The Australia Institute

The Australia Institute is a public policy think tank based in Canberra, Australia. Since its launch in 1994, it has carried out research on a broad range of economic, social, and environmental issues.

The Australia Institute
AbbreviationThe Australia Institute
Formation4 May 1994[1]
TypePublic policy think tank
Director
Richard Denniss
Websitewww.australiainstitute.org.au

The Australia Institute states that it takes a bipartisan approach to research, but has also been described as a "progressive" or "left-leaning" think-tank.[2][3] This may be because a number of current and previous senior employees of the Australia Institute have also worked with the Australian Greens or other environmental organisations. This includes the founder and former director of the institute Clive Hamilton (who ran as a Greens candidate), former Director Ben Oquist and current Executive Director Richard Denniss (who both worked for Australian Greens leader Bob Brown), Deputy Director Ebony Bennett (who worked as a Greens media advisor[4]), Chief-of-Staff Anna Chang (who was a media and campaigns advisor to the Australian Greens) and ex-regulatory lead Dan Cass (who was a Greens campaign manager and office bearer[5]).

Ex-Director and Deputy Chair of the Australia Institute (2004 - 2022), Professor Barbara Pocock, was also elected as an Australian Green Senator for South Australia in 2022.

The institute has offices in Canberra, Hobart, and Adelaide.

Research

The Australia Institute undertakes economic analysis with special emphasis on the role of the public sector as well as issues such as taxation, inequality, including gender inequality, poverty, privatisation, foreign investment, and corporate power. Some of the Australia Institute's contributions involve analysis of modelling exercises on the part of other groups. This includes assessing some of the pandemic modelling[6] as well as the modelling behind the government's intergenerational report.[7] The fiscal response has prompted attention to the tax base, and so the Australia Institute described the principles of a good tax[8] and a report on how to make the budget less sexist.[9] These are some of the topics among the hundreds of reports on economic issues generally.  

The Australia Institute has been producing research in the climate and energy space since 1994.[10] In 2017, The Australia Institute took over the work of the Climate Institute, including continuing the Climate of the Nation report, the longest continuous survey of community attitudes to climate change in Australia.[11] The Australia Institute also publishes the National Energy Emissions Audit.[12]

The Australia Institute's Democracy & Accountability Program was established to “research the solutions to our democratic deficit and develop the political strategies to put them into practice”.[13] Issues pursued by the program include truth in political advertising laws,[14] how state and federal governments have handled the COVID-19 pandemic,[15] and freedom of information laws.[16]

In October 2019, The Australia Institute established the International and Security Affairs Program to examine "the global connectivity that both underpins and impacts on Australia’s place in the world and the well-being of our citizens”.[17] The program addresses a broad range of contemporary global issues, including new thinking on what security means,[18] a contemporary Middle east policy,[19] the proper use of the defence force,[20] the ANZUS treaty,[21] Australia's relations with China,[22] and how Australia might improve its performance in the Pacific.[23]

The Australia Institute's researchers are prominent commentators on public policy issues, including work on climate change and energy, emissions trading, taxation policy, and inequality.

Centres

The Centre for Future Work

In 2016, the Australia Institute set up the Centre for Future of Work[24] "to conduct and publish economic research on work, employment, and labour markets". Its founding director is Canadian economist Jim Stanford.

The Centre For Future Work also hosts the Carmichael Centre,[25] which was established to honour the late Laurie Carmichael[26] and publishes research on themes related to Carmichael's legacy, including industrial relations; social policy; manufacturing and industry policy; vocational education; and international labour solidarity.

The Nordic Policy Centre

The Nordic Policy Centre[27] was established in 2019 to explore the policy lessons that Australia can learn from the Nordic nations. The Nordic Policy Centre is partnering with Deakin University on the first series of research papers. Professor Andrew Scott,[28] Deakin University, is the Convenor. The Nordic Edge Possibilities for Australia[29] was published by the Centre in 2021, to show how Nordic nations have secured progress across a range of public policy areas.

The Centre for Responsible Technology

The Centre for Responsible Technology[30] was established in 2019 to examine the way network technology and digital platforms are impacting people and society.

History

Professor Clive Hamilton helped establish The Australia Institute in 1994 to generate public debate on building a better society. "I wondered, 'Where are the progressive think tanks making debate on the environment and broader public issues?'".[31] The first directors of the institute also included Professor Max Neutze (inaugural Chair)[32] and Professor Hugh Saddler.

Hamilton was the Executive Director until his resignation in 2008. He was succeeded in the role by Richard Denniss, who stepped down in 2015 to take up the role of Chief Economist.[33]

Ben Oquist was Executive Director from 2015 to 2022. He was succeeded by Richard Denniss who returned to the role in 2022.

