Research
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Mt Thorley-Warkworth Continuation Project The Planning Assessment Commission for the Mt Thorley-Warkworth Continuation Project (Warkworth Project) has requested further submissions relating to a proposal to change the State Environmental Planning Policy (mining, petroleum production and extractive industries) (Mining SEPP). The current Mining SEPP requires consent authorities to give the “significance” of a resource the greatest weight in their assessment of mining projects. The proposed... Read More
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Submission: Inquiry into unconventional gas in Victoria The Australia Institute made a submission to the Environment and Planning Committee of the Victorian Legislative Council Inquiry into Unconventional Gas in Victoria. Our submission addresses three myths of Australia’s unconventional gas industry: That there is a gas shortageThat expanding gas supply will reduce Australian gas pricesThat gas development creates lots of jobs Our recommendations are: An urgent review of policy and programs that subs... Read More
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Terminal 4 Planning Assessment Commission determination meeting The Australia Institute made a submission to the Planning Assessment Commission for Newcastle’s Terminal 4 coal project. We oppose the Terminal 4 project. For the project’s capacity to be utilised an increase in the rate of coal extraction in NSW is required beyond the continuation and replacement of existing mines. Such increases are unlikely to be in the public interest given the social and environmental impacts of current mines and their impac... Read More
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Submission on NSW Integrated Mining Policy The Australia Institute made a submission to the NSW Department of Planning and Environment’s Integrated Mining Policy during its exhibition period. A problem with the NSW planning system relating to mine assessment in recent years has been economic assessment. There are two areas in need of reform: The quality of economic assessment and enforcement of economic assessment guidelinesThe timing of economic assessment and debate in the planning proc... Read More
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Submission: Report on proposed Watermark Coal Project The Australia Institute made written and in-person submissions to the Planning Assessment Commission on Shenhua’s Watermark coal project in June 2014. The economic and agricultural assessment in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Watermark project is flawed. It is based on biased modelling techniques and ignores the risks the project presents to the region’s agricultural industry. The financial benefits of the project have been over... Read More
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Submission: Warkworth and Mount Thorley Continuation Projects The Australia Institute made a presentation to the Planning and Assessment Commission for the Warkworth Continuation Project in Singleton on December 18 2014. Independent assessment has shown several times that the benefits of the Warkworth Project do not outweigh its considerable environmental and social costs. Judges, peer reviewers and the wider community have found deep flaws in assessment of the Warkworth project over many years. Flawed asse... Read More
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Submission on 2015 Tax Discussion Paper The Tax White Paper is an opportunity to look at areas where the tax system is failing and how to improve it. There are many ways Australia can tax smarter and reduce distortions that the current tax system creates. The Australia Institute has identified a number of areas for reform, outlined in our recent paper It’s the revenue stupid: Ideas for a brighter budget. These proposals have the potential raise billions of dollars in additional revenue... Read More
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Submission to the Inquiry into Home Ownership Housing affordability is a complex issue with many moving parts. While some parts of the problem are beyond the domain of the federal government, in particular the supply of land, the federal government can play an important role in helping make housing more affordable. Loans for residential rental property have expanded rapidly, increasing from 16 per cent in 1992 to 40 per cent in 2014. Rapidly increasing numbers of rental properties has l... Read More
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Submission: Springvale Planning Assessment Commission The Australia Institute made a submission to the Planning Assessment Commission on the Springvale Colliery Extension Proposal. Our submission relates to the various economic assessments and reviews of economic assessments in relation to this project. Controversy has surrounded the economic assessment of the Springvale project, resulting in various assessments, submissions, responses and reviews. None of the assessments comply with the NSW Guideli... Read More
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Corporate tax avoidance inquiry: Submission ‘Now of course I am minimizing my tax and if anybody in this country doesn't minimize their tax they want their heads read…’ - Kerry Packer giving evidence to the 1991 House of Representatives Committee of Inquiry into the Australian Print Media Industry when questioned about his tax payments.On 2 October 2014 the Senate referred an inquiry into corporate tax avoidance to the Senate Economics References Committee for inquiry with the fo... Read More