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February 2018
Clean Energy Finance Corporation Statutory Review: Submission
The Australia Institute made a submission to the Department of the Environment and Energy as part of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation Statutory Review. This submission makes five main points regarding the CEFC relating to the two key issues for consideration by the Department, being: the effectiveness of the CEFC in facilitating increased flows of
We’ll pay tax ….one day: Submission to Senate Inquiry into Corporate Tax Avoidance
The Australia Institute welcomes the opportunity to make this submission to the Senate Inquiry on Corporate Tax Avoidance. The issue of tax avoidance by multinational companies has been a research focus of the Institute for some time. While issues of declining PRRT payments and low company tax payments are becoming widely known, particularly due to
Moving Targets – Barnaby Joyce, Warrego valley buybacks and amendments to the Murray Darling Basin Plan
The Minister for Water, Barnaby Joyce approved the $17m purchase of water in the Warrego valley after criticising the Labor government for the same thing, but at less than half the price. This was a deal that required amendments to the Basin Plan to later adjust Basin Plan limits between valleys, outside the parliamentary process.
United Wambo Mine: Submission to Planning Assessment Commission
The Australia Institute made a submission to the Planning Assessment Commission on the United Wambo Open Cut Coal Mine Project. We have previously made submissions on Wambo Mine – Modification 12 and also on the United Wambo Open Cut Coal Mine Project economic assessment by Deloitte Access Economics (Deloitte assessment). There are a number of
It’s not the science, it’s how you use it
The Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) is proposing a major amendment to the Murray Darling Basin Plan based on its Northern Basin Review,1 conducted over four years. The amendment would reduce the water recovery targets for the Northern Basin from 390 GL to 320 GL per year, a reduction of 70 GL. This amendment is
Northern Disclosure
New research released today by The Australia Institute shows that estimates of impacts on South Australia from proposed changes to the Murray Darling Basin Plan have been changed multiple times by the Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA). These changes appear to be based more on political convenience than best available science. “Initial versions of the
Submission on the Draft Final Report of the Scientific Inquiry into Hydraulic Fracturing in the Northern Territory: Greenhouse gas emissions
The Draft Final Report of the Northern Territory Scientific Inquiry into Hydraulic Fracturingeffectively recommends approval of unconventional gas development in the NorthernTerritory. It does this despite the huge potential climate change impacts of developing ashale gas industry, which this submission focuses on. Development of onshore shale oil and gas fields in the Northern Territory could
January 2018
Economies of shale
The Australia Institute made a submission on the Draft Report of the Scientific Inquiry into Hydraulic Fracturing in the Northern Territory (the Inquiry). The submission focuses on Chapter 13 Economic Impacts of the Draft Report and the report by ACIL Allen The economic impacts of a potential shale gas development in the Northern Territory (the
The costs of corruption
Corruption costs 5% of GDP worldwide. The cost of corruption to economies is well established, and much research exists on the impact of corruption on investment, business costs, efficient allocation of capital and economic inequality. Trust in government is at a historic low in Australia, and according to Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index (CPI) Australia
December 2017
Submission to Invincible Coal Mine – Southern Extension Modification
The Australia Institute made a written submission on the latest proposal to re-start the Invincible Coal Mine. As with the earlier proposals, we oppose this project as, in our view, the economic benefits to the NSW community are unlikely to outweigh the environmental risks that it presents. Our key point is that the motivation behind
Blue Carbon, or the Carbon Blues?
‘Blue carbon’ refers to the carbon storage potential of coastal ecosystems such as mangroves, tidal marshes and seagrass beds. These ecosystems can sequester carbon at higher rates than many terrestrial ecosystems and also play an important role in biodiversity conservation, protecting coastlines and coastal economies. Australia founded the International Partnership for Blue Carbon at the 2015 Paris climate
Styx Coal Project: Submission
The Styx Coal Project, also known as the Central Queensland Coal Project, is not financially or economically viable and should not be granted any form of project approval. Geoscience Australia has described the project area as “not of economic importance”. Figures presented in the environmental impact statement Appendix 10a – Economic Technical Report suggest the
Wallarah 2 Coal Project: Submission to Planning Assessment Commission (November 2017)
The Wallarah 2 Coal Project proposes to produce 4 to 5 million tonnes per annum of thermal coal. The project is located on the Central Coast of NSW near Wyong. The proponent is Kores, a South Korean government owned corporation. The Australia Institute made a submission to the November 2017 Planning Assessment Commission (PAC) consideration of the Project. Our
Flows at Menindee
A new report, released today by The Australia Institute, questions using averages to represent flows in the Barwon-Darling and challenges the NSW Water Minister’s claims about how much water is going into maintain river health. Two massive flood years, 1950 and 1956 account for 21% of all of the water flows since 1944. These two
October 2017
What does the MCA stand for?
