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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.

The taxation of shared family incomes
Terry DwyerApril 1, 2004PM61

The amount of individual income tax we pay depends on two things—marginal tax rates and...

Sweet and Sour Pork Barrelling: The Case of Queensland Sugar
Alex RobsonMarch 25, 2004IA45

The Queensland sugar industry is once again pleading for government assistance. Cane farmers claim they...

The Tax Wilderness – How to Restore the Rule of Law
Geoffrey de Quincey WalkerMarch 18, 2004PM60

The importance of Geoffrey Walker’s paper is that it shows the price we are paying...

Who pays the lion’s share of personal income tax?
Sinclair DavidsonMarch 1, 2004PM63

In the fourth in a series of short Policy Monographs which aims to consider various...

How Union Campaigns on Hours and Casuals are Threatening Low-skilled Jobs
Kayoko TsumoriJanuary 22, 2004IA44

For several years now Australian unions have been waging campaigns to limit working hours and...

Poor Laws (3) How to Reform the Award System and Create More Jobs
Kayoko TsumoriNovember 10, 2003IA41

Despite the hype about enterprise bargaining and the individualisation of employment arrangements since the early...

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...

Fines and freedoms
Simon CowanApril 16, 2020Ideas@TheCentre

When a learner driver is fined more than $1,650 for ‘non-essential travel’ by going for...

Students are starting school online this week – only to face a Ruddy mess
Glenn FaheyApril 14, 2020Spectator

Nobody could have predicted the demands of this year’s schooling transformation, but we could —...

The Koronavirus Keystone Kops threaten our health and our liberty
Robert CarlingApril 14, 2020Spectator

In the space of just a few weeks, the rule of law in Australia has...

Have we given up our individual freedoms too easily?
Simon CowanApril 11, 2020Canberra Times

When a learner driver is fined more than $1650 for “non-essential travel” by going for...

Wait until we emerge from shelter – and see the economic damage done
Robert CarlingApril 9, 2020Spectator

If we think of coronavirus as a severe tropical cyclone, when it passes and we...

Coronavirus: Road map needed for getting back to work
Salvatore BabonesApril 3, 2020The Australian

We all hope social distancing is saving lives, but there is no doubt that it...

“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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