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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.

Don’t give in to stimulus peer pressure, New Zealand
Luke MalpassFebruary 27, 2009

Fiscal stimulus – everyone’s doing it. Leaders such as Kevin Rudd, Barack Obama and Gordon...

Still no life on Mars
Oliver Marc HartwichFebruary 23, 2009Business Spectator

With much fanfare Channel Ten has just started screening the new series of Life on...

Defending civil society and Prescribed Private Funds
John HumphreysFebruary 20, 2009

In 2008 Australians donated about $13 billion to welfare, health, education, foreign aid, and other...

In Defence of Civil Society: The Virtue of Prescribed Private Funds
John HumphreysFebruary 18, 2009IA107

In 2008 Australians donated about $13 billion to welfare, health, education, foreign aid, and other...

We need to start emissions debate
February 18, 2009The Australian

The Australian Government commissioned, reviewed and reported on an emissions trading system four times in...

Defence of Civil Society: The Virtue of Prescribed Private Funds
February 18, 2009

GOVERNMENT’S PLANS WILL HARM PHILANTHROPIC GIVING ‘The Commonwealth government is looking to change the rules...

Mapping the Indigenous Program and Funding Maze
Sara HudsonAugust 23, 2016Research Report 18

There is much goodwill in Australia to improve Indigenous outcomes. However, too many programs are...

The Role of Think Tanks: A Reply to the Critics
Jeremy SammutJune 13, 2016OP145

Because their aims are educational and democratic, what think tanks do and why they do...

The case against tax increases in Australia: The growing burden
Michael PotterJune 7, 2016Research Report 15

View Interactive Snapshot The tax burden imposed by the Commonwealth Government alone, and by all...

MEDI-VALUE: Health Insurance and Service Innovation in Australia – Implications for the Future of Medicare
Jeremy SammutApril 20, 2016Research Report 14

For healthcare innovation to flourish there needs to be a real market for health services...

Investor-State Arbitration and the Rule of Law: Debunking the Myths
Patrick CarvalhoApril 13, 2016Research Report 13

Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) is a legal provision in international agreements that enables foreign investors...

Taming the Monster: Reforming Personal Income Tax
Robert CarlingApril 5, 2016Research Report 12

Without any change in personal income tax rates or thresholds, the tax burden will increase...

Subsidies, safety nets and stagnation: Australia’s new economic model
Michael StutchburyApril 11, 2026AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW
Protecting one industry imposes a burden on the competitive sectors that actually prop up our...
The mental health system may be making us sicker
Steven SchwartzApril 6, 2026CANBERRA TIMES

Australia has a mental health crisis, but not the one we think. Despite decades of...

Housing negative gearing tax
Reducing the discount would likely not have any lasting impact in lowering house prices
Robert Carling, Michael StutchburyMarch 21, 2026CANBERRA TIMES

Anyone watching the smoke signals from Canberra knows that moves are afoot to try and...

Alarm bells ringing on more interest rate pain
Michael StutchburyMarch 18, 2026DAILY TELEGRAPH
Australians were losing faith that the combination of Labor’s economic policies and the RBA monetary...
Labor’s capital gains tax myths need busting
Robert CarlingMarch 11, 2026DAILY TELEGRAPH

Labor has long held an axe over the capital gains tax 50% discount and negative...

Measuring affordability in time, not dollars paints a different inflation picture
Marian L. TupyMarch 9, 2026CANBERRA TIMES

Even before new Middle East conflict sparked concern about petrol prices, Australia’s latest CPI release...

“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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