Become a Member Donate Now

• 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.

The Free Market Case Against Voluntary Student Unionism (But for Voluntary Student Representation)
Andrew NortonAugust 31, 2005IA62

Introducing ‘voluntary student unionism’ (VSU) into Australia’s universities would do two things: It would make...

Marginal Rate a Major Turn-Off
Sinclair DavidsonAugust 29, 2005The Australian Financial Review

Over the past few years, a blizzard of argument and statistics has confronted the general...

The Costs of Taxation
Alex RobsonAugust 21, 2005PM68

Taxation generates various administrative, evasion, compliance and rent-seeking costs. The Australian Taxation Office employs over...

Parties in a state of voluntary confusion
August 13, 2005

`The Liberals are spending political capital to abolish a near redundant fee' A quick quiz:...

The Road to Work: Freeing Up the Labour Market
Kayoko TsumoriJuly 15, 2005PM64

This monograph outlines a framework for a more flexible, deregulated labour market which could strengthen...

Six Arguments in Favour of Self-Funding
Peter SaundersJuly 14, 2005IA61

This report is the second in a series of three titled ‘Restoring Self-Reliance in Welfare.’...

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...

Drowning in a Sea of Diagnoses. How medicalising distress is overwhelming Australia’s mental health system and failing those most in need
Steven SchwartzFebruary 12, 2026AP100

Executive Summary At the centre of Australia’s mental health system lies a paradox. Government...

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...

Hammer nails
Facts are smashing the government, not the RBA
Simon Cowan, Robert CarlingSeptember 7, 2024CANBERRA TIMES

The government’s low-key campaign to influence RBA decisions on interest rates flared into open conflict...

“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,...
No Podcasts Available

• Subscribe

Subscribe now and stay in the loop with our giving appeals, event alerts, newsletters and research updates.

We are always pleased to hear from you. If you have any questions or feedback, please contact us here:

+61 2 9438 4377
CIS Office
cis@cis.org.au
CIS Media
kpincott@cis.org.au