Report reveals a web of political donations, special access and secret lobbying behind controversial mining projects.  The report examines 6 highly controversial QLD resource projects and highlights the strong connection of these companies to QLD and federal political parties. The Queensland Liberal National Party accepted over $300,000 from companies associated with these projects, but most of the political

The year to June 2016 saw a continuation of the slowdown in demand growth first seen last month. Total emissions from electricity generation in the NEM fell slightly in the year to June 2016. Annual emissions were 5.7% higher than in the year to June 2014. Total coal generation fell slightly to 75.8%, compared with

Post-election polling of 2875 voters from across Australia showed the majority of Labor, Green and Independent voters prefer negotiations with cross bench MPs to form government rather than calling another election. 47.0% of all respondents support negotiations with independents and minor parties to form government while 46.3% said ‘call another election’. — Polling results in

The Australian Energy Market Commission is considering a proposal to introduce a new rule in the national electricity market. The 5 Minute Settlement Rule Change is a very technical but important rule, which the Australia Institute believes would increase competition. Currently, gas peaking plants provide the energy to respond to rapid changes in demand. If

Climate of the Nation is Australia’s longest running survey benchmarking community attitudes on climate change.

New England is an electorate that has faced a rapidly rising unemployment rate over the last 3 years. It has seen unemployment rise 2.7% since the last election. Over the same period the national unemployment rate has risen 0.1%. The number of unemployed has increased by 2,094 since the last election. This rapid rise in

Are there really four dollars benefit for every one dollar company tax cut? Last year Treasury published a paper which purported to show that there was a four dollar benefit for every dollar cut in company taxes. In the paper accompanying the 2016-17 Budget, a new set of results was published which dealt directly with

The Australia Institute commissioned polling on a number of issues relating to refugee issues. In brief:  –          61% said that Australia should accept New Zealand’s offer to take 150 refugees from Manus Island and Nauru. This included 58% of Coalition voters and 62% of Labor voters. –          66% said it should be legal for doctors

A reveiw of OECD data of the relationship between living standards and cuts in company tax rates compared with the provision of better education services.

While the national unemployment rate might be 5.7% this average unemployment hides important variations. The Australia Institute has assessed unemployment by regional variation by federal electorate using Department of Employment data. While the average unemployment rate in Queensland is 6.5% the unemployment rate varies across the electorates, from 4.4% in Maranoa to 10.5% in Hinkler.

New research shows a rising number of the Australian adult population are not enrolled, not casting a vote or voting informally.  Combined with the sinking major party vote, nearly 40% of Australian adults did not vote for either party able to form government in 2013. The trend has been on the rise over the past decades,

Research released today by The Australia Institute estimates the tourism industry impacts if severe coral bleaching continues on the Great Barrier Reef. — Full report in attachment below — Based on surveys of Chinese, UK, American and domestic tourists, results show that tourism areas adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef risk losing over 1 million

The Wambo Mine – Modification 12 – Southern Longwall Modifications is a proposal to extend an existing coal mine in the Hunter Valley, New South Wales (NSW). The mine is owned by coal producer Peabody Energy. An environmental impact statement (EIS) has been submitted to the Department of Environment and Planning. This submission relates mainly

While the national unemployment rate might be 5.7% this average unemployment hides important variations. The Australia Institute has assessed unemployment by regional variation by federal electorate using Department of Employment data. The average unemployment rate in South Australia is 6.8%, but the unemployment rate varies significantly across the state, from 5.0% in Boothby to 10.6%

As the size of the clean up after the mining boom becomes apparent, mine site rehabilitation is becoming an important topic for many communities, regions and governments in Australia. A recent report on mine voids found that 6,050ha of voids will be left behind in NSW, most of which will fill with saline water, an

New report from the Centre for Future Work ranks Prime Ministerships by 10 key economic performance indicators.

The Australia Institute has modelled the number jobs in the clean energy sector which would be created to meet the renewable energy targets proposed by political parties this election.  All parties are talking about jobs and economic opportunities in the lead up to the 2016 federal election. The report estimates the number of jobs that

Between 23 May and 3 June 2016The Australia Institute conducted a national opinion poll of 1437 people through Research Now, with nationally representative samples by gender, age and state or territory. The poll asked questions about voting intentions in the House of Representatives and the Senate, as well as questions about the Senate voting system.

Development of an underground coal mine in NSW’s Southern Highlands is not economically viable and presents risks to the environment, existing industries and landowners.

The problems in Australia’s manufacturing sector are well-known, and many Australians have concluded that the decline in manufacturing is inevitable and universal: that high-wage countries like Australia must accept the loss of manufacturing as an economic reality.  But international statistics disprove this pessimism.  Worldwide, manufacturing is growing, not shrinking, including in many advanced high-wage countries. 

Battery and other energy storage technologies are ready to solve the problem of variability of renewable energy. This report includes new polling showing high public support in Australia for battery storage technology and parties that promote decentralised solar and storage for household use. Report surveys price reductions in renewable energy and battery technologies. It also

The Coalition’s proposal to reduce the corporate tax rate will result in a significant loss of tax revenue and, in turn, will have a significant impact on the budget balance. The government has argued that the loss in tax revenue will be offset, in part, by the increase in economic activity that they believe will

The insecure nature of work in Australia today can be illustrated through the following infographic (based on 2015 data published by the ABS). Australia has over 19 million residents of working age (which the ABS defines as anyone over 15). Of those, 12.5 million “participated” in the labour market (by working or actively seeking it). Participation has declined in recent years, in large part because of poor job prospects; that’s a turnaround from earlier decades when participation (especially by women) increased steadily.

New research, based on US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) data, shows that the proposed company tax cut would see the Australian tax system delivering billions of dollars to the US Treasury.

After total electricity demand declined for four years between 2010 and 2014, this month saw demand increased for the fourteenth successive month. The major factor pushing the resurgence of electricity demand is Queensland’s coal seam gas exports. CSG production uses a lot of electricity to power the pumps and compressors needed to extract the gas from

The April 2016 Carbon Emissions Index (CEDEX®) Report by pitt&sherry and The Australia Institute (TAI) indicates that electricity generation, demand and consumption continues to be on the increase nationally following a seventeen month trend. The total annual demand in the NEM is now 2.5% higher than the low point recorded for the year ending February

The March 2016 Carbon Emissions Index (CEDEX®) report by pitt&sherry and The Australia Institute indicates that while electricity generation continues to be the greatest contributor to emissions, principally through black and brown coal generation, petroleum and in particular diesel is a significant contributor to the increased growth in emissions with road transport and mining applications