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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.

State Tax Reform: Progress and Prospects
Robert CarlingMarch 10, 2008PM82

This paper analyses the state taxation issues in further detail. After reviewing various reform options,...

The politics of the big number
Robert CarlingFebruary 27, 2008The Australian Financial Review

True or false? The Commonwealth budget surplus is $62 billion. The Prime Minister’s salary is...

Cut the minimum wage to expand low skilled employment
Peter SaundersFebruary 18, 2008The Australian Finanacial Review

The Rudd government has set up a new board, Skills Australia, to spend a billion...

Saving the long term jobless
Peter SaundersFebruary 16, 2008Online Opinion

It is ten years since the federal government shut down the Commonwealth Employment Service and...

What are Low Ability Workers To Do When Unskilled Jobs Disappear? Part 2
Peter SaundersFebruary 14, 2008IA93

Part 2: Expanding Low-skilled Employment One reason working-age welfare dependency remains high is that the...

Use tax cuts to boost super
Robert CarlingJanuary 16, 2008The Australian Financial Review

The Rudd government’s commitment to personal income tax cuts from July 2008 is being questioned...

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...

RBA’s lack of interest
Peter TulipFebruary 12, 2021IDEAS@THECENTRE

At last Friday’s Parliamentary hearing, the RBA’s performance was disappointing. It appeared reluctant to consider...

The Reserve Bank needs accountability that only external scrutiny can provide
Peter TulipFebruary 11, 2021Pearls and Irritations

The RBA is failing to meet its statutory objectives. Underlying inflation has fallen below the...

Using political logic, quarantines, border closures and lockdowns may never end
Steven SchwartzFebruary 9, 2021Spectator

The recent knee-jerk lockdown has sparked more discussion about the ‘value’ of a human life....

Let them build solar panels
Glenn FaheyFebruary 5, 2021IDEAS@THECENTRE

While politically inconvenient, and sometimes imparting short-term pain for workers, labour market churn is crucial...

Follow NSW on virus response
Simon CowanFebruary 5, 2021IDEAS@THECENTRE

NSW has now recorded 18 straight days of zero local COVID transmissions and announced further...

It’s time for states to learn from pandemic management successes
Simon CowanJanuary 30, 2021Canberra Times

On Wednesday, NSW recorded its 10th straight day of zero local COVID-19 transmissions and announced...

“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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