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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.

March Appeal CIS Newsletter
March 16, 2026

Taylor pressed on trade, migration and the limits of government Michael Stutchbury sat down with...

After Bondi: The Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion: What Must It Achieve?
Lorraine Finlay, Peter Kurti, Josh Frydenberg, Ronald Sackville AO KCMarch 10, 2026
After Bondi: What must the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion achieve?...
We can’t avoid the Middle East fallout
Michael StutchburyMarch 6, 2026

While Australia is not directly involved, Donald Trump’s bombing war on Iran’s theocratic despots shows...

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...

Humankind and the infinite resource base
Marian L. TupyApril 2, 2026OP212

This paper examines the human ability to expand our resource base into infinity. Given human...

The Legislative Fantasy. Hate Speech, Culture, and Institutional Failure
Dimitri BurshteinMarch 26, 2026AP103

Foreword The Bondi Beach attack of 14 December 2025 forced a reckoning that many Australians...

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...

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...
Reframing an Ancient Hatred: the intersection of left-wing antisemitism and anti-Zionism
Julie ClaridgeDecember 11, 2025AP97
Anti-Zionism has evolved to create a further mutation of antisemitism, cloaking bias and discrimination in...
Political legitimacy, harm protections and our freedoms
Paul TaylorNovember 10, 2025OP211
This article considers different concepts of ‘legitimacy’ and their contribution to understanding the difference between...
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...
Ron Manners on the Power of Individualism
Robert Forsyth, Ron Manners AO, Randall EvansNovember 14, 2024

In this episode of Liberalism in Question, we are joined by Australian businessman, entrepreneur, and...

The real role of prisons: A critical look at justice, rehabilitation, and public safety
Charlie Taylor, Peter KurtiNovember 7, 2024

Join Charlie Taylor is the HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for a discussion on role...

The Sexual Revolution & the Role of Families in a Liberal Democracy | Mary Eberstadt
Robert Forsyth, Mary EberstadtOctober 24, 2024

n this compelling interview, Robert Forsyth engages in a deep conversation with Mary Eberstadt, acclaimed...

The Tension Between Freedom, Liberty, and Responsibility | David Kinley
Robert Forsyth, Randall EvansOctober 23, 2024

In this episode of Liberalism in Question, David Kinley, Chair of Human Rights Law at...

The Social and Political Effects of the Sexual Revolution | Mary Eberstadt
Peter Kurti, Mary EberstadtOctober 22, 2024

This video explores the impact of the sexual revolution on society, politics, and Christianity. It...

How do we determine truth? | Andrew Bell
Peter Kurti, Andrew BellOctober 11, 2024

In the 21st Acton Lecture, hosted by the Centre for Independent Studies, the Honourable Andrew...

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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