The Australia Institute Feed Items

The report, co-authored by Greg Jericho (Policy Director) and Jim Stanford (Director), finds that a minimum wage rise of between five and 10 per cent in the Fair Work’s Annual Wage Review, due in June, is needed to restore the real buying power of low-paid workers to pre-pandemic trends, but would not significantly affect headline inflation.

Key findings of the report include:

• Last year’s decision, which lifted the minimum wage by 8.65 per cent and other award wages by 5.75 per cent, offset some but not all of the effects of recent inflation on real earnings for low-wage workers.
• At the same time, inflation fell by 3 full percentage points.
• There has been no significant correlation between rises in the minimum wage and inflation since 1997.
• Raising wages by 5 to 10 per cent this year would offset recent inflation and restore the pre-pandemic trend in real wages for award-covered workers.
• Even if fully passed on by employers, higher award wages would have no significant impact on economy-wide prices.
• A 10 per cent increase in award wages could be fully offset, with no impact on prices at all, by just a 2 per cent reduction in corporate profits – still leaving profits far above historical levels.

“Australia’s lowest paid workers have been hardest hit by inflation since Covid. There is a moral imperative to restore quality of life for these Australians and this analysis shows that there is no credible economic reason to deny them,” Jericho said.

In Australia’s democracy ultimate responsibility for something as important as monetary policy should rest with the parliament. This is because the Australian Parliament is ultimately responsible to the Australian people, while the RBA board is not.

The post Submission to the Reserve Bank Reforms 2023 bill appeared first on The Australia Institute.

They charge exorbitant fees for access to research that the public funds. The global momentum toward a free open access model is gaining traction, but Australia lags behind.

This paper looks at several changes that could stop public funds from being funnelled to the oligopoly of academic publishers.

Key Findings:

Key findings:

• More than three quarters of Tasmanians support a new, fit for purpose anti-corruption commission.
• 69% of Tasmanians support reducing inshore salmon sites, compared to 22% who oppose.
• 58% of voters support a ban on rent increases above the rate of inflation, compared to 32% who oppose a ban.
• 57% of Tasmanians support banning political donations from the gambling, salmon farming and property development industries.
• 57% of Tasmanians are opposed to the Liberal Government’s plan to make 40,000 hectares of native forest available for logging.
• Only among Liberal voters do more support (70%) than oppose (23%) the proposal (73% of Labor, 96% of Greens, 65% of Jacqui Lambie Network, 77% of independent and 50% of other voters opposed to the proposal).

The post Polling – Tasmanian Election Issues appeared first on The Australia Institute.

However, further changes are needed to ensure that appointments to the ART are open and free from political influence.

The post Inquiry into the ART bills appeared first on The Australia Institute.

Key Findings:

• Three in four Australians (76%) support the federal government legislating a right to disconnect.
• One in nine Australians (11%) oppose legislating a right to disconnect.
• A majority of Australians across all voting intentions support legislating a right to disconnect (61% to 90%).

The post Polling – Right to Disconnect appeared first on The Australia Institute.

The Fair Work Commission’s Review of Modern Awards 2023-24 is considering the impact of workplace relations settings on work and care. This submission argues for good quality, secure part-time jobs to achieve more gender-equitable sharing of care and to support women’s full economic participation.

The post Submission to the Fair Work Commission Modern Award Review 2023-2024, Work and Care appeared first on The Australia Institute.

Key findings:

• The Liberal party is on 37.1% of the first preference vote; Labor on 23.0%; followed by the Greens on 13.7%, Jacqui Lambie Network on 8.5%, Independents on 12.8%, and Other on 5.0%
• Almost half (46%) of Tasmanian voters say the state is generally heading in the wrong direction. One in three (36%) say it is heading in the right direction
• When asked which of three senior Liberal parliamentarians would negotiate with the crossbench most effectively, Premier Jeremy Rockliff was chosen by only 39.4% of survey respondents, while 42.3% didn’t know or weren’t sure.
• When asked which of three senior Labor parliamentarians would negotiate with the crossbench most effectively, Opposition Leader Rebecca White was chosen by 31.2% against 41.8% who didn’t know or weren’t sure.
• Labor voters overwhelmingly believe White would negotiate better than Anita Dow or Dean Winter (59%, 9% and 16% respectively).

