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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 end of cash for diagnosis? Now that would be a good thing
Steven SchwartzAugust 28, 2025THE AUSTRALIAN
The Albanese government’s plan to divert children with mild developmental delays out of the NDIS...
Housing Reform in NSW & New Zealand | Chris Minns, Chris Bishop & Peter Tulip
Peter TulipAugust 28, 2025

At this Centre for Independent Studies forum, NSW Premier Chris Minns and New Zealand Housing...

Productivity roundtable’s uncertain impact. What was the point?
Simon CowanAugust 23, 2025CANBERRA TIMES
Surely it was not the 10 supposed reform directions, some of which contradict the others...
degrowth
Summit must end national complacency about Australia’s prosperity
Michael StutchburyAugust 18, 2025AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW
The Economic Reform Roundtable should commit to making Australia an aspirational and enterprise-driven, high-growth nation...
Our Prosperity is Slipping Away: Submission to Economic Reform Roundtable 
August 18, 2025AP87

 Introduction As Reserve Bank deputy governor Andrew Hauser noted last year, it can be...

Addressing Australia’s Productivity Problem. CORE Blueprint to Unshackle Productivity
Jim CoxAugust 14, 2025AP86

Introduction There is no one action that will lift Australia’s dwindling productivity growth; it is...

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...

Homeless require the intervention of real help, not ideology
Carlos d’AbreraDecember 12, 2018The Australian

It’s more than a year since the ­infamous Martin Place tent city was dismantled in...

The benefits of making super voluntary might be substantial
Simon CowanDecember 8, 2018The Sydney Morning Herald

It is becoming ever more difficult to avoid the conclusion that Australia’s superannuation system has...

Fiscal discipline as a victim of political disruption
Robert CarlingDecember 7, 2018Ideas@TheCentre

It is often said that Australians have become complacent about what is needed to maintain...

Proclaiming the good news on capitalism
Eugenie JosephNovember 30, 2018Ideas@TheCentre

It is clear that capitalism is having a moral crisis, when even Jacinda Ardern, the...

Budget surplus?
Simon CowanNovember 30, 2018Ideas@TheCentre

The government has announced that the next Budget will deliver a surplus: the first in...

Why the ABC’s plans for unrestrained growth diminish the entire sector
Simon CowanNovember 29, 2018Crikey

It is something of an article of faith on the right of politics that the...

“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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