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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.

Put budget surplus to good use
Robert CarlingSeptember 17, 2007The Australian Financial Reivew

The Howard government’s fiscal strategy, as reiterated in the 2007-08 budget papers, has been to...

It’s always a case of another year, another excuse for not slashing Australia’s tax burden
Alex RobsonSeptember 5, 2007The Canberra Times

There is a famous gag in Charles Schulz’s Peanuts comic strip in which the very...

America will prevail
Lawrence MeadJuly 28, 2007The Australian Financial Review

To read the newspapers, one would believe US power was in steep decline. There are...

University trade-offs for middle classes
Phil RennieJuly 25, 2007The Otago Daily Times

It’s now accepted wisdom that you need a university degree to have a successful and...

Tax Earmarking. Is It Good Practice?
Robert CarlingJuly 16, 2007PM75

This monograph critically analyses the use of earmarked (or ‘hypothecated’) taxes in Australia.  

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Tax circle good for no one
Peter SaundersJuly 10, 2007The Australian

In the past 40 years, our relationship with state and commonwealth governments has been revolutionised....

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 EP73 Governing in the Internet Age
Salvatore Babones, Paul FletcherNovember 3, 2021On Liberty

We talked to Paul Fletcher MP, Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts....

Generations Apart: Richer or Poorer?
Satya Marar, Tom Ballard, Tom SwitzerSeptember 23, 2021

Just as there are no atheists on a sinking ship, there are no free-marketeers in...

Super Guarantee Australia
Simon Cowan, Andrew BraggAugust 24, 2021

CIS welcomed Senator Andrew Bragg to discuss recent Your Future, Your Super, legislation and the...

On Liberty EP60 Bitcoin Volcano
Monica Wilkie, Stephan LiveriaJuly 21, 2021On Liberty

We talked to podcast host, Bitcoin maximalist and co-founder of Ministry of Nodes, Stephan Liveria....

Overcoming economic, cultural and strategic crises
Tom SwitzerJune 28, 2021

Executive Director, Tom Switzer highlights the achievements of CIS as the financial year draws to...

On Liberty EP56 Can Australia succeed in commercialising science?
Salvatore Babones, Bob GrahamJune 23, 2021On Liberty

Australia does a lot of great science, but has a poor record of translating that...

Submission to the inquiry into the Better Targeted Superannuation Concessions and Other Measures Bill
Robert CarlingMay 14, 2024CIS
Submission to the Senate Economics Legislation Committee in relation to its inquiry into the Better...
Submission to the Inquiry into the Transport Oriented Development Program
Peter TulipApril 4, 2024
Housing policy in NSW has been failing. It has relied on setting targets for local...
Submission to the Senate Economics References Committee Inquiry into improving consumer experiences, choice, and outcomes in Australia’s retirement system.
Peter TulipFebruary 12, 2024
Allowing first home buyers to borrow from their superannuation would transform superannuation from an obstacle...
The Rental Crisis. Submission to the Senate Community Affairs Committee
Peter TulipAugust 31, 2023

Rents are too high. This leads to homelessness, rental stress, long commutes, overcrowding, and a...

Rental and Housing Affordability. Submission to the Victorian Legislative Council’s Legal and Social Issues Committee
Peter TulipJuly 17, 2023

We need to relax zoning restrictions to allow more housing. At a society level, this...

The Need for Reform of Land Use Policy: Submission to the Productivity Commission
Peter TulipMarch 23, 2022

This submission focuses strongly on the housing affordability aspect of Australia’s productivity. Submission to the...

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