The Australia Institute
Encyclopedia
The Australia Institute is a left wing Australia
n think tank
conducting public policy
research, funded by grants from philanthropic trusts, memberships and commissioned research.
The Institute began in 1994 to construct and commission research and policy analysis on public debates and political and social issues and trends. The Institute seeks government, business or union grants to conduct research and analysis. The institute is based in Canberra
, Australian Capital Territory
.
The current Executive Director is economist Dr. Richard Denniss
. Denniss's immediate predecessor was Dr. Clive Hamilton
.
The Institute is determined to push public debate beyond the simplistic question of whether markets or governments have all the answers to more important questions: When does government need to intervene in the market? When should it stand back? And when regulation is needed, what form should it take?
mitigation measures, and has been critical of the Australian federal government's perceived lack of action on climate change. The Institute was critical of the Howard
Government's decision to refuse to ratify the Kyoto Protocol
. It supports the view that the former Prime Minister and some senior ministers are climate change skeptics
, and that the resources sector drives government energy policy, using the leaked minutes of a meeting between the Energy Minister, the Prime Minister and fossil fuel lobbyists to support their claim.
The Institute has been active in promoting renewable energy development
, and other mitigation measures, and it has campaigned strongly against developing a nuclear industry
in Australia.
More recently, the Institute has provided a critique of the proposed Australian emissions trading scheme (or Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme
), based on concerns that the proposed scheme failed to adequately take into account voluntary action.
for allegedly engaging in misleading and deceptive conduct: David Jones Ltd v The Australia Institute Ltd [2007] FCA 962. David Jones objected to a media release by the Australia Institute entitled "Corporate paedophilia – Sexualising children by advertising and marketing". The press release contained the statements: "It is particularly disturbing that this exploitation of young children appears to be becoming accepted or mainstream. Major retail chains such as David Jones and Myer have jumped on the bandwagon. When family department stores show no conscience on these issues, or are inured to the effects of their behaviour, the situation is very unhealthy." David Jones claimed that this statement contained a number of misleading and deceptive representations - including that "David Jones eroticises children in order to obtain profits". The matter was later settled.
criticised the Australia Institute for its proposal for mandatory filtering
of Internet Access by Internet service providers, which in 2008 become policy of the Federal Government:
"The proposed implementation of [this] system... would block innocuous and educational information and infringe Internet users' privacy."
The Institute has been largely funded by the Poola Foundation - a philanthropic organisation run by the Kantors, an offshoot of Rupert Murdoch
's family
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n think tank
Think tank
A think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, and technology issues. Most think tanks are non-profit organizations, which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax...
conducting public policy
Public policy
Public policy as government action is generally the principled guide to action taken by the administrative or executive branches of the state with regard to a class of issues in a manner consistent with law and institutional customs. In general, the foundation is the pertinent national and...
research, funded by grants from philanthropic trusts, memberships and commissioned research.
The Institute began in 1994 to construct and commission research and policy analysis on public debates and political and social issues and trends. The Institute seeks government, business or union grants to conduct research and analysis. The institute is based in Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
, Australian Capital Territory
Australian Capital Territory
The Australian Capital Territory, often abbreviated ACT, is the capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia and is the smallest self-governing internal territory...
.
The current Executive Director is economist Dr. Richard Denniss
Richard Denniss
Richard Denniss is the Executive Director of The Australia Institute and Adjunct Associate Professor in the Crawford School of Economics and Government at the Australian National University in Canberra, Australia...
. Denniss's immediate predecessor was Dr. Clive Hamilton
Clive Hamilton
Clive Charles Hamilton AM FRSA is an Australian public intellectual and Professor of Public Ethics at the Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics and the Vice-Chancellor's Chair in Public Ethics at Charles Sturt University. He is the Founder and former Executive Director of the The...
.
Philosophy
The Institute is generally considered a social leaning think tank with its goal described as:The Institute is determined to push public debate beyond the simplistic question of whether markets or governments have all the answers to more important questions: When does government need to intervene in the market? When should it stand back? And when regulation is needed, what form should it take?
Recent research
The Institute is acknowledged as Australia’s most influential progressive think tank and its researchers are prominent commentators on public policy issues, including recent work on climate change and emissions trading, taxation policy, paid parental leave and unemployment. The Institute is also known for its work on health, consumer affairs and trade practices.Climate change
The Institute is active in promoting global warmingGlobal warming
Global warming refers to the rising average temperature of Earth's atmosphere and oceans and its projected continuation. In the last 100 years, Earth's average surface temperature increased by about with about two thirds of the increase occurring over just the last three decades...
mitigation measures, and has been critical of the Australian federal government's perceived lack of action on climate change. The Institute was critical of the Howard
John Howard
John Winston Howard AC, SSI, was the 25th Prime Minister of Australia, from 11 March 1996 to 3 December 2007. He was the second-longest serving Australian Prime Minister after Sir Robert Menzies....
Government's decision to refuse to ratify the Kyoto Protocol
Kyoto Protocol
The Kyoto Protocol is a protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change , aimed at fighting