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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 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...

Former treasurer Josh Frydenberg makes a point during the panel discussion with Lorraine Finlay and Ronald Sackville
Bondi’s profound meanings
Michael StutchburyApril 2, 2026

I introduced our profoundly-insightful ‘After Bondi’ event on Wednesday evening by asking how the Middle...

Media on Parnell McGuinness and Marian Tupy papers, Peter Tulip housing views, Aidan Morrison fuel price views
March 27, 2026

Economists found a ‘give up’ cliff. Young Australians are teetering — Australian Financial Review The...

More coverage of Parnell McGuinness and Marian Tupy papers
March 23, 2026

Australian Government needs to offer empowerment not pallatives to young people — The Nightly Another...

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...

Michael Stutchbury says Australians have lost faith in RBA: Sky News
March 18, 2026

Australians have ‘lost faith’ in RBA after second rate rise — Sky News Centre for...

The six fundamental flaws underpinning the energy transition
Zoe Hilton, Aidan Morrison, Alex Bainton, Michael Wu May 2, 2024AP67
This paper focuses on the question of how Australians have been led to believe two...
The Truth About The Tax Burden
Robert CarlingApril 4, 2024PP56
While the focus is usually on income tax paid to the federal government, the reality...
Bracket Creep: Raiding our wallets
Matthew Taylor, Robert CarlingMarch 25, 2024RR48
Tax increases are built into Australia’s personal income tax policy by default. In fact, in...
Housing Affordability and Supply Restrictions
Peter TulipFebruary 8, 2024PP55
This paper describes the evidence of large effects of planning restrictions on housing affordability. This...
Housing is becoming a pipe dream for young Australians
Emilie DyeFebruary 6, 2024IA149
Housing affordability remains one of Australia’s clearest — and most frequently cited — examples of...
Australia’s post-pandemic public debt: is there still a problem?
Robert CarlingFebruary 5, 2024PP54
This report provides an update of the public debt situation and outlook based on the...
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...

Blame diagnostic inflation for the NDIS’ $10b Autism bill
Steven SchwartzMarch 5, 2026AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW

As recently reported in The Australian Financial Review, autism costs the National Disability Insurance Scheme...

From $43B to $70B: The NBN Disaster and Off-Budget Deception
November 27, 2025

Ever wondered how governments keep massive spending hidden from the public eye? In this eye-opening...

Peter Costello on the Legacy of Reform and the Road Ahead
Peter CostelloNovember 7, 2025

From economic reform and rising government spending to cultural shifts and the decline of liberalism,...

Coalition’s vision for economic & productivity reform | Sussan Ley & Michael Stutchbury
October 22, 2025

At this Centre for Independent Studies lunch forum on 20 October 2025, Opposition Leader Sussan...

Consumer Choice, Risk & Safety with Fred Roeder and Michael Stutchbury
Michael StutchburyOctober 20, 2025

Where is the line between risk and regulation? In this episode of The Stutchbury Sessions,...

How Australia Lost Its Economic Edge
Michael StutchburyOctober 10, 2025

Australia’s economy is slowing. Productivity has flatlined, debt is soaring, and growth has frozen. What...

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...

Submission to the Productivity Commission 5 year productivity review: Increasing Australia’s Future Prosperity
Michael PotterDecember 15, 2016CIS Submission

The submission by CIS Research Fellow Michael Potter argues: An excellent productivity boosting agenda is...

Submission to the Productivity Commission on the Preliminary Findings Report: Introducing Competition and Informed User Choice into Human Services: Identifying Sectors for Reform
Sara HudsonOctober 27, 2016CIS Submission

To improve Indigenous outcomes, there needs to be better management of overall funding and a...

Submission to Senate Inquiry on Treasury Laws Amendment (Enterprise Tax Plan) Bill 2016
Michael PotterOctober 3, 2016CIS Submission

The submission by CIS Research Fellow Michael Potter provides a detailed case for a reduction...

Submission to the Senate Inquiry into Enterprise Tax Plan Bill 2016
Michael PotterSeptember 30, 2016CIS Submission

The growing company tax burden contrasts with the state of the economy, which is showing...

Productivity Commission Inquiry Into Introducing Competition and Informed User Choice into Human Services: Submission in response to issues paper
Trisha JhaJuly 1, 2016CIS Submission

The Human Services Inquiry is ‘examining policy options in the human services sector that incorporate...

Principles and recommendations for tax reform – CIS submission National Reform Summit
Simon Cowan, Robert Carling, Henry ErgasAugust 27, 2015CIS Submission

The slant towards cutting taxes before 2010 was welcome, but for such an approach to...

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