The post Polling – Tasmanian State Election 2024 appeared first on The Australia Institute.

In accordance with the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety (Aged Care Royal Commission) the proposed scheme includes a requirement for attainment of a Certificate III qualification and engagement in ongoing training or continuing professional development (CPD).

The post Professionalising the Aged Care Workforce appeared first on The Australia Institute.

The NSW planning system approves coal mines and other projects with damaging climate impacts almost by default. Part of the reason for this is the economic assessments of major projects that are commissioned by project proponents. These assessments invariably overstate project benefits and understate costs to the community. Improved public service capacity and governance of consultants could improve these outcomes.

The post Submission: NSW Planning system and the impacts of climate change appeared first on The Australia Institute.

The Victorian FOI system receives more FOIs than any other jurisdiction but is failing to make decisions within the statutory timeframe, has a growing backlog and high numbers of complaints about delays.

The post Submission: Inquiry into the operation of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 appeared first on The Australia Institute.

The Australia Institute surveyed a nationally representative sample of 1,017 Australians about a proposed levy on fossil fuel exports. 508 respondents were asked whether they would support a levy of $1 per tonne of emissions (raising around $1.5 billion per year) and 509 whether they would support a levy of $20 per tonne (raising around $30 billion per year).

The results show that more than twice as many Australians support a levy as oppose it, regardless of its size.

• Half of Australians support a levy, regardless of whether it is set at $1 per tonne (52% support) or $20 per tonne (also 52% support).
• One in five Australians oppose a levy, regardless of whether it is set at $1 per tonne (20% oppose) or $20 per tonne (21% oppose).
• One in four Australians do not know if they support or oppose a levy, again regardless of the level it is set at (27% for both).

The post Polling – Fossil fuel levy appeared first on The Australia Institute.

The margin of error is +/- 3.9%.

Respondents were asked whether they support or oppose the Albanese Government’s changes to the Stage 3 tax cuts.

• Two in three (66%) Dunkley residents support the Albanese Government’s changes to the Stage 3 tax cuts.
• About one in three respondents (28%) oppose the Albanese Government’s changes.

The post Polling: Stage 3 Tax Cuts in Dunkley appeared first on The Australia Institute.

Respondents were asked whether they support or oppose the Albanese Government’s changes to the Stage 3 tax cuts.

• In each electorate, six in 10 respondents (between 62% and 63%) support the Albanese Government’s changes to the Stage 3 tax cuts.
• About one in three respondents (between 31% and 36%) oppose the Albanese Government’s changes

The post Polling: Stage 3 Tax Cuts in Kooyong, Mackellar and Wentworth appeared first on The Australia Institute.

National Party electorates will get a larger average benefit than Liberal and Labor electorates. Tasmania, the Northern Territory and South Australia will also see large benefits.

This paper updates Divided Nation which looked at the distribution of the original Stage 3 tax cuts by federal electorates.

In this paper we will compare the electorate distribution of the modified Stage 3 tax cuts with the electoral distribution of the original Stage 3.

The post Benefits of Modifying the Stage 3 Tax Cuts by Electorate appeared first on The Australia Institute.

The science is clear: fish farming in Macquarie Harbour must end to save the skate.

New scientific evidence has resulted in a substantial change in circumstances since the decision that allowed large-scale fish farming. Environment Minister Plibersek should revoke this decision and replace it with one that recognises the clearly unacceptable impacts of this foreign-owned industry that provides few jobs and pays less tax.

The post Save the Skate appeared first on The Australia Institute.

Halfway through the 47th Parliament and the first term of the Albanese Government, four of the recommendations have been implemented in full and another 14 implemented in part or otherwise progressed.

The Albanese Government has advanced other democratic reforms, including a spill of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal and the restoration of territory rights on voluntary assisted dying. This is a significant improvement, and a much more substantial rate of change than that seen under the previous Coalition governments.

Despite this welcome progress, much more needs to be done to ensure elections are as fair and representative as they can be, and to make the government more transparent and accountable. This paper identifies 16 “off the shelf” reforms that should be adopted this year, many recommended by parliamentary reviews that considered these issues in detail.

