Media Releases

Since Tony Abbott took office, 101,900 more Australians are unemployed, but the Prime Minister is determined to create a new scapegoat – that of environmental legal victories – rather than face up to fundamental issues in the economy.

“We’re seeing a deliberate effort from the Government to blame environmental law for job losses, despite all evidence to the contrary,” Executive Director of The Australia Institute, Ben Oquist said.

“Growth is slow, mining jobs are down because of dropping resource prices, manufacturing and agriculture employment is in full retreat, and Abbott is choosing to ignore all of these issues.

Today's call by the President of the Republic of The Kiribati for a coal moratorium is a wake-up call for the Australian Government who, only last week, was publicly expressing support for the construction of the enormous Adani - Carmichael mine in Queensland. 

No New Coal Mines website

The Australia Institute has called for a code of conduct for economic modelling.

Today saw the Liberal Government produce modelling suggesting a $660 million economic cost for their climate target a day after the Environment Minister said the Labor climate policy would cost the economy $600 billion.

A code would require assumptions to be revealed, context and comparison to be provided.

“Modelling results are being used to make important policy decisions that have the potential to effect all Australians,” Executive Director of The Australia Institute, Ben Oquist said.

A report from The Australia Institute shows that the Australian public understands and supports what economists have been saying: that increasing the Renewable Energy Target (RET) puts downward pressure on electricity prices. 

The polling conducted prior to Labor’s 50% 2030 RET announcement showed that more than half of respondents wanted a target of 50% or more. Only 14 percent of respondents support the Coalition policy of reducing renewable energy (see table below).

The Australia Institute has submitted a report to the inquiry into nuclear power in South Australia has found major flaws in both economic and technological assumptions underpinning the pro-nuclear push.

“Nuclear power is not a practical option for South Australia,” Chief Economist at The Australia Institute, Richard Denniss said.