Climate change and energy

The Australia Institute is active in promoting global warming mitigation measures, and has been critical of the Australian federal government's perceived lack of action on climate change. The Australia Institute was critical of the Howard Government's decision to refuse to ratify the Kyoto Protocol. It claims that the former Prime Minister and some senior ministers deny the scientific evidence for global warming and that the resources sector drives government energy policy. Leaked minutes of a meeting between the Energy Minister, the Prime Minister and fossil fuel lobbyists provide evidence for these claims.[34][35]

The Australia Institute has been active in promoting renewable energy development, and other mitigation measures, and it has campaigned strongly against developing a nuclear industry in Australia.[36]

The Australia Institute criticised the Rudd Government's proposed Australian emissions trading scheme (or Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme), arguing that it failed to adequately take into account voluntary action and delivered excessive compensation to polluting industries.[37]

The Australia Institute spoke positively of the design of the carbon price mechanism implemented by the Gillard government, arguing that beginning with a fixed price and transitioning to an emissions trading scheme made sense given that there was no consensus about what the emissions reduction target should be.[38]

In 2014, Ben Oquist (then the Australia Institute's strategy director) was involved in the Palmer United Party's decision to vote against the abolition of the Renewable Energy Target, the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, and the Climate Change Authority.[39] Oquist wrote that "The Australia Institute is disappointed that the carbon price is likely to be repealed" but that "The Palmer-Gore announcement has re-set climate policy and politics. Keeping the CCA, the RET and the CEFC is much more than most expected from the PUP. We have avoided a big step backwards."[40]

In 2017, the Australia Institute reported that Australia's greenhouse gas emissions were "rising rapidly" since the abolition of the carbon price, with economist Matt Grudnoff criticising the National Energy Guarantee proposed by the Turnbull government, saying that it would be “likely to cause our emissions to rise even faster”.[41]

In 2017, The Australia Institute took over The Climate Institute's intellectual property after that institute closed, and subsequently launched a Climate and Energy Program to continue the work.[42][43] The first Climate of the Nation report produced by The Australia Institute was released in 2018.[44]

Tax reform debate

The Australia Institute employs several economists[45] who have published papers arguing for tax reform, particularly in the areas of superannuation tax concessions, negative gearing, capital gains tax and goods and services tax.[46] During the 2016 Australian federal election, the Institute published a series of critiques of the Coalition's proposed policy of cutting the company tax rate.[47]

The Australia Institute has also criticised the final two stages of the Turnbull government's three-stage income tax cut plan, releasing research into how the benefits from the tax cut are distributed by income[48] and electorate.[49]

Funding and resourcing

The Australia Institute had a total gross income $7.75 Million (Australian dollars) in 2022[50] ($7M in 2021, and $4.46 Million in 2020) and is funded by donations from philanthropic trusts and individuals, as well as grants and commissioned research from business, unions and non-government organisations. The Australia Institute reports full time equivalent staff of 37 employees.

In its first decade through to 2003, the Australia Institute was largely funded by the Poola Foundation and the Treepot Foundation—philanthropic organisations run by the Kantor's.[51] Other significant funders include the McKinnon Family Foundation; David Morawetz's Social Justice Fund, a sub fund of the Australian Communities Foundation; Diana and Brian Snape AM and the Susan McKinnon Foundation.[52]

In recent years, the Australia Institute has reported the number of donations it has received from individuals, with 2,000 individual donors in financial year 2015[53] and 2,700 in the financial year 2017.[54]

The Australia Institute claims to not accept donations or commissioned work from political parties.[55]

Directors
  • John McKinnon (Chair), NGO director and philanthropist
  • Alex Sloan, award-winning journalist, interviewer and facilitator
  • Andrew Dettmer, National President of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union
  • Asmi Wood, Australian National University College of law.
  • Elizabeth Cham, former CEO of Philanthropy Australia (96-06)
  • Elizabeth Hill, Senior Lecturer, Political economy at the University of Sydney
  • Josh Bornstein, Head of National Employment and Industrial Law at Maurice Blackburn Lawyers

Former board members include:

