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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.

Coverage of Marian Tupy’s paper about time prices on ABC radio and others
February 25, 2026

Marian Tupy spoke to ABC news radio re his paper on time prices The $40,000...

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...

New CIS paper: measuring ‘hours’ not ‘dollars’ challenges conventional cost-of-living narrative
Marian L. TupyFebruary 23, 2026

Public debate about the cost of living is based on a misunderstanding of how living...

Robert Carling on CGT, and more
February 23, 2026

Rents will surge if CGT discount goes, warns REIA — AFR Former NSW Treasury official...

Taylor backs reform path to prosperity
Michael StutchburyFebruary 20, 2026
Taylor laid out the sort of orthodox economic reform agenda required to shore up Australia’s...
Coverage of CIS paper on tobacco excise, and more
February 20, 2026

Prohibitive Puffing: How Australia’s Tobacco Excise Produced Crime – Scoop NZ A paper by the...

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...

social security written on typewriter
Pocock’s inclusion committee another blow to fiscal discipline
Robert CarlingNovember 30, 2022AFR

The deal between the Albanese government and Senator David Pocock to get the industrial relations...

Union influence
Why the system necessary for union influence to be effective has fallen away
Simon CowanNovember 19, 2022CANBERRA TIMES

With upcoming state elections in NSW and Victoria, not to mention the election of a...

Diamonds netball team
Visit Victoria’s bailout of Netball Australia turns activism into a political move
Simon CowanNovember 5, 2022CANBERRA TIMES

The saga of Netball Australia’s initial failed partnership with Hancock Prospecting, and its subsequent replacement...

Empty plate
Budget brings nothing new to the table
Robert CarlingOctober 28, 2022EPOCH TIMES

What Treasurer Jim Chalmers tabled on Tuesday night was not a budget in the traditional...

A million extra homes won’t fix affordability headache
Peter TulipOctober 27, 2022SMH

The budget’s announcement of one million houses over the next five years will do very...

Raise taxes
Why we can’t just raise taxes, as Stage 3 tax cut debate rages
Simon CowanOctober 22, 2022CANBERRA TIMES

We should take proposals to raise taxes seriously — not least because the Labor party...

“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 the inquiry into the Better Targeted Superannuation Concessions and Other Measures Bill
Robert CarlingMay 14, 2024CIS
Submission to the Senate Economics Legislation Committee in relation to its inquiry into the Better...
Submission to the Inquiry into the Transport Oriented Development Program
Peter TulipApril 4, 2024
Housing policy in NSW has been failing. It has relied on setting targets for local...
Submission to the Senate Economics References Committee Inquiry into improving consumer experiences, choice, and outcomes in Australia’s retirement system.
Peter TulipFebruary 12, 2024
Allowing first home buyers to borrow from their superannuation would transform superannuation from an obstacle...
The Rental Crisis. Submission to the Senate Community Affairs Committee
Peter TulipAugust 31, 2023

Rents are too high. This leads to homelessness, rental stress, long commutes, overcrowding, and a...

Rental and Housing Affordability. Submission to the Victorian Legislative Council’s Legal and Social Issues Committee
Peter TulipJuly 17, 2023

We need to relax zoning restrictions to allow more housing. At a society level, this...

The Need for Reform of Land Use Policy: Submission to the Productivity Commission
Peter TulipMarch 23, 2022

This submission focuses strongly on the housing affordability aspect of Australia’s productivity. Submission to the...

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