12 July 2023
Should We Be Tougher On Youth Crime?
In this article, Mia Schlicht contextualises and disseminates the findings of the IPA’s research into Australia’s level of incarceration, conducted as part of IPA’s Legal Rights Program. The IPA’s Legal Rights Program aims to research various government actions and policies and how they impact the principles of a free society, including the rule of law, our civil and political rights,
12 June 2023
Better Ways To Deal With Many Who Are Incarcerated
In this article, Morgan Begg contextualises and disseminates the findings of the IPA’s research into Australia’s level of incarceration, and how low-risk and nonviolent offenders can help alleviate worker shortages, conducted as part of IPA’s Legal Rights Program. The IPA’s Legal Rights Program aims to research various government actions and policies and how they impact the principles of a free
23 August 2022
Australia’s Unprecedented Worker Shortage: Causes And Solutions
Australia is currently facing an unprecedented, country-wide shortage of workers. This is undermining economic output and growth by limiting the ability of businesses to meet their production, and as a result there are flow-on effects on wages and government revenue. Addressing this worker shortage should be a high priority for state and federal governments. Australia’s international borders have been re-opened
13 August 2020
Young Australians Suffer One Third Of Job Losses Since Lockdown
Analysis by free market think tank the Institute of Public Affairs of the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ July Labour Force figures has found that young Australians have disproportionately suffered as a result of the economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 lockdown measures. Young Australians aged 15 to 24 account for 35% of the net job losses since March despite making
28 May 2020
Exposed: The True Scope Of Lockdown Unemployment
The official unemployment rate released by the ABS hides the true impact of the lockdown measures on the economy and employment. In addition to the 823 thousand unemployed, there are 1.26 million Australians who have been forced out of work since March following the lockdown that are not included in the unemployment rate. The unemployment rate for April jumped to
27 March 2020
Coronavirus Pain Must Be Shared Around
The economic and social burden of the government-imposed sanctions to manage the health crisis must be shared equally with the public sector, which so far has remained shielded from the fallout while thousands of small businesses, sole traders and tradies go to the wall. Seven modest measures to cut inefficient and wasteful government spending worth $30bn could be redirected to
24 January 2020
Welcome To The Real World, Law Grads
There are a few responses to all those young graduate lawyers complaining about hard work, long hours and low pay. The first is: “Welcome to the real world.” If they don’t like being a lawyer they could try running a small business. Small business owners regularly report working 60 or 70 hours a week. Even if young lawyers think they
30 August 2019
The Moral Case For An IR Overhaul
In a week’s time the federal Coalition will have been in government for six years after having won three elections in a row. For all the worthwhile things it has done over those years – and has tried to do but failed – industrial relations is one of the big policy areas the Coalition has been afraid to touch. Australia’s
21 August 2019
The First Rung: The Role Of Low-paid Work In Building Success
The Institute of Public Affairs (IPA), Australia’s premier free market think tank, is dedicated to preserving and strengthening the foundations of economic and political freedom. The Parliamentary Research Brief program is designed to provide politicians and policy makers around the country with succinct information on various policy areas. Our new research brief outlines the importance of low-paid work in providing
31 May 2019
The Higher Pay Paradox
In Australia, nothing is certain except death, taxes and increases to the minimum wage. And while understandably welcome news for workers, each wage hike tightens the noose around the necks of small business and millions of Australian job-seekers. Minimum wage cases have become a Groundhog Day-like ritual. Every year, the Australian Council of Trade Unions demands an unreasonably high increase,