References
  1. Kirby, Michael (4 May 1994). ""Trash" fights back". The Australia Institute. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  2. "Thinkers of influence". The Age. 10 December 2005. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  3. "RBA slaps down union inflation claims as it warns of more rate rises". Australian Financial Review. 5 May 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  4. "Ebony Bennett's Profile | The Canberra Times | Canberra, ACT". The Canberra Times.
  5. "Office bearers honour roll". Australian Greens.
  6. "What the Doherty Modelling really tells us about opening up at 80 per cent vaccination". The Australia Institute. 3 September 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  7. "The Intergenerational Report ignores booming wealth and capital gains". The Australia Institute. 25 August 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  8. "Principles of a good tax". August 2021.
  9. "How to make the Budget less sexist". The Australia Institute. 27 April 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  10. "Climate & Energy". The Australia Institute. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  11. "Climate of the Nation". 3 November 2022.
  12. "Electricity Markets & the Grid Research". The Australia Institute. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  13. "Introducing our Democracy & Accountability Program". The Australia Institute. 15 June 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  14. Jervis-Bardy, Dan (2 September 2021). "'Protect our democracy': Labor, Greens back truth in political advertising laws". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  15. "Australians believe states managing Covid pandemic better than Canberra, study finds". the Guardian. 18 July 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  16. Murphy, Katharine; Karp, Paul (2 September 2021). "'A sore loser': Scott Morrison attacked over move to keep national cabinet deliberations secret". The Guardian.
  17. "International & Security Affairs". The Australia Institute. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  18. "Re-thinking national security in the age of pandemics and climate change catastrophe". The Australia Institute. 20 April 2020. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  19. "Australia's interests in the Middle East: A presence in search of a policy". The Australia Institute. 15 January 2020. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  20. "Calling it out". The Australia Institute. 24 January 2020. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  21. "ANZUS and Australia's Security". The Australia Institute. 28 July 2020. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  22. "How Good is the Australia-China Relationship?". 26 June 2020.
  23. "Rethinking Official Development Assistance". The Australia Institute. 2 October 2020. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  24. "Centre for Future Work".
  25. "Carmichael Centre".
  26. "New Research Centre Established to Honour Union Leader Laurie Carmichael | PressReleasePoint".
  27. "Nordic Policy Centre".
  28. "Andrew Scott".
  29. "The Nordic Edge, Andrew Scott, Rod Campbell". Melbourne University Publishing. 2 July 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  30. "Centre for Responsible Technology".
  31. Schmidt, Lucinda (30 July 2008). "Profile: Clive Hamilton". The Age. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  32. https://australiainstitute.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/DP1_35.pdf
  33. "Special Announcement: New Executive Director and Chief Economist at The Australia Institute". The Australia Institute. 28 June 2015. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  34. "Notes of LETAG Meeting". The Australia Institute. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  35. "The Dirty Politics of Climate Change: Speech to the Climate Change and Business Conference, Hilton Hotel, Adelaide, 20 February 2006". The Australia Institute. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  36. "Siting Nuclear Power Plants in Australia - Where would they go?". The Australia Institute. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  37. Denniss, Richard (November 2008). "Fixing the Floor in the ETS". Australia Institute Policy Brief. Retrieved 12 November 2008.
  38. "Carbon price architecture looks good, but proof will come in construction". The Australia Institute. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  39. Aston, James Massola, Tom Arup, Heath (26 June 2014). "The four who brought together Clive Palmer and Al Gore". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 20 July 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  40. "What to make of Palmer's gambit - A message from Ben Oquist". The Australia Institute. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  41. "The survey that could mark the beginning of the end of the coal boom". NewsComAu. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  42. Kenny, Mark (24 September 2017). "Climate crunch: Australia to fail on Paris commitments without massive renewable switch". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  43. "Australia 'unfairly shirking global responsibilities' on climate change". Financial Review. 12 June 2018. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  44. Pečinka, Lukáš (11 September 2018). "Climate of the Nation: climate change concern reaches five year high". The Australia Institute.
  45. "Organisational structure". The Australia Institute.
  46. "Research". 13 July 2023.
  47. "Cutting through the Company Tax Cuts Guff". 26 June 2018.
  48. Hutchens, Gareth (27 May 2018). "Richest taxpayers get $12.7bn windfall from Coalition plan, thinktank says". the Guardian. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  49. Murphy, Katharine; Hutchens, Gareth (6 June 2018). "Wealthy Liberal seats among biggest winners of Turnbull tax cut plan". the Guardian. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  50. "Australian Charities and Not-For-Profits Commission". ACNC.
  51. "Think tank secrets". The Sydney Morning Herald. 12 August 2003.
  52. Seccombe, Mike (28 July 2018). "Rinehart's secret millions to the IPA". The Saturday Paper. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  53. "The Australia Institute Annual Report 2015-16". The Australia Institute. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  54. "The Australia Institute Annual Report 2016-17". The Australia Institute. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  55. "About The Australia Institute". The Australia Institute. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
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