Research

In late 2010, after over a century of almost uninterrupted growth, demand for electricity in Australia began to fall. Two previous papers, published in 2013 and 2015, examined possible reasons why demand was falling in the National Electricity Market (NEM), which accounts for nearly 90% of Australian electricity consumption. However, no sooner had the second paper been published than data began to suggest that electricity demand was growing again...

New research released by the Australia Institute today shows that government moves to cut unemployment benefits will put recipients at 32% below the poverty line. The research also highlights staggering inequality in Australia where the 10 richest Australian families have the same wealth as the poorest 3.9 million Australians combined.

A new report from The Australia Institute explores what the petroleum industry can do to simultaneously pursue its financial interests and the interests of the global climate.The report, written by Australian National University Emeritus Professor Andrew Hopkins, outlines four key areas where the oil and gas industry’s interests align with the global goal of reducing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere.The petroleum industry should be...

Report reveals a web of political donations, special access and secret lobbying behind controversial mining projects.  The report examines 6 highly controversial QLD resource projects and highlights the strong connection of these companies to QLD and federal political parties. The Queensland Liberal National Party accepted over $300,000 from companies associated with these projects, but most of the political donations went to...

Post-election polling of 2875 voters from across Australia showed the majority of Labor, Green and Independent voters prefer negotiations with cross bench MPs to form government rather than calling another election. 47.0% of all respondents support negotiations with independents and minor parties to form government while 46.3% said ‘call another election’.--- Polling results in attachment below --- “The poll also showed a resounding rejection the...

New England is an electorate that has faced a rapidly rising unemployment rate over the last 3 years. It has seen unemployment rise 2.7% since the last election. Over the same period the national unemployment rate has risen 0.1%. The number of unemployed has increased by 2,094 since the last election. This rapid rise in the unemployment rate is the 8th highest of any electorate since the last election.

The Australia Institute commissioned polling on a number of issues relating to refugee issues. In brief:  -          61% said that Australia should accept New Zealand’s offer to take 150 refugees from Manus Island and Nauru. This included 58% of Coalition voters and 62% of Labor voters. -          66% said it should be legal for doctors to speak publicl...

A reveiw of OECD data of the relationship between living standards and cuts in company tax rates compared with the provision of better education services.

While the national unemployment rate might be 5.7% this average unemployment hides important variations. The Australia Institute has assessed unemployment by regional variation by federal electorate using Department of Employment data. While the average unemployment rate in Queensland is 6.5% the unemployment rate varies across the electorates, from 4.4% in Maranoa to 10.5% in Hinkler.

New research shows a rising number of the Australian adult population are not enrolled, not casting a vote or voting informally.  Combined with the sinking major party vote, nearly 40% of Australian adults did not vote for either party able to form government in 2013. The trend has been on the rise over the past decades, but sharply increased in the past two elections. A new report by independent think-tank, The Australia Institute, inv...