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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.

A Short History of Liberalism in the Middle East | Joshua Landis
Robert ForsythJanuary 14, 2026

In this episode of Liberalism in Question, we dive deep into the complex and often...

Marian Tupy: More People, More Ideas, More Abundance – Sydney
Peter Kurti, Marian TupyJanuary 13, 2026
Join Marian Tupy & Peter Kurti for data-driven optimism. Why human ingenuity and free markets...
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 —...
Trump and the red wave | Dave Rubin
Robert Forsyth, Dave RubinJanuary 6, 2026

From Donald Trump to the lockdowns, Dave Rubin sits down with Robert Forsyth to discuss...

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...
The Tradition of Liberty | Senator James Paterson
Robert Forsyth, James PatersonDecember 23, 2025

Senator James Paterson joins Liberalism in Question to discuss the core principles of classical liberalism...

The Ethics of Economic Freedom
Herbert GierschMarch 3, 1989OP24

An economic order is always based on a certian set of moral principles. This applies...

Endangered Freedom
Thomas SowellNovember 1, 1988OP22

In the fifth John Bonython Lecture, Thomas Sowell argues that public life in Western countries...

The Long Debate on Poverty
R.M. HartwellMay 10, 1988OP21

The Centre for Independent Studies Occasional Papers series provides an opportunity for authors to present...

Social Welfare: The Changing Debate
David GreenMay 5, 1988OP20

The Centre for Independent Studies Social Welfare Program has commissioned studies by qualified economists and...

The Enemies of Progress
Ralph HarrisJuly 4, 1986OP16

Why is it that politicians of all parties still shrink from giving enterprise, competition and...

Policies and Prescriptions: Current Directions in Health Policy
Cotton M. Lindsay, Michael A. Walker, John Logan, John Goodman, Andrew Doman, J. RichardsonMay 1, 1986PF4

As Professor Cotton Lindsay reminds us in his first contribution to this volume, health economics...

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...
Trump’s Tariffs Hurt Consumers | Johan Norberg
Robert Forsyth, Johan NorbergApril 9, 2025

Author and historian of ideas Johan Norberg dives into Donald Trump’s tariffs, the ongoing challenges...

Double Standards: Rabbi Elton’s analysis of antisemitism past and present
Peter Kurti, Doctor Benjamin Elton April 3, 2025

In our 2025 Acton Lecture, Rabbi Dr. Benjamin Elton analyses antisemitism’s persistence from medieval times...

The History of Liberalism (Part 2) | Simon Heffer
Robert Forsyth, Simon HefferApril 2, 2025

In this episode of Liberalism in Question, Rob sits down with historian and journalist Simon...

Biological reality vs progressive ideals | Louise Perry & Claire Lehmann
Louise Perry, Claire Lehmann, Tom SwitzerMarch 28, 2025

In this discussion hosted by ‪@CISAus‬ & ‪@Quillette‬ , British author Louise Perry (of ‪@maidenmothermatriarch‬)...

The History of Liberalism (Part 1) | Simon Heffer
Simon Heffer, Robert ForsythMarch 24, 2025

In this episode of Liberalism in Question, Rob sits down with historian and journalist Simon...

Word Crimes: The Biggest Grammar Mistakes We All Make – With Simon Heffer
Tom Switzer, Simon HefferMarch 13, 2025

The Key to Good Writing: Clarity. Many people struggle with correct English—do you? If you...

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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