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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.

Jim Chalmers
Holes appear as Treasurer tries to convince with verbal flourishes
Simon CowanMay 4, 2024CANBERRA TIMES

The more detail we get on the government’s Future Made in Australia plans, the more...

The six fundamental flaws underpinning the energy transition
Zoe Hilton, Aidan Morrison, Alex Bainton, Michael Wu May 2, 2024AP67
This paper focuses on the question of how Australians have been led to believe two...
Back to the future: Labor revives failed policies of the past
Simon CowanApril 22, 2024CANBERRA TIMES

The federal government’s planned Future Made in Australia Act is just the latest example of...

The NDIS is out of control | John Kehoe
John Kehoe, Tom SwitzerApril 9, 2024

The Australian economy has performed better than most economists predicted a year ago. However, probe...

Raise taxes
Why Australian tax reform is doomed to fail
Simon CowanApril 6, 2024CANBERRA TIMES

Ken Henry has issued another call this week for government to pick up the long-abandoned...

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...
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...

We’re about to pay the price for lazy policy with inflation
Simon CowanJune 18, 2022The Canberra Times

The Fair Work Commission (FWC) wage decision — and the government’s response to it —...

budget black hole
No budget black hole, except Labor’s spending
Robert CarlingJune 1, 2022FINANCIAL REVIEW

Labor hasn’t inherited any hidden budget black hole surprises. It is spending monuments created in...

A mini budget soon after the election could reset Australia’s economic outlook
Simon CowanMay 21, 2022Canberra Times

This week’s economic data was definitely a mixed bag for the government, at least from...

Election Housing Policies, Getting Close but Still No Cigar
Peter TulipMay 17, 2022Epoch Times

The Australian election campaign has seen a flurry of new proposals for dealing with the...

How to reverse Whitlam-sized growth in government
Robert CarlingMay 8, 2022Australian Financial Review

The day before news broke that inflation had surged to 5 per cent, the Australian...

Wages growth boost would boost government’s election hopes
Simon CowanMay 7, 2022Canberra Times

This week, the Reserve Bank increased interest rates by 0.25%. This comes in response to...

“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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