20 June 2018
Victorian Parliament Must Reject Andrews’ Electoral Bill
The Institute of Public Affairs has today urged Victorian Members of Parliament to oppose the Victorian Electoral Legislation Amendment Bill 2018, which is an undemocratic and wasteful attack on free speech, which would squeeze out minor parties and entrench the two-party system. The IPA’s Parliamentary Research Brief, authored by IPA Research Fellow, Gideon Rozner, was sent to all Members of
22 May 2018
Why We Must Not Appoint A Commissioner For Racial Division
This IPA Parliamentary Research Brief explains why at the expiry of the current term of the Race Discrimination Commissioner of the Human Rights Commission the federal government should leave the position vacant. The term of the current Race Discrimination Commissioner becomes vacant in August, 2018. Applications for the position closed on 11 May, 2018. The policy of the Institute of
18 April 2018
Four Problems With GST Redistribution And How To Fix Them
Our new research brief discusses Australia’s alarming GST problem. IPA research has found that the states that are responsible for contributing the most to the GST pool – New South Wales, Victoria, and Western Australia – have lost $87 billion to the other states and territories since its introduction, under the complex process known as “horizontal fiscal equalisation”. The Institute
26 March 2018
Five Reasons Labor’s Superannuation Changes Would Damage Australia
In a speech to the Chifley Institute last week, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten announced that the Labor Party would introduce further changes to Australia’s compulsory superannuation system.1 The key change is to abolish cash refunds for so-called excess dividend imputation credits. This means any superannuant whose tax liability is negative following the franking of dividend payments from companies would no
1 March 2018
Australia’s Entrepreneurship Crisis and Three Ways To Fix It
Red tape is holding back our entrepreneurs and threatening our economic prosperity, new IPA research has found. Nine of Australia’s top ten largest companies were founded before 1925; by contrast, 88 per cent of the United States’ top 500 firms did not exist fifty years ago. Newer businesses, by injecting innovative ideas and challenging outdated methods, deliver increased productivity, raise
14 February 2018
The Electoral Legislation Amendment (Electoral Funding and Disclosure Reform) Bill 2017
Our new research brief explains why the Turnbull Government’s proposed changes to funding and disclosure provisions of the Commonwealth Electoral Act would threaten freedom of speech and civil society. The legislation is drafted extremely widely, and will potentially apply to a range of civic organisations that have no involvement in the political process other than expressing views on public policy
14 February 2018
Employment and Wages in the Western Australian Public Sector
Our latest research brief reports on the trends of the size, cost and wages of the Western Australian public service using statistical measures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the Western Australian Public Sector Commission. A copy of the PRB can be read below or downloaded here.
5 February 2018
Six Myths About The Business Tax Cut
Our new research brief debunks six myths surrounding the Turnbull government’s proposal to cut the company tax rate to 25 per cent from 30 per cent. Australia has a high corporate tax rate compared with other nations. Reducing the tax rate will increase investment, which will increase competition, output, and, consequently, the demand for Australian workers. This will raise both
19 December 2017
Five Questions On The Size And Cost Of The Commonwealth Public Sector
Our new research brief askes five questions on the size and cost of the Commonwealth Public Sector. Recent data shows that public sector employee numbers are declining, but the public sector salary and wage bill continues to increase – and public sector wage rises are outpacing those prevailing in the private sector. A copy of the report can be read
21 November 2017
Why Proposed ‘Reforms’ To Consumer Leases Are Just More Red Tape
New research by the Institute of Public Affairs explains why the Turnbull Government’s proposed changes to consumer lease regulation would amount to unnecessary red tape. The rental of household goods and appliances is an industry worth an estimated $596 million. Like all financial services providers, lessors are required to abide by responsible lending practices under existing consumer credit law. There
