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• Culture, Prosperity & Civil Society

This program defends and promotes the traditional values and principles of a free and liberal democratic society and open economy in Australia.

In a related area of research we investigate the place of religion in society.

Overcoming Enmity and Restoring Tolerance. Antisemitism’s challenge for the civic compact
Damien FreemanFebruary 5, 2026AP99

Foreword When the Book of Genesis speaks of enmity between the serpent and the descendants...

A Case for Helpful Government Intervention | Emma Dawson
Emma Dawson, Robert ForsythFebruary 3, 2026

In this thought-provoking episode of Liberalism in Question, we welcome Emma Dawson, Executive Director of...

Religious tests a red line we shouldn’t cross
Peter KurtiJanuary 29, 2026DAILY TELEGRAPH
Morrison deserves credit for insisting accusations of Islamophobia must not shut down necessary debate. But...
It’s judgment day: time for unis to kick politics off campus
Steven SchwartzJanuary 29, 2026THE AUSTRALIAN
The problem is not academic freedom itself. The problem is that universities have forgotten what...
Indigenous Expectations are Skewed | Senator Kerrynne Liddle
Kerrynne Liddle, Robert ForsythJanuary 26, 2026

Join us on Liberalism in Question as Senator Kerrynne Liddle shares her insights on why...

Progressive Intolerance. The contemporary antisemitism landscape in Australia
Peter KurtiJanuary 23, 2026

The question this report poses is whether Australia’s progressive institutions are capable of the honest...

CRACKING UP? Culture and the Displacement of Virtue
Peter KurtiJuly 9, 2019AP4

Unease has been growing that something has changed for the worse in our culture. The...

Defending Liberal Democracy and Liberal Peace in the Time of Rising Populism and Fascism
Suri RatnapalaJuly 1, 2019AP3

Liberal democracy has been remarkably resilient in the face of external and internal threats, but...

Millennials and Super: the case for voluntary superannuation
Simon CowanMay 28, 2019PP20
As a result of house prices increases, it has become much harder to save for...
Corporate Virtue Signalling: How to Stop Big Business from Meddling in Politics
Jeremy SammutApril 30, 2019

CLICK HERE TO BUY HARDCOPY   Snowflake- A very sensitive person. Someone who is easily...

Taking Back Control: Restoring Universalism in the Age of Identity Politics
Amanda StokerApril 16, 2019OP170

It can feel safer avoiding conversations on social issues that can be landmines at the...

Does Western Civilisation Have a Future?
Wolfgang KasperFebruary 19, 2019PP17

The question, whether our civilisation has a future, will sound preposterous to many. Has Western...

Now is the time for fecund thoughts
Jennifer Buckingham OAMJuly 18, 2002The Australian

It's easy to find reasons to put off having a baby. You want to travel...

Our leaders have a responsibility to uphold standards
Nicole BillanteJune 28, 2002The Australian

The name-calling and personal attacks so readily used by Australian politicians—such as Mark Latham's derogatory...

The poor need trade, not aid
Helen HughesJune 22, 2002The Australian Financial Review

Australia is not alone in its 'asylum seeker' problems. 'Asylum seekers' are putting pressures on...

Fighting an uncivil war to save society
Nicole BillanteMay 29, 2002The Daily Telegraph

It starts with an unthinking act of selfishness, becomes rudeness, and before you can say...

Leave off, tax breaks can redress child costs
Barry MaleyMay 1, 2002The Australian

Three fundamental issues underlie the maternity leave debate. First is the form and level of...

Time to care for ourselves: Instead of a welfare state, it would be cheaper and more efficient if we each made our own arrangements
Peter SaundersMarch 26, 2002The New Zealand Herald

The welfare state has developed over a hundred years.  In this time, increasing numbers of...

Antisemitism Is Not a Jewish Problem, It’s an Australian Problem | Frydenberg, Finlay & Sackville
Peter Kurti, Michael Stutchbury, Josh Frydenberg, Lorraine Finlay, Ronald Sackville AO KCApril 10, 2026

Michael Stutchbury, Executive Director of the Centre for Independent Studies, opens this panel discussion with...

Australia’s Hate Speech Failure | Dimitri Burshtein
Dimitri BurshteinMarch 31, 2026

The tragic events at Bondi Beach on 14 December 2025 expose a deepening crisis in...

Angus Taylor at CIS: Economic Reform, Immigration, and Australia’s Cost of Living Crisis
Angus Taylor, Michael StutchburyFebruary 19, 2026

Speaking at his first address outside Canberra since being elected Leader of the Opposition by...

Education Reform in Australia | Jennifer Buckingham
Robert Forsyth, Jennifer Buckingham OAMFebruary 17, 2026

Join us on Liberalism in Question for an enlightening discussion with Dr. Jennifer Buckingham, former...

Australia’s Liberal Odyssey: Tracing Freedom’s Path
Robert Forsyth, Greg MelleuishFebruary 10, 2026

In this thought-provoking episode of Liberalism in Question, we delve into the rich tapestry of...

Our Civic Compact is Shattered
Peter KurtiFebruary 10, 2026

Explosive 316% Jump in Antisemitic Attacks: Could This Be the End of Australia’s Harmony? Dive...

Submission to the Independent National Security Legislation Monitor (INSLM)
Peter KurtiSeptember 25, 2025

Submission to the Independent National Security Legislation Monitor (INSLM) Review of the definition of a...

Submission to the Senate Inquiry on Information Integrity
Michael StutchburySeptember 12, 2025

On behalf of the Centre for Independent Studies (CIS), we are pleased to provide the...

Submission to the Senate Economics References Committee Inquiry into Personal Choice and Community Impacts 2015
August 11, 2015

The CIS submission into the Senate Economics References Committee Inquiry proposed two tightly targeted areas...

Submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee on the value of a justice reinvestment approach to criminal justice in Australia
Sara HudsonNovember 17, 2013

To address the underlying causes of Indigenous offending, we need to focus on education and...

Submission to Native Title Leading Practice Agreements Discussion Paper 2010
Helen Hughes, Mark Hughes, Sara HudsonNovember 30, 2010

The Native Title process is only one of the processes returning land to traditional owners....

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