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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.

Yes, the public service can be more efficient. But it won’t solve all our woes
Simon CowanJanuary 11, 2025THE CANBERRA TIMES

Even though the words of Auld Lang Syne have disappeared once again into the leaking...

Mining industry foes would leave us with fewer roads, hospitals and schools
Gene TunnyJanuary 10, 2025DAILY TELEGRAPH

Coal and gas royalty payments from mining companies are a major revenue stream for state...

Voters across the world are resentful, angry and lashing out
Simon CowanDecember 28, 2024CANBERRA TIMES
This year’s biggest losers have been political incumbents. Across the world, voters have been punishing...
This childcare overhaul will actually do very little for parents
Simon CowanDecember 14, 2024CANBERRA TIMES

The news this week that the Prime Minister has committed to abolishing the activity test...

CIS Impact Report
December 13, 2024

Publications reached a record this year, with the release of 37 research papers plus 20...

Gorillas In The Mist. How government obscures its spending
Gene TunnyNovember 21, 2024PP59

Executive Summary Government overreach: The federal government’s planned $78 billion of off-budget measures over the...

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...

Decoding Science: Navigating Imperfections, Truths, and Challenges in COVID
Matt Ridley, Peter KurtiDecember 14, 2023

CIS welcomed Matt Ridley for a thought-provoking discussion on the critical role of Government in...

bracket creep, emilie dye, tax, hidden tax, bracket, tax bracket
Bracket Creep Explained: The hidden tax cutting into your earnings
Emilie Dye, Randall EvansDecember 12, 2023

Bracket Creep Explained: The hidden tax cutting into your earnings. Bracket creep chips away at...

Free to Grow: Unlocking Economic Prosperity
Professor John H. Cochrane, Gene TunnyNovember 29, 2023

On Tuesday, 26 September CIS hosted a special evening featuring Professor John Cochrane for a...

If everything was working out for everyone it would be a Miracle! Marian Tupy | Fraser Nelson
Fraser Nelson, Marian Tupy, Tom SwitzerNovember 10, 2023

This special event featured Marian Tupy and Fraser Nelson in a thought-provoking conversation, led by...

The New Superannuation Tax Targets Your Savings
Robert CarlingJuly 30, 2023
Complex tax changes always have unintended consequences, but in this case it is difficult to...
A million extra homes won’t fix housing affordability!
Maya KuranaJuly 23, 2023
The budget's announcement of one million houses over the next five years will do very...
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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