The post The 47th Parliament and the Democracy Agenda appeared first on The Australia Institute.

The survey took place from Tuesday 23 January 2024 to Monday 29 January 2024, on Thursday 25 January the Prime Minister officially announced changes to the stage 3 tax cuts.

The results show that:

• Two in three Australians (65%) think it is more important to adapt economic policy to suit the changing circumstances even if that means breaking an election promise, than keep an election promise regardless of how economic circumstances have changed. Majority support is observed across all age groups, genders, voting intentions, and large states.
• Nearly six in 10 Australians (58%) prefer for the Stage 3 tax cuts to be restructured so middle and low-income earners receive more.
• Restructuring the stage 3 tax cuts is the most preferred option across all age groups, genders, voting intentions, and large states.
• One in six (16%) Australians would prefer to keep the Stage 3 tax cuts in their current form than scrap or restructure them, this includes only one in four (25%) Coalition voters and one in three (32%) people earning over $200,000.

The post Polling: Stage 3 Tax Cuts and Election Promises appeared first on The Australia Institute.

Oslo’s “car-free Livability Programme”

Launched in 2016 as part of Oslo’s climate and energy strategy, the Programme aimed at “handing the urban spaces back to the people” by improving accessibility and liveability.

In recent years the Australian Government has released several plans aimed at reducing the amount of plastic waste. These plans include the 2018 National Waste Policy, the 2019 National Waste Policy Action Plan, the Australian Packaging Covenant, and a goal to recycle or reuse 100% of plastic waste and end plastic pollution by 2040.

What is common to all of these policies is that they focus on recovery, particularly recycling, and not on reducing the production and consumption of plastics in the first place.

The inexorable increase in the growth in plastics waste shows that existing policies are not working. Existing approaches to dealing with plastic waste – including energy recovery (using it for fuel), composting, and recycling – are not making a significant contribution to reducing the amount of plastic waste that is created. Only about 15% of all plastic waste generated over the last 20 years has been recovered through recycling, composting or energy recovery.

These forms of plastic waste recovery have not kept pace with consumption and waste because they are difficult and costly, and unlikely to ever match current levels of plastic waste.

If Australia is to turn the tide on plastics waste, more effective policies that reduce production and consumption are needed.

The post Plastic waste in Australia appeared first on The Australia Institute.

PALM visa holders are permitted to work in occupations classified as low-skilled, semi-skilled or unskilled, and the majority work in agriculture or meat processing. PALM visa applicants are sponsored by an ‘Approved Employer’ who is entitled to make wage deductions for costs including travel, accommodation and visa processing fees.

Workers must obtain written permission to leave their Approved Employer and switch between Approved Employers. These conditions, coupled with problems ensuring the enforcement of minimum wages and the provision of enough working hours to earn a decent wage, have led to reports of underpayment, and of people on PALM visas running away from their Approved Employer.

The conditions of the visa, coupled with long-standing issues with the agricultural sector (in which most PALM workers are employed), make it essential to ensure that PALM workers are given proper working rights and that these rights are protected.

This paper calculates the size of the PALM visa program and discusses what is necessary to reduce the exploitation of temporary workers involved.

The post The PALM Scheme appeared first on The Australia Institute.

There is also the risk that voluntary schemes weaken the argument for government regulation and mandatory standards for emissions disclosure and management. This is particularly worrying when voluntary commitments are being encouraged by the government itself, as is the case in Australia. Climate Active appears to be an attempt by the Australian Government to avoid holding the private sector to account, rather than a complementary measure to robust regulation.

To date, Climate Active has played a significant role facilitating greenwash in Australia by promoting fossil fuel companies and large polluters as ‘climate active’ and neglecting to ensure the veracity of carbon offsets being bought by its members. This is even after numerous independent investigations have found them to be fraudulent. Climate Active has undermined the credibility of its own brand and undermined consumer confidence. The scheme has diminished the credibility of its members who have acted in good faith, both by failing to ensure robust claims, and a willingness to certify businesses who clearly are not ‘climate active’.

The Australia Institute finds that an Army Reserves model could offer benefits including medical support, tax incentives, and financial compensation to Australia’s predominantly volunteer bush firefighters, helping bolster the capability and resilience of volunteer firefighting efforts.

