Research
Use the tools below to access our extensive archive of publications and media content. You can search by category and type.
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Terminal 4 Planning Assessment Commission determination meeting The Australia Institute is opposed to 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 impacts on other industries. Extracting and transporting a further 70 million tonnes per annum (Mt... Read More
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Airly Coal Mine project: Submission to Planning Assessment Commission The Airly Coal Mine project is a small, underground mine in the Capertee Valley, north of Lithgow, NSW. It is currently being assessed by the NSW Planning Assessment Commission (PAC). The economic assessment of the project is highly unreliable and its conclusion that the project would provide economic net benefit to the state has no robust analysis to support it. Given the project’s environmental and social impacts are likely to be negative, it i... Read More
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Abbot Point Growth Gateway Project: Submission on EIS The Australia Institute has made a submission on the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Abbot Point Growth Gateway Project. The EIS economic assessment is based on flawed economic analysis and ignores the most important economic questions around the project – is it likely to proceed and if so, is it in the best interests of Queensland?
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Establishing a gas community benefits fund The NSW Government is currently accepting submissions on how to establish a community benefits fund from the potential development of a coal seam gas (CSG) industry in the state. A Discussion Paper has been published by the Division of Resources and Energy. The Australia Institute has written extensively on the economics of gas in Australia.Many of the central premises of the Discussion Paper are flawed. The introduction to the paper suggests tha... Read More
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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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Shipping Legislation Amendment Bill 2015 - Submission The Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee is currently examining the Shipping Legislation Amendment Bill 2015. The purpose of the Bill is to increase access to Australian coastal shipping for foreign crewed ships in an attempt to make coastal shipping cheaper.The proposed Shipping Legislation Amendment Bill 2015 is likely to reduce employment for relatively little economic benefit. What little benefit that is gener... Read More
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Springvale mine extension project : Submission The Australia Institute made a submission to the September 2015 Planning Assessment Commission hearing on the Springvale coal mine extension proposal. Key points: Economic assessment of the project fails to comply with NSW government guidelines and widely-accepted professional standards.No indication is provided as to the financial viability of the mine, making all claimed economic benefits at risk of serious overstatement. The Department of Plan... Read More
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Funny money: Submission to Senate Standing Committee on Economics inquiry into foreign bribery The Australia Institute and the Jubilee Australia Research Centre have made a submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Economics inquiry into Australia’s foreign bribery laws and their implementation. Our submission is based on research conducted by the CAER – Corporate Analysis. Enhanced Responsibility, an independent environmental, social and governance research house. An increasing number of ASX100 companies have operations in countries... Read More
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An industry out of time - Submission to the South Australian Nuclear Fuel Cycle Royal Commission The South Australian government has launched a royal commission into the nuclear fuel cycle, and whether it is desirable to expand the industry, perhaps into power generation, fuel enrichment, and waste storage. The Commission is accepting submissions on four issues papers relating to: 1) Exploration, mining and milling nuclear material 2) Processing and manufacture of radioactive substances 3) ... Read More
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Establishing a gas community benefits fund The NSW Government is considering how to establish a community benefits fund from the potential development of a coal seam gas (CSG) industry in the state. The Australia Institute made a submission.Key points:Gas company contributions to a Community Benefits Fund must be compulsory, as recommended by the Chief Scientist, not voluntary, as currently proposed by the NSW Government in its Gas Plan. Any Community Benefit Fund payments should be paid... Read More