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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 tax cut that will only buy you a coffee
Robert CarlingMarch 27, 2025AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW
The Labor government appears to have chosen a cut confined to the lowest rate so...
Here’s why forcing workers back to the office won’t have the desired effect
Simon CowanMarch 22, 2025CANBERRA TIMES

Working from home is sneakily becoming one of the biggest emerging fault-lines in our society....

Indexation would end the stealth tax of bracket creep 
Gene TunnyMarch 17, 2025AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW
In Australia, bracket creep has become a silent but significant burden on taxpayers, eroding real...
Super for Housing
Matthew Taylor, Peter TulipMarch 13, 2025RR50

  1. Summary and Introduction This paper discusses a proposal that home buyers be enabled...

Time to do away with this insidious tax hurting us all
Simon CowanMarch 8, 2025CANBERRA TIMES
Bracket creep is caused by the inflation and its interaction with our progressive tax system....
Less Crowded Houses. NZ’s housing policy success and implications for Australia
Emilie DyeFebruary 28, 2025

While house prices in Australia went up by more than 8% in 2023, prices in...

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...

Senate inquiry misunderstands company tax
Simon CowanMay 4, 2018Ideas@TheCentre

Company tax is one of the most economically harmful taxes and in global terms Australia...

How to get more than a milkshake and burger from tax cuts
Robert CarlingApril 30, 2018The Australian Financial Review

The Turnbull government has talked up the prospects for personal income tax cuts in the...

Time to call ‘it’s a wrap’ on Aussie film subsidies
Eugenie JosephApril 29, 2018The Spectator

The Australian screen industry’s recent ‘Make it Australian’ campaign – complete with petition signed by...

Budget will determine Turnbull-Abbott legacy
Simon CowanApril 28, 2018The Sydney Morning Herald

After all the political upheaval of the last nine months — from citizenship dramas to...

Market dominance might be good for consumers
Charles JacobsApril 27, 2018Ideas@TheCentre

The phrases monopoly, duopoly and oligopoly typically rouse fear in the hearts of the public....

The tax cut menu
Robert CarlingApril 20, 2018Ideas@TheCentre

With the Turnbull government raising expectations of personal income tax cuts in the forthcoming budget,...

“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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