The post Bush Firefighter Reserves? appeared first on The Australia Institute.

That assessment is contained in an article contained in a new special issue of the Journal of Australian Political Economy (JAPE), evaluating the government’s record on a range of issues halfway through its term. The special issue of JAPE was published on 18 December, and was edited by Prof Emeritus Frank Stilwell at the University of Sydney.

The article reviewing the government’s labour policies was co-authored by several staff at the Centre for Future Work, including Greg Jericho, Charlie Joyce, Fiona Macdonald, David Peetz, and Jim Stanford. It considers the impacts of several government initiatives, including:

The first is that self-employment is inexorably growing. The second is that self-employment cannot, or should not, be regulated in order to protect self-employed workers and improve the conditions of their work.

This new report from the Carmichael Centre at the Centre for Future Work shows that, in reality, self-employment is not growing inexorably — in fact, in most countries (including Australia) it is declining.

The much-trumpeted surge in self-employment and ‘freelancing’ is a myth. However, the nature of self-employment is changing: fewer self-employed people are running successful independent businesses, and more are engaged in precarious ‘solo’ activities like short-term contracting and part-time ‘gig’ work.

The report also shows that some forms of self-employment can be regulated to protect affected workers, provided two simple and important criteria are satisfied: the workers are vulnerable and hence need protection, and a viable mechanism exists that enables their work to be efficiently regulated.

The report reviews the proposed provisions of the second part of the federal government’s new Closing Loopholes legislation, which would allow for minimum labour standards to be applied to digital platform workers and owner-operators in the transportation sector. The new legislation (to be considered in Parliament in 2024) is an appropriate and effective response to the challenges facing these two groups of ‘gig’ workers.

With the passage of the Restoring Territory Rights Act through the Commonwealth Parliament in December 2022, the ACT at last became able to legislate on this issue. After almost 20 years – during which time every state in Australia has legalised voluntary assisted dying (VAD) – terminally ill Canberrans will soon also be able to exercise their right to choose to end their life with compassion and dignity.

The Australia Institute supported the Restoring Territory Rights Act, and has long advocated for VAD as a human right, and for the right of the ACT and Northern Territory to legislate VAD. With this submission we add our support to the passage of the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2023, and offer some suggestions for how the bill could be improved.

The post Ensuring equitable access to Voluntary Assisted Dying appeared first on The Australia Institute.

The Australia Institute recommends including the following commitments and targets in the final ERRP:

1. Set a transport sector emissions reduction target of a 37% reduction on 2020 levels by 2030.
2. Commence an e-bike library trial in Tasmanian towns.
3. Introduce a grant program to support businesses to switch to cargo e-bikes.
4. Set a target of 67% of new passenger vehicle sales to be EVs by 2030, and 100% by 2035.
5. Commit to introducing stamp-duty and registration waivers to incentivise EV uptake, as well as introducing more equitable and incentivising purchase-price incentives than the current rebate.
6. Include a target of 100% of new bus purchases being electric by 2025, and 100% of the bus fleet being electric by 2030.
7. Increase public transport accessibility to 49% by making public transport services cheaper, more frequent and more reliable in both urban and non-urban areas.
8. Commit to developing Hobart’s northern suburbs railway, between Bridgewater and the CBD.
9. Develop an online reporting platform to track emissions from Tasmania’s transport sector.

The post Submission to Tasmania’s draft Transport Emissions Reduction and Resilience Plan appeared first on The Australia Institute.

• The results show:
  Seven in 10 Australians (71%) do not know the Federal Government funds a
  program in which people providing pastoral care services to students are hired
  on the basis of religion.
• Two in three Australians (66%) agree that pastoral care workers should be
  employed on the basis of qualifications and experience only, and not be
  required to have the endorsement of a religious group (18% disagree).
• Over half of Australians (56%) support their state or territory hiring pastoral
  support workers directly – rather than through a third-party agency – which
  may impose religious belief or faith conditions on employment.
  • More Australians don’t know or are unsure (28%) than disagree with the
    proposal (16%).

The post Polling: School Chaplains appeared first on The Australia Institute.

