Research

As Australians debate the Fair Work Commission’ decision to reduce penalty rates for retail and hospitality workers, the Centre for Future Work has published new research on the prevalence of weekend work in other sectors of Australia’s economy – and the macroeconomic importance of extra income generated by weekend penalty pay.The analysis is based on detailed new data on employment on Saturdays and Sundays in 108 different Australian industries....

Contrary to recent media commentary, Pauline Hanson’s One Nation party continues its political rise.  Examination of the Western Australian state election results shows that while One Nation’s vote fell short of Senator Hanson's hopes and expectations fuelled by some opinion polls, the far-right party doubled its support in Western Australia in the seven months between the July 2016 and March 2017.  Having won three Legislative Council...

Development of large coal mines in Queensland’s Galilee Basin will reduce thermal coal prices. This also reduces royalty revenue received by NSW. The Adani project alone is likely to reduce NSW revenue by nearly $50 million per year. The NSW government should oppose subsidies to Adani.

From 17 March to 24 March 2017 The Australia Institute surveyed 1420 Australians about Donald Trump’s election as President of United States of America.

A new report conducted by the country’s largest union, the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF), in conjunction with The Australia Institute has revealed high-levels of exploitation and human rights abuses suffered by low-wage workers involved in the overseas production of every-day medical goods used by Australians. 

A new report by the Melbourne Energy Institute, commissioned by The Australia Institute, shows that coal seam gas (CSG) extraction could be significantly increasing methane emissions from underground gas deposits. The report raises questions as to the role CSG plays in causing gas bubbles in Queensland’s Condamine River. Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham ignited the bubbling river causing a large explosion, captured in a video that has had over half a...

A comparison of the Queensland and NSW anti-corruption commissions.The Queensland CCC has major design flaws that render it far less effective than the NSW ICAC, leading to fewer corrupt conduct findings and minimal public exposure of systemic corruption.

Polling conducted by Research Now for The Australia Institute reveals continued popularity of renewable energy

Research from the Australia institute has calculated the impact of the recent Fair Work Commission decision to cut penalty rates on the Commonwealth Budget.The paper from Richard Denniss, Chief Economist at The Australia Institute, found reduced income tax collection from lower wages as well as greater welfare assistance for low income earners is, based on conservative assumptions, estimated to cost the budget bottom line $650 million over 4...

Government and business leaders have proposed a range of possible “transition” mechanisms to ease the economic hardship, and defuse political anger, following the Fair Work Commission’s decision to cut penalty rates for work on Sundays and public holidays in the retail and hospitality industries.  This briefing note critically reviews several of these proposals. Whether they are motivated by sincere concern for affected workers, or by m...