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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.

A Tribute to the Modest Member: Bert Kelly
Ray EvansJune 1, 1997OP60

Bert Kelly was for many years a lone parliamentary campaigner for free market ideas and...

State of the Nation: Statistical Indicators of Australia’s Well-being (1997)
Lucy Sullivan, Barry Maley, Michael WarbyApril 1, 1997SP01

Australia today is very different from the Australia of 100 years ago, or 50 years...

Reforming Central Banking
Stephen KirchnerMarch 1, 1997PM36

   

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Markets, Morals and Community
October 1, 1996OP59

Few people today doubt the market’s contribution to prosperity, but still there are powerful intellectual...

Institutions of Innovation and Prosperity
Ray BallAugust 27, 1996OP58
Western nations benefit from social institutions that create prosperity & liberty. Our future prosperity depends...
The Boundaries of Life’s Responsibilities- Community and Nation in a Global Environment
Gary SturgessJuly 1, 1996OP57

Globalisation means increasing international influence on domestic life. Australians are selling and buying more on...

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...

Tax rises are not savings
Simon CowanMay 17, 2013

As we made clear in our TARGET30 foundation report, government spending has increased rapidly over...

Gillard Deal Risks NDIS Timebomb
Andrew BakerMay 13, 2013The Australian Financial Review

In its eagerness to lock in the funding and governance arrangements for the National Disability...

Prospects for NDIS blowout
Andrew BakerMay 10, 2013

The Centre for Independent Studies has played a leading role in the debate on the...

How to save the health system
Jeremy SammutMay 3, 2013

This week, the CIS released the third TARGET30 report on Australia’s unsustainable health system. The...

Funding students based on Indigeneity demeaning and wasteful
Helen Hughes, Mark HughesMay 3, 2013

The Labor government’s education proposal adds grants for Indigenous students on top of the Gonski...

Fiscal fixes
Robert CarlingMay 3, 2013

Everyone now agrees the nation’s public finances are in need of repair, but not on...

“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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