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• Economic Policy

CIS is guided by the philosophy of global free markets and individual responsibility. Our economic policy research centres on ideas for continuing reform that will strengthen Australia’s economic independence and prosperity, and challenge the over-reach of big government.

Independent is the wrong word for Treasury
Robert CarlingMay 16, 2009

The Treasury’s ‘independence’ has featured in the post-budget commentary. As a former Commonwealth and state...

Federal Budget 2009
May 13, 2009

BUDGET MARKS NEW ERA OF BIG GOVERNMENT   The 2009 Budget sees the biggest increase...

Making things worse
John HumphreysMay 11, 2009Business Spectator

There is an ongoing debate about whether the government’s spending spree is going to work...

Australian libertarians revealed
John HumphreysMay 10, 2009Open Forum

It seems left-wing economic journalist Ross Gittins has just discovered the word ‘libertarian,’ and the...

That 70s Show: Whitlam Era Spending is Back
Stephen KirchnerMay 8, 2009

So much for fiscal conservatives.  The 2009 budget forecasts the biggest expansion in federal government...

It’s all down to the market
Oliver Marc HartwichMay 2, 2009The Australian

Dear David, Budget day is coming up and it's times like these when I realise...

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...

Why We Should Not Increase Capital Gains Tax
Robert CarlingMarch 11, 2026PP64
Debate about capital gains tax rarely occurs in isolation. It typically emerges during periods of...
10 CGT Myths Busted
Robert CarlingMarch 11, 2026IA155

The criticisms and characterisation of the 50% capital gains tax discount over many years have...

Growth that Builds: Beyond the immigration blame game 
Marian L. TupyMarch 5, 2026PP63
This paper argues that Australia’s housing crisis is primarily a supply failure, not simply a...
Reform of Heritage Legislation
Peter TulipFebruary 26, 2026PP62

Introduction Several states have recently overhauled their planning legislation. However, the flaws in their heritage...

Hours, Not Dollars: Rethinking the cost-of-living debate 
Marian L. TupyFebruary 23, 2026AP102

Executive Summary Public debate about the ‘cost-of-living crisis’ often confuses nominal price increases with declining...

The true lesson Aussies should learn from Trump’s victory
Simon CowanNovember 16, 2024CANBERRA TIMES

Since the US election result confirmed Donald Trump would re-enter the White House in triumph,...

Hayek-Friedrich road to serfdom
This book changed the world. The West needs to read it again
Tom SwitzerOctober 9, 2024AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW

The Austrian economist and intellectual Friedrich Hayek was a victim of cancel culture long before...

Capital gains cracks return to haunt Labor
Simon CowanOctober 7, 2024CANBERRA TIMES

Labor’s obsession with negative gearing and capital gains tax changes has reared its head yet...

Housing negative gearing tax
Negative gearing barely affects the price of houses in the market
Robert CarlingSeptember 27, 2024THE AUSTRALIAN

As a rule, if you tax something more you will end up with less of...

The fundamental problem with government’s housing reforms
Peter Tulip, Simon CowanSeptember 21, 2024CANBERRA TIMES

The government has dialled up the rhetoric about its housing reforms being blocked by the...

Government spending needs reform before taxes
Robert CarlingSeptember 18, 2024SPECTATOR

I would like a dollar for every time I’ve read how much the Australian economy...

“The 50% discount is unfair” and other CGT myths | Robert Carling & Michael Stutchbury
Robert Carling, Michael StutchburyMarch 11, 2026

The criticisms and characterization of the 50% capital gains tax discount over many years have...

The Case for Optimism: More People, More Ideas, More Wealth | Marian Tupy
Marian L. Tupy, Michael StutchburyMarch 6, 2026

Marian Tupy — editor of HumanProgress.org, senior fellow at the Cato Institute, and co-author of...

Old buildings and the housing crisis with Peter Tulip
Peter TulipMarch 4, 2026

Peter Tulip explains how several states have recently overhauled their planning legislation. However, the flaws...

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...

Reflecting Back: John Howard and Alexander Downer on Power, Alliances and Australia
John Howard OM AC, Alexander DownerFebruary 6, 2026

Alexander Downer and former Prime Minister John Howard join author Tony Parkinson and CIS Executive...

‘NIMBYism is a cancer’: Bragg outlines housing policy vision with Peter Tulip & Michael Stutchbury
Andrew Bragg, Peter Tulip, Michael StutchburyDecember 12, 2025

Senator Andrew Bragg and economist Peter Tulip join Michael Stutchbury for a wide-ranging conversation on...

Submission to Senate Inquiry into Illegal Tobacco Crisis in Australia
Michael StutchburyJanuary 15, 2026
The federal government should pause increases in tobacco excise to weaken the profit of the...
Submission to Senate Education and Employment References Committee
Michael Wu October 22, 2025CIS

Despite good intentions, Australia’s Early Childhood Education and Care system has expanded well beyond its...

Submission to Productivity Commission’s Investing in cheaper, cleaner energy and the net zero transformation Interim Report
September 15, 2025

The Productivity Commission’s statement that careful emissions reduction policy design will enable gains in productivity...

Submission to Heritage NSW
Peter TulipJuly 18, 2025CIS

This submission argues that NSW’s heritage legislation has serious flaws. In particular, costs of listing...

Submission to Victorian Legislative Council Select Committee Inquiry
Peter TulipMay 5, 2025CIS

Victoria Planning Provisions Amendments VC257, VC267 and VC274: Submission to Victorian Legislative Council Select Committee...

Submission to the Inquiry into financial regulation and home ownership
Peter TulipOctober 15, 2024
Regulation of the financial system is needed to protect depositors and avoid financial crises. However,...
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