, stationary energy, land, water, forests and waste. The study also considers
February 2001
Measuring Employment in the 21st Century: New measures of underemployment and overwork
The system of labour market statistics in Australia is in urgent need of reform. In addition to calling for the collection of new data on the desired amount of work for all workers, this report outlines the benefits of work sharing, and suggests mechanisms for achieving a fairer distribution of work.
December 2000
Tracking Well-being in Australia: The Genuine Progress Indicator 2000
This paper reports an updated version of the GPI published by The Australia Institute in 1997. The paper is in two parts, the first providing the rational for the GPI and raising some methodological issues. The second part provides a comprehensive discussion of each component making up the GPI.
October 2000
Taxing Concern? The Performance of the Green Power Scheme in Australia
This paper examines the effectiveness of the Green Power scheme in encouraging the use of low-emission forms of electricity.