Research

A large national poll of 1,557 Australians, released today by think tank The Australia Institute, has shown 64% of people want more public spending funded by tax revenue. Just 11% want lower taxes and less public spending. Two-thirds (64%) said they would prefer more public spending, funded by more tax revenue, and less inequality.Only 11% said they wanted lower public spending, lower tax and more inequality.A majority of voters for all parties s...

OECD data shows Australia raises less tax revenue than almost all developed countries[Full report see PDF below]Australia is a low-taxing country. While tax debate in Australia tends to focus on tax rates, with endless comparisons of different countries’ rates of different taxes, these debates ignore the fact that Australia raises far less tax revenue than most developed countries. This is not a problem in itself. There is no right or wrong level...

A large national poll of 1,557 Australians, conducted by The Australia Institute, has shown strong support for an increase in Australia’s emissions reduction target to at least 45% by 2030. When asked about the proposal to increase Australia’s emission reduction target from 26-28% up to 45% by 2030: In total, more than half (56%) thought the 45% emission reduction proposal was “about right” or “too low”. Less than a quarter (22%) of re...

The Australia Institute’s National Integrity Committee of corruption fighters and retired judges has today released the next stage in the design of a National Integrity Commission. The National Integrity Committee’s Blueprint provides analysis on: The appointment of an independent Commissioner nominated by bipartisan committee The need for a National Integrity Commission to have a broad jurisdiction to investigate any conduct of a...

New analysis from the Australia institute has found that emissions from NT Fracking identified by the Fracking Inquiry would be equivalent to 100 times more than the emissions savings under the Northern Territory Government’s Roadmap to Renewables: 50% by 2030 policy.  Key findings include that NT fracking could result in emissions that: Increase Australia’s total greenhouse gas emissions by over 5%. Are equivalent to six times th...

The continuing decline of Australia’s official development assistance Reports suggest that Australia’s aid spending, already at record lows, could be cut further to 0.18% of Australia’s Gross National Income. This would make Australia’s aid contribution proportionately lower than that of Greece. 

Over the ten years to 2026-27 when the total benefit to companies is estimated at $65 billion, The Australia Institute estimates the big four banks will receive a ‘gift’ of $9,500 million with Commonwealth Bank alone to receive $2,800 million.

Over the last two years the average tax paid by the companies calling for the Senate to pass the tax cuts was 12.35%; half of them paid no tax last year.

The first National Manufacturing Summit was held at Australian Parliament House, Canberra, in June 2017, organised by the Centre for Future Work and the Australia Institute. The event was attended by over 100 delegates from the full range of stakeholders concerned with the future of Australia’s manufacturing sector: including businesses, industry peak bodies, trade unions, government departments, academic institutions and vocational training prov...

The Australian Government bought 29 gigalitres of water for $80m in the Condamine-Balonne valley. The vendors originally insisted on $2,200 per megalitre. But after negotiation, the Government paid a higher price - $2,745 per megalitre. Worse, the water has no legal status outside the farm gate and shouldn’t be counted towards the water recovery target.