Research
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The Coalition's (non) disclosure billby Richard Denniss, Chief Economist at The Australia Institute.[Published in the Australian Financial Review 02.10.18]Was the campaign by the banks to prevent a royal commission into their behaviour "political" in nature? Was the campaign by the Catholic Church to oppose same-sex marriage "political" in nature? And was the campaign by the mining industry to repeal the mining tax "political"?While the ability to influence legislation is... Read More -
Murray Darling Basin Plan leaves locals in dustCommunity interests in the Lower Darling are being sacrificed for the profits of big corporations, according to new research by The Australia Institute.The report, Trickle Out Effect, shows the $13 billion dollar Murray Darling Basin Plan is facilitating the flow of money to powerful agribusiness at the expense of local communities, native title holders,graziers, downstream water users, small irrigators and the health of the river system.... Read More
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Trickle Out EffectThis report is the first in a series that highlights how the Murray–Darling Basin Plan has increased the flow of money and water to big agribusinesses and has increased the vulnerability of everyone else in the Basin– Aboriginal people, floodplain graziers, downstream communities and small irrigators.[READ FULL REPORT]
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Depoliticising the ABC BoardThe ABC Board carries the ultimate responsibility for the independence and integrity of the national broadcaster. In previous eras both sides of politics made inappropriate partisan appointments to the ABC board. Despite the ‘arm’s length, merit based’ reforms made in 2013, the appointment process has once again become deeply politicised. Basic governance standards are being breached. Four or five of the six “independent” board members of the ABC... Read More
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ABC Board appointments process needs reform to protect independenceThe process for ABC Board appointments, including the appointment of the Chair, needs reform in order to depoliticise future appointments and protect the ABC’s independence. The Australia Institute has put forward five recommendations on how the appointment of the new Chair of the ABC Board and future Board appointments could be reformed. The report recommends five specific measures to address the issue: The process of consultation on the appoint... Read More
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National Integrity Committee calls for bipartisan support of integrity planThe Australia Institute’s National Integrity Committee of former judges and corruption fighters is today meeting in Sydney to launch their Implementation Plan for a National Integrity Commission. In the lead up to the Wentworth byelection, the committee has written to candidates calling for support from all parties of its plan to establish a federal corruption watchdog. Following on from the detailed design work undertaken by the committee... Read More
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Time for BCA to Get Facts Straight on Emissions TargetsA television commercial will begin airing nationally from 1 October, which features research from The Australia Institute exposing the Business Council of Australia’s (BCA) false claim that a 45% emissions reduction target would be ‘economy wrecking’.Building on research that shows no evidence to back the BCA’s ‘economy wrecking’ claim, the advertisement identifies that Australia’s electricity sector can reduce emissions by far more than 45%... Read More
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Stay on Target: Australia set to miss Paris TargetAustralia is off-track and looks set to miss its Paris emission reduction target. National emissions are rising and the government seems unwilling or unable to agree on credible policies to reduce emissions.The Commonwealth Government has shelved its centrepiece new climate and energy policy, the National Energy Guarantee (NEG). The Large-Scale Renewable Energy Target (RET) will not encourage any new renewable energy generation capacity after 202... Read More
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Government way off mark for Paris Target: new analysisThe Government is way off the mark and off-message when it comes to meeting the Paris target, new analysis from The Australia Institute shows. The new report debunks the government’s claims that Australia will meet the Paris target ‘in a canter’, demonstrating total emissions have been increasing since 2014 and without major policy measures or special international deals Australia will fall drastically short of the mark. “The Government wil... Read More
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Banking Royal Commission most important for Australians: poll A majority of Australians believe the Royal Commission into Banks and Financial Services has uncovered more wrong doing (70%) and is most important for Australians (65%) compared to the Royal Commission into Trade Unions, according to new polling from The Australia Institute. Meanwhile, almost a third of Australians (31%) believe the Royal Commission into Trade Unions was established to attack political opponents, more than triple those who... Read More