The submission draws the Reference Group’s attention to Australia Institute research on the important advocacy role played by the not-for-profit sector.

The post Not-for-Profit Sector Development Blueprint appeared first on The Australia Institute.

The estimated value of this waste is $921 million.

Unwanted and unused Christmas gifts and food ultimately end up in landfill, increasing the greenhouse gas emissions that drive the climate crisis. But this research shows nearly half of Australians (48%) would prefer it if people did not buy them Christmas presents. Less than one in two Australians (46%) consider how the gifts they purchase will eventually be disposed of.

These results suggest that it could be time for a change in consumer habits. Buying fewer unwanted Christmas presents would be a positive outcome for the environment and for consumers. Fewer items would be wasted and sent to landfill, and millions of Australians would save money at Christmas time.

The post Christmas Waste 2023 appeared first on The Australia Institute.

The results show that:

• Seven in 10 Australians (72%) say their income grew slower than the cost of living over the past year, with 38% saying their income grew much slower.
• Australians earning more than $200,000 were the only group where a majority (53%) said their income either grew as fast as or faster than the cost of living.
• 40% of Australians feel that Labor has a better approach to cost of living and low wages growth, compared to 33% who feel the Coalition have a better approach.
• By age group, only among Australians aged 60 and older do more trust the Coalition (38%) on issues of cost and living and low wages growth (Labor 35%).
• More Australians living in metropolitan areas trust Labor than trust the Coalition (42% vs 31%); the reverse is true in rural areas (33% vs 38%).

The post Polling: Cost of Living appeared first on The Australia Institute.

An end to native forestry would have no economic impact on the state as a whole, and the experiences of Geeveston, Triabunna and Derby provide insights for managing economic change at the local level.

This paper examines these three towns, all of which have seen significant decline in forestry activity and resulting economic change.

While all three are sometimes described as forestry towns that have transitioned to tourism, employment data shows that jobs in these towns were—and remain—more diverse than is often assumed.

While the forestry sector declined, all three towns have seen other primary, secondary or service industries develop, leaving each with a seemingly stable and sustainable base of economic activity for the future.

The post Jobs and Trees appeared first on The Australia Institute.

The conventional tools for addressing political finance concerns are public funding, donation caps and spending caps. These tools are blunt instruments that have so far failed to rein in vested interests or address cash-for-access, and they risk many perverse outcomes – most notably, introducing unfair barriers to new entrants, independents and minor parties.

As the Australian Parliament seriously considers changes to electoral laws, including those governing political finance, this paper recommends an alternative suite of political finance reforms that would go a long way to making the political playing field more level and addressing cash-for-access at its roots: exposing it when it happens, making governments pay a political cost for facilitating it and banning it outright where doing so is proportionate, constitutional and likely to be effective.

The post Securing transparency and diversity in political finance appeared first on The Australia Institute.

Following the disruptions of the COVID pandemic and historic falls in real wages over recent years, 2023’s stronger labour market conditions should benefit many workers. Wages have risen, labour force participation is relatively high and unemployment is low. With the introduction of the Government’s 2022 industrial relations reforms, workers are in a better position to bargain, as shown in recent bargaining outcomes and improving wages growth. However, wages are not keeping up with prices, inflation is high and, for many workers, conditions of work are far from satisfactory.

As this year’s GHOTD report shows, significant problems of overwork and underemployment co-exist, affecting many workers across all industries, occupations and age groups. Underemployment particularly affects workers in casual, temporary and other forms of insecure work, and it particularly affects workers in lower-paid roles. Women, younger workers, older workers and services workers are over-represented among those affected. At the same time long hours and overwork remain a problem, especially for full-time workers.

The post Short Changed appeared first on The Australia Institute.

World-leaders in research integrity

In 1992, Denmark became the first country in the world to effectively regulate research misconduct when it established the body now known as The Danish Board on Research Misconduct.

A Tasmanian Integrated Marine Estate Act would establish an independent authority responsible for a state-wide Marine Estate Management Strategy and Marine Spatial Planning Framework.

The post It’s Time appeared first on The Australia Institute.