The Minerals Council of Australia featured in 1,594 Australian news stories in the last year mentioning coal. This was three times more than iron ore, far more than any other mineral. Yet only 16 of the MCA’s 45 members mine coal at all. Just 3 are entirely focused on thermal coal. The biggest members, BHP
September 2017
Meeting our Paris commitment
The first major report from The Australia Institute’s Climate & Energy Program evaluates the energy policies required to meet Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets set by the Abbott government and pledged at the international climate summit in Paris. The Climate & Energy Program was launched following the transfer of the Climate Institute’s intellectual property
Something fishy
Wishful zinking – Economics of the McArthur River Mine
The McArthur River zinc-lead mine in the Northern Territory imposes significant environmental costs on the local community. Claims that it could produce government revenue of over $1.5 billion are based on flawed economic modelling that estimates tax revenues over a 1,000 year period.
August 2017
Dark side of the boom – Victoria
What we do and don’t know about mines, closures and rehabilitation in Victoria. Little data is available to the public on the clean-up from the mining boom. State government agencies often lack basic information on how many mines are in operation, with still less published on closures and abandonments.
Submission to Future reform – an integrated care at home program to support older Australians
The Australia Institute made a submission to the discussion paper on Future reform – an integrated care at home program to support older Australians. The discussion paper includes no consideration of shared living programs. This is a serious oversight given the paper’s emphasis on reform and innovation in care-at-home services. The main shared living programs
July 2017
Dam the expense: The Ord River irrigation scheme and the development of northern Australia
Australian governments have been trying to develop northern Australia for a long time, with the latest policy papers and Northern Australian Infrastructure Facility just the most recent in a long tradition of generally unsuccessful attempts to entice more people to the continent’s north with the promise of jobs and prosperity. The Ord River irrigation scheme
Royalty flush II
Palm trees and palm-offs: Australia’s climate action and distraction in the Pacific
As Fiji prepares to chair climate talks in late 2017, Pacific leaders are gathering in Suva to consider what policies to push for. One should be a moratorium on new coal mines. Australian government ministers are actively promoting subsidies to the world’s largest new coal mine, Adani’s Carmichael project. When Pacific leaders have called for
Hume Coal Project: Submission on Environmental Impact Statement
The Hume Coal project should be rejected on economic grounds. It is a relatively small, high-cost, greenfields mine far from major markets. It is unlikely that it can be financially or economically viable as currently proposed. It is already imposing economic costs on the Southern Highlands community. Proceeding with the project, particularly with possible modifications
Inquiry into Horizontal Fiscal Equalisation
State governments are universally supportive of resource development. They provide considerable financial support to the sector, yet receive relatively little in return. We are unaware of any example of states using the HFE system to argue against resource development.
June 2017
Export Finance and Insurance Corporation Amendment (Support for Commonwealth Entities) Bill 2016 [provisions]
The Jubilee Australia Research Centre and The Australia Institute welcome the opportunity to make a submission on the Export Finance and Insurance Corporation Amendment (Support for Commonwealth Entities) Bill 2016. The primary purpose of Efic under the original Export Finance and Insurance Corporation Act 1991 is to “assist the development of Australian export trade.” Efic
Review of the Future Security of the National Electricity Market
The Australia Institute welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to the Finkel Review. With the current state public discussion around energy issues, this review has the potential to steer Australia back towards a policy path that looks after the interests of energy consumers and the environment. Australia’s energy future should centre on renewable energy
Free room for ‘rent’
Successful Homeshare programs in the balance as NDIS roll-out offers new risks and opportunities. A new report from The Australia Institute, released today at the Council on the Ageing national housing policy forum, identifies semi-formal shared living opportunities for older Australians and people with disabilities. —Full report available in PDF below— Homeshare models provide free
Economics of unconventional gas development
Development of unconventional gas in the NT risks connecting the NT to the chaos in wider Australian gas markets. As the nation becomes a major gas exporter with record production there have been no winners.
May 2017
For Hume the Bell Tolls
The Southern Highlands has a diverse economy, with its band of towns and its proximity to major cities giving it an economic structure similar to NSW as a whole, but with a special focus on tourism, agriculture and manufacturing. Local businesses and community members are concerned about the potential effects of the proposed Hume Coal