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Constitution and Law

Australia's Constitution is its most important legal document, and the foundation on which this country is built. Here you will find our work on the importance of the Constitution and its relevance today, as well as our work on proposed changes to the Constitution.

A Letter From The IPA To The Attorney-General

Daniel Wild and Morgan Begg 5 December 2019 Constitution and law, Publications,

A letter from the IPA to the Attorney-General communicating the IPA’s research on the Religious Discrimination Bill (2019). To download the letter click here

IPA TODAY

Attorney-General Must Order Department To Release 1,300 Documents Targeting Australians

Evan Mulholland 29 November 2019 Constitution and law, Freedom of speech,

As uncovered in The Australian, an Institute of Public Affairs freedom of information request has revealed that the Attorney-General’s department holds in excess of 1,300 documents and...

IPA TODAY

There May Be 1300 Reasons This Law Does Not Work

Evan Mulholland 29 November 2019 Constitution and law, Freedom of speech,

There are potentially 1300 smoking guns pointing to evidence that the Attorney-General’s Department has been using the power of the commonwealth to target conservatives in Australia. It is not...

Originally appeared in The Australian

Research Papers

Evidence Based Policy Research Project: 20 Case Studies

Matthew Lesh 15 November 2019 Constitution and law, Ipa today,

Australia’s governments, both state and federal, are failing to undertake best practice policymaking. This failure is undermining the quality of public policy and is having a detrimental impact on...

PUBLICATIONS

The Secretary Of The Attorney-General’s Department Must Stand Down

Daniel Wild 6 November 2019 Constitution and law, Freedom of speech,

“The Secretary of the Attorney-General’s Department, Chris Moraitis, must stand down pending an investigation into how his department abused its power to target Australians because of their...

PUBLICATIONS

Australians Speak Out Against Race In Our Constitution

Gideon Rozner 31 October 2019 Constitution and law, Ipa today,

Several prominent Australians have spoken out against the proposal for an indigenous voice to parliament, in a new video by free market think tank the Institute of Public Affairs. Senator James...

PUBLICATIONS

Ban On Cash Is An Attack On Our Freedoms

Kurt Wallace 30 August 2019 Constitution and law, Ipa today,

The Government’s proposed restrictions on the use of cash bill which would ban cash payments over $10,000 is a disproportionate and ineffective way of tackling the illegal activity of the ‘black...

Originally appeared in Sky News Viewpoint

PUBLICATIONS

Religious Discrimination Bill Has Many Problems And Could Be A Risk To Religious Freedom

Morgan Begg 29 August 2019 Constitution and law, Freedom of speech,

“The federal government’s plan to prohibit religious discrimination is a welcome start, but more work is needed to avoid counter-productive and unintended consequences which may limit rather than...

PUBLICATIONS

No Call To Heed A Divisive Voice

Daniel Wild 23 August 2019 Constitution and law, Ipa today,

Localism, property rights and regional economic development will help improve the lives of indigenous Australians more than another Canberra-based body. In his delivery of the 19th Annual Vincent...

Originally appeared in The Australian

PUBLICATIONS

The G-G Should Resign

Morgan Begg 10 August 2019 Constitution and law, Ipa today,

Australia’s constitutional system cannot function properly with a Governor-General inserting himself into contemporary political debate. If the current Governor-General wishes to do so, then he...

Originally appeared in The Spectator Australia

PUBLICATIONS

The Art Of Persuasion Needs More Than Abusive Language

Janet Albrechtsen 7 August 2019 Constitution and law, Ipa today,

The Institute of Public Affairs is on a unity ticket with Noel Pearson, whether he cares to admit it or not. Like the work of the respected indigenous leader, our work endeavours to help people...

Originally appeared in The Australian

PUBLICATIONS

IPA Calls For Constructive And Respectful Debate On The Voice

Daniel Wild 5 August 2019 Constitution and law, Ipa today,

The Institute of Public Affairs has expressed disappointment in Noel Pearson’s comments about the IPA and has called for constructive and respectful dialogue in the debate about the voice. At the...

PUBLICATIONS

Indigenous Voice Of Division Would Force Parliament’s Hand

Daniel Wild 2 August 2019 Constitution and law, Ipa today,

Proponents of an indigenous voice to parliament make two key claims: it would be confined only to areas affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, and it would not become a third chamber of...

Originally appeared in The Australian

PUBLICATIONS

Uluru Statement Overturns Equality Of Rights

John Roskam 19 July 2019 Constitution and law, Ideas and liberty,

It’s understandable that some of Australia’s biggest companies including BHP, Rio Tinto, Lendlease, Qantas and Woolworths would support the Uluru Statement. Business leaders have a...

Originally appeared in Australian Financial Review

PUBLICATIONS

Prime Minister Right To Reject Divisive ‘Voice’ Referendum

Daniel Wild 12 July 2019 Constitution and law, Ipa today,

“Reports that Prime Minister Scott Morrison would veto a divisive indigenous-only ‘voice to parliament’ represents a win for the principle that all Australians are equal,”...

PUBLICATIONS

Voice To Parliament Carries The Same Risks It Did Two Years Ago

Morgan Begg 11 July 2019 Constitution and law, Ipa today,

The principle that all Australians should not be divided on the basis of their race or skin colour is a cornerstone of our freedoms and the rule of law. This clear principle — that race has no...

Originally appeared in The Australian

PUBLICATIONS

Race Has No Place In The Constitution

Daniel Wild and Morgan Begg 10 July 2019 Constitution and law, Ipa today,

“The Morrison Government should commit to working with all Australians – and reverse its misconceived plans to divide Australians by race”, said Daniel Wild, Director of Research with the free...

IPA TODAY

Race Has No Place

Morgan Begg and Daniel Wild 8 June 2019 Constitution and law, Government services,

All Australians are equal. Our legal status should not be determined by our skin colour or our race. This clear principle is being undermined by a campaign to divide Australians in our nation’s...

Originally appeared in The Spectator Australia

Constitution and Law

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