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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.

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...

Weakening our society, instead of strengthening it
Michael StutchburyJanuary 23, 2026

It can feel awkward to wish people a happy Australia Day following our deadliest terrorist...

Progressive Intolerance. The contemporary antisemitism landscape in Australia
Philip MendesJanuary 22, 2026AP98
The evidence is comprehensive and damning. From universities to trade unions, from civil society organisations...
AP51 KURTI experts cover thumbnail
Authority, Expertise And Democracy. Should those who know best rule the rest of us?
Peter KurtiJuly 27, 2023AP51

A. On Heeding Expert Advice During the Covid-19 pandemic, state and territory leaders afforded...

Lessons for liberals from the Anglosphere
Tom SwitzerJune 1, 2023CONNOR COURT

Tom Switzer’s chapter contribution, “Lessons for liberals from the Anglosphere,” in David Steven’s (edited) Dignity...

Bonds of belonging – renewing democracy in an atomised age
Professor Adrian PabstJune 1, 2023OP196

Introduction Liberal democracy is under threat from tech platforms, identity politics, and hostile foreign powers...

ap47 free speech
Free to Speak and Free to Believe? What Australians think about freedom of speech
Peter Kurti, Scott PrasserApril 20, 2023AP47

To what extent do Australians think speech is free in this country? According to polling...

AP46 religion
Faith No More? The inadequacy of Australia’s protections for religious freedom
Elisabeth TaylorApril 6, 2023AP46

Freedom of thought, conscience and religion is inextricably connected to the freedoms of expression, assembly,...

Lord Sumption speaks at the Centre for Independent Studies
Rule of Law in a Time of Crisis: a conversation with Lord Sumption
Lord SumptionNovember 8, 2022OP191
Lord Sumption became what is widely regarded as a brilliant QC before he served as...
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...
Fear after Bondi is putting free speech on trial
Peter KurtiJanuary 14, 2026AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW
Instead of rushing to add new laws to an already swollen statute book, we should...
The royal commission into the Bondi attack should probe the uncomfortable question
Peter Kurti, Michael StutchburyJanuary 10, 2026CANBERRA TIMES
What should Australia have done over the past two years to prevent this moment —...
It is time for good people to act 
Julie ClaridgeDecember 24, 2025ONLINE OPINION
What we saw that Sunday at Bondi not only highlighted the immediate and palpable threats...
Australia’s complacency and the Bondi beach shooting
Peter KurtiDecember 15, 2025WALL STREET JOURNAL
Whether Australia responds to the murders at Bondi with clarity or caution will reveal not...
The Annual Acton Lecture on Religion & Freedom
August 4, 2011
Q&A – Big Ideas Forum – You Can’t Say That: Freedom of Speech & the Invisible Muzzle
August 4, 2011
Dr Oliver Marc Hartwich and Dr Václav Klaus on the Czech President’s 3rd visit to Australia
July 27, 2011
Matt Ridley: The Rational Optimist book talk (with Q&A)
June 18, 2011
Q&A – Peter Saunders – Debunking the equality myth: A critique of ‘The Spirit Level’
June 15, 2011
Peter Saunders – Debunking the equality myth: A critique of ‘The Spirit Level’
June 10, 2011
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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