The results show that:

• Seven in 10 Australians (70%) would prefer the Communications Minister be limited to appointing candidates who have been shortlisted by an independent selection panel.
• Only one in 10 (11%) would prefer that the Communications Minister be able to appoint whomever they like.
• Across all voting intentions, two in three or more prefer that the Communications Minister be limited to appointing candidates who have been shortlisted by an independent selection panel (65–71%).

The post Polling – ABC Board appeared first on The Australia Institute.

The public broadcasters play a vital role in our democracy and are critical to maintaining strong, public interest journalism in Australia. Greater transparency and oversight are required in order to ensure the decision-making bodies of the public broadcasters – and the body that helps appoint them – are shielded from partisan influence.

Ministers should not be able to bypass the merits-based appointments process for ABC Board members. Consultation should be expanded and formalised. The Nomination Panel itself should either be replaced by or overseen by a cross-party committee, and whichever nomination process is used should only be able to be bypassed by the minister in genuine consultation with the shadow minister.

Greater public participation in the appointments process should be encouraged. This includes better publicising upcoming vacancies and giving consideration to an ‘audience supported board member’.

The post Submission: An independent ABC for a strong democracy appeared first on The Australia Institute.

The results show that:

• Four in five (80%) Australians are at least somewhat concerned about the impacts on human health from pollution caused by the extraction, processing, and burning of fossil fuels.

• Three in 10 Australians are ‘very’ concerned (31%), one in five are ‘fairly’ concerned (22%), and one in four are ‘somewhat’ concerned (27%).

• 95% of Greens voters, 88% of Labor voters, and 71% of Coalition voters are concerned about the impacts of pollution caused by the extraction, processing, and burning of fossil fuels.

• Eight in ten Australians (82%) aged 18-29 support a requirement for federal and state governments to consider the potential human health impacts of fossil fuel projects when deciding on their approval.

The post Polling: Climate Change and Health appeared first on The Australia Institute.

Logging in Tasmania’s native forests should cease as soon as possible.

The transition away from logging should not involve the use of carbon credits; the examples in this paper show that market mechanisms are at best a distraction from, and at worst a hinderance to, an effective transition.

The post Ending native forest logging without market mechanisms appeared first on The Australia Institute.

Over 80% of these jobs are in Hobart and the South East.

Australian Tax Office data shows that the three main salmon companies had income of $7 billion over nine years, but paid just $51 million in company tax. Zero tax was paid in the last three years for which data is available.

The post Small Fish, Big Pond appeared first on The Australia Institute.

Despite the claims to the contrary by the Northern Territory government, development of the Beetaloo Basin’s gas resources will be of little benefit to Territorians.

Modelling used by the NT government itself shows that the development of the Beetaloo Basin will not diversify the NT economy, aid the transition to net zero emissions, provide cheap gas to the east-coast, nor significantly boost government revenues.

The Beetaloo Basin gas development will further entrench the NT economy’s petrostate-like reliance on the oil and gas industry, crowding out other industries. It will also increase fossil fuel profits and global greenhouse gas emissions.

The post Gas Bagging appeared first on The Australia Institute.

The Northern Territory is facing a wave of gas mega-projects.

While the Northern Territory Government and gas companies talk up the potential economic benefits of gas development for the region, little mention is made of the negative impacts.

Large gas projects have a short, intensive construction period that disrupts existing industries, driving up costs and crowding out jobs in existing businesses.

Beyond the construction phase, gas projects provide a relatively small number of ongoing jobs, and the benefits of these projects flow largely to the owners of the gas companies rather than the wider economy and community.

The post The economic impacts of gas development in the Northern Territory appeared first on The Australia Institute.

The Bill is unlikely to facilitate actions that would result in genuine emissions reductions in NSW, including elimination of fossil fuel subsidies, a moratorium on coal and gas development and decarbonisation of industry and transport.

While the goals of the Bill are laudable, fiscal responsibility is a subjective guiding principle and open to creative interpretation by industry. Improvement could be made by emphasising climate science, effectiveness, efficiency, and equity as guiding principles of the Net Zero Future Bill.

It is also integral that appointments to the Net Zero Commission with links to fossil fuels and carbon offset industries are explicitly ruled out.

The post Submission: NSW Net Zero Future Bill 2023 appeared first on The Australia Institute.

