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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.

Negative gearing debate off track
Michael PotterMay 11, 2016The Australian

The Reserve Bank is a cautious organisation and averse to fuelling speculation. So it is...

There’s real choice in this election
Simon CowanMay 10, 2016ABC The Drum

In recent elections, opposition and government candidates alike tried to make themselves as small a...

The existential dilemma facing Simon Birmingham
Jennifer Buckingham OAMMay 10, 2016Sydney Morning Herald

Budget time creates somewhat of an existential dilemma for federal education ministers, especially those of...

Tax burden still increasing
Michael PotterMay 6, 2016Ideas@TheCentre

Despite the Budget rhetoric, almost nothing has been done to stop the steep increase in...

Superannuation changes target ‘fairness’ not independence
Simon CowanMay 6, 2016Ideas@TheCentre

On Thursday, superannuation expert Jeremy Cooper tweeted that “the super concessional cap changes are about...

Youth employment: The good, the bad and the ugly
Patrick CarvalhoMay 6, 2016Ideas@TheCentre

The Budget measures aiming at solving youth unemployment are an improvement on previous programmes, but...

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...

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...

On Liberty EP102 2022 Federal Budget Recap Part 2
Simon Cowan, John KehoeNovember 2, 2022On Liberty
Guest host Simon Cowan reenters the budget bunker to discuss the second federal budget in...
The New Federal Liberal Party Economic Agenda
Angus Taylor, Tom SwitzerOctober 6, 2022
We welcomed Federal Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor to discuss the new economic agenda for the...
On Liberty EP96 Is the property bubble bursting?
Eliza Owen, Salvatore BabonesAugust 3, 2022On Liberty
Salvatore Babones returns to discuss the future of housing and rental prices with Eliza Owen...
Diplomatic: A Washington Memoir Book Launch
Joe Hockey, James Morrow, Simon CowanApril 21, 2022
CIS welcomed former Treasurer and Australian Ambassador to the US Joe Hockey to launch his...
On Liberty EP84 2022 Federal Budget Recap
Mikayla Novak, Simon CowanMarch 30, 2022On Liberty

As this year’s election looms, the 2022 federal budget maybe the last chance the federal...

Where is Australia headed?
Nicholas Moore, Tom Switzer, Robert ForsythFebruary 18, 2022

There are good reasons to be distressed about the state of today’s world and Australia’s...

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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