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Economics
- Banking & Finance
- Employment & Unemployment
- Future of Work
- Gender at Work
- Gig Economy
- Industry & Sector Policies
- Inequality
- Infrastructure & Construction
- Insecure & Precarious Work
- Labour Standards & Workers' Rights
- Macroeconomics
- Population & Migration
- Public Sector, Procurement & Privatisation
- Retirement
- Science & Technology
- Social Security & Welfare
- Tax, Spending & the Budget
- Unions & Collective Bargaining
- Wages & Entitlements
- Young Workers
- Climate & Energy
- Democracy & Accountability
- Environment
- International & Security Affairs
- Law, Society & Culture
June 2018
Narrabri Gas Project: Comments on Response to Submissions
Santos’ response to submissions on its Narrabri Gas Project does not dispute most of the flaws identified in The Australia Institute’s initial submission. The economic assessment of the Narrabri Gas Project continues to be misleading and does not comply with NSW assessment guidelines. The benefit cost analysis by consultants GHD is contradicted by the proponents’
Submission: Personal Income Tax
This paper examines the government’s 2018 personal income tax proposals by presenting a distributional analysis of the tax cuts and then looking at some general tax principles and considerations that we can use to assess the present proposals. We begin in the next section by outlining exactly how the government intends the tax cuts to
May 2018
Submission on Clean Energy Finance Corporation Amendment (Carbon Capture and Storage) Bill 2017
The Australia Institute welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee (the “Committee”) regarding the Clean Energy Finance Corporation Amendment (Carbon Capture and Storage) Bill 2017. In our recent submission to the Department of the Environment and Energy as part of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation Statutory Review, we
Implementing wholesale demand response: AEMC submisson
Australian Energy Market Commission is conducting a Reliability Frameworks Review, which is looking at how to improve reliability in the National Electricity Market. In our submission The Australia Institute argues that the best market reform under consideration by the Commission is wholesale demand response. Demand response allows energy consumers to reduce or delay their consumption
April 2018
Inquiry into the BCA Commitment to the Senate
The present submission questions the Business Council of Australia’s (BCA) Commitment to increasing investment, employment and wages in the event that the outstanding tax cuts are legislated. We looked specifically at the 10 corporate CEOs who made the commitment on behalf of their companies and found some half of those paid no tax. One wonders what their commitment could possibly mean.
March 2018
Submission: Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry
The Australia Institute welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry. We expect the Royal Commission to be swamped by submissions that relate to specific examples of misconduct. Our submission tries to take a step back and consider the extent to which
Submission to the review of the rate of return guidelines
The Australia Institute made a Submission to Review of the rate of return guidelines. As an appendix we have attached a paper, The equity premium in Australia, that should be read in conjunction with this submission. This paper was prepared for the 2017 Conference of the Society of Heterodox Economists at the University of New
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
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
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
The Future of Work Is What We Make It
In October the Senate of Australia launched an important new inquiry into the Future of Work and the Future of Workers. The terms of reference for the inquiry include: “The future earnings, job security, employment status and working patterns of Australians; The different impact of that change on Australians, particularly on regional Australians, depending on
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
Submission to the Terms of Reference of the South Australian Royal Commission into the implementation of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan
Controversy has raged around Murray Darling Basin water issues since Four Corners aired allegations of large-scale water theft and the ability for irrigators to legally extract water purchased for the environment from the Barwon-Darling River. South Australia announced a Royal Commission in response to findings from multiple independent reviews, which highlighted serious issues with the implementation of
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
October 2017
Consumer protection in the banking, insurance and financial sector
The Australia Institute made this submission to the Senate Economics Legislation Committee’s inquiry into consumer protection in the banking, insurance and financial sector. Our main concern in this submission is to look at the deeper issues and ask what are the forces that drive ‘bad behaviour’ in the finance and insurance sectors. We start with
August 2017
Economic Impacts of Reductions In Penalty Rates for Sunday & Holiday Work
Our Centre has conducted considerable research into the impacts of the Fair Work Commission’s decision to substantially reduce penalty rates for Sunday and holiday for workers under the terms of the Modern Awards covering four sectors of the economy: fast food, retail, hospitality, and pharmacy. Penalties for Sunday work will be reduced by up to half; penalties will also be reduced for working on public holidays.
Re: Tax deductible gift recipient reform opportunities
The Australia Institute made a brief submission to the Treasury discussion paper on Tax deductible gift recipient reform opportunities. The Australia Institute is a Canberra-based think tank, registered as a charity with the ACNC. We conduct research on a wide range of economic, policy and political issues. We commented on Consultation question 12: Stakeholders’ views
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
Not an independent fund? Submission to Inquiry into the governance and operation of the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF)
The Australia Institute made a submission to the Senate Economic Committee’s Inquiry into the governance and operation of the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF). Over the past year The Australia Institute has investigated the governance and operations of the NAIF. NAIF is entrusted with $5 billion of public funds and has an important role in
Environment and Infrastructure Legislation Amendment (Stop Adani) Bill 2017
The Australia Institute made a submission to the Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee regarding the inquiry into the Environment and Infrastructure Legislation Amendment (Stop Adani) Bill 2017 (the Bill). Our submission notes the merits of the Bill’s proposed amendments, in relation to the Adani coal mine but also more broadly, as the new tests would apply
Submission on Regional Investment Corporation Bill 2017
The Australia Institute made a submission to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee regarding the Regional Investment Corporation Bill 2017. The Australia Institute acknowledges the merit of government financing, including on a concessional basis, to address areas of public good, promote sustainable economic development, to address market gaps, and to help with managing risk. However,
July 2017
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
Select Committee on an Independent Integrity Commission
The Australia Institute welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to the ACT Select Committee on an Independent Integrity Commission. The Australia Institute has examined the available evidence from the performance of anti-corruption commissions around Australia in order to inform the most effective design of an integrity commission in the ACT. Our research has found
Submission to Climate Change Authority / Australian Energy Market Commission Special Review on power system security, electricity prices and emission reductions
The Australia Institute welcomes the opportunity to make this submission to the Special Review conducted by the Climate Change Authority (CCA) in conjunction with the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC). The Australia Institute agrees with the AEMC that fundamental market reform is needed, and with the CCA that energy efficiency should be a priority. By
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
Levy on the Major Banks
The Australia Institute welcomes the opportunity to a submission to the Inquiry into the Major Bank Levy Bill 2017 and the Treasury Laws Amendment (Major Bank Levy) Bill 2017. This submission should be read in conjunction with some earlier submissions to Senate Inquiries. In particular we refer to our submission to the Senate Economics Committee
Penalty Rates, Minimum Wages, and Purchasing Power
The Fair Work Commission released two major decisions this week: its order regarding the timing for the implementation of reductions in penalty rates for Sunday and public holiday work in four major retail and hospitality awards, followed by its annual review of the general minimum wage. Both decisions will take effect on July 1. It