People are most likely to think corruption is common among state and territory governments (69%), followed by local governments (68%) and the federal government (66%).

Key Results
The Australia Institute surveyed a sample of 1,535 Australians about their perceptions of the prevalence of corruption at different levels of government.

• Four in five (81%) consider it corrupt conduct to allocate public money to projects in marginal seats in order to win votes.
• 86% consider it corrupt conduct to appoint a friend or colleague to a public role over others who are more qualified.
• More than four in five (83%) think it is corrupt conduct to sign a contract with an overseas company after being alerted to a risk that some of that money may go to corrupt officials.
• More than four in five (83%) think it is corrupt conduct for a senior public servant to mislead Cabinet or the Parliament.
• One Nation voters are the most likely to believe corruption is common federally (85%), followed by independent/other (72%), Greens (69%), Labor (64%) and Coalition (63%) voters.

The post Perceptions of Corruption appeared first on The Australia Institute.

To ensure the Sustainability Strategy will drive Tasmania’s achievement of the SDGs, the Australia Institute Tasmania recommends the following:

1. Strong action on climate change, including protecting the natural environment, should underpin Tasmania’s Sustainability Strategy.
2. The Sustainability Strategy should be based on clear, ambitious, quantifiable and time-bound targets that are evidence-based and will result in improved sustainability outcomes for Tasmania.
3. The Sustainability Strategy should have regular reporting of progress against SDGs, including yearly update reports and online reporting against SDG Indicators.
4. The findings of Tasmania’s SOE report should inform goals and targets of the Sustainability Strategy.

The post Submission to Tasmania’s Sustainability Strategy appeared first on The Australia Institute.

The Australia Institute conducted a special exit poll, surveying a sample of 1,547 Australians from 6pm Saturday 14 October, about the Voice referendum and misinformation.

The key results show that:

• Nine in 10 Australians (87%) agree that truth in political advertising laws should be in place in time for the next federal election campaign; only 4% disagree.
• Both those who voted “Yes” and those who voted “No” to the Voice overwhelmingly agree that truth in political advertising laws should be in place in time for the next federal election campaign (92% and 83%, respectively).
• Seven in 10 Australians (72%) agree they are concerned about lies and misinformation that circulated on social media during the referendum campaign, compared to one in five who disagree (17%).
• Seven in 10 Australians (72%) agree it is now up to the Albanese Government to come up with solutions to close the gap, compared to 47% who agree it is up to No campaigners.

The post Misinformation and the referendum appeared first on The Australia Institute.

These issues are epitomised in the proposed merger of the University of Adelaide with the University of South Australia, a case which shows why reform is needed.

The post University Councils, Transparency and the Adelaide University Merger appeared first on The Australia Institute.

The Australia Institute has a growing body of research on the harms caused by the over-use of consulting firms by Australian governments.

This paper summarises and expands on that research in the context of the inquiry ethics and professional accountability: structural challenges in the audit, assurance and consulting industry.

While our research focuses on the relationship between governments and consulting firms, some of the findings will be applicable for consulting firms more generally, including their relationships with private clients.

The post Consultants: Structurally Unsound appeared first on The Australia Institute.

The Australia Institute is a longstanding supporter of a constitutionally enshrined Voice, as articulated in the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

Research is the cornerstone of the Australia Institute’s work. There is a significant body of research—led by First Nations people—about the Voice to Parliament, where it came from, how it is likely to work, and how it would help solve the chronic gaps between outcomes for Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, and to this substantial body of work we simply want to add our support.

The Voice will deliver on the call made in the Uluru Statement from the Heart. It will enrich our democracy and help make Australia a more just nation.

The need for the Voice to be constitutionally enshrined
We recognise the need for the Voice to be constitutionally enshrined (and not merely legislated) because every federal government body ever established to represent the interests of First Nations Australians has been abolished. The most recent example is the abolition of ATSIC, which was legislated out of existence in 2005. Nearly 20 years have passed without a viable replacement, and Indigenous disadvantage has only worsened. Reconciliation depends on listening to the voices of First Nations people, and the channels of communication must not be so easily severed. One noteworthy exception to this pattern is the Torres Strait Regional Authority, which has effectively represented the interests of Torres Strait Islanders since it was established in the 1990s.