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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.

Housing negative gearing tax
The $5b move that could smash house prices
Peter TulipApril 15, 2025AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW
The housing policy promises from the major parties both offer assistance for housing supply, but...
The only thing America liberated itself from was prosperity
Simon CowanApril 5, 2025CANBERRA TIMES
For a policy that is being promoted as good for US businesses, it sure seems...
Old pastime of redistribution, regulation, reckless spending returns
Tom SwitzerMarch 31, 2025AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW
If you’re wondering why this election campaign does not have a clear frontrunner, the lack...
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...
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...

Drowning in a Sea of Diagnoses. How medicalising distress is overwhelming Australia’s mental health system and failing those most in need
Steven SchwartzFebruary 12, 2026AP100

Executive Summary At the centre of Australia’s mental health system lies a paradox. 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...

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...

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 the Inquiry into Housing Affordability and Supply in Australia
Peter TulipSeptember 13, 2021

Submission to the government review into housing affordability in Australia. Housing in Australia is too...

Submission to the Independent Review of the Australian Public Service
Simon Cowan, Eugenie JosephAugust 1, 2018
Submission to the Commitment to the Senate issued by the Business Council of Australia
Robert CarlingApril 11, 2018CIS Submission
Submission to Productivity Commission – Draft report: Introducing Competition and Informed User Choice into Human Services
Michael Potter, Sara HudsonJuly 14, 2017CIS Submission

The Productivity Commission (PC) released a draft report proposing reforms to increased competition, contestability and...

Submission to IPART Review of Social and Affordable Housing Rent Models
Michael PotterMay 15, 2017CIS Submission

In April, IPART released a draft report into models for setting social and affordable housing...

Submission to Senate Economics Committee Inquiry into Corporate Tax Avoidance
Michael PotterApril 19, 2017CIS Submission

Corporate tax avoidance is an issue of some concern to the Australian community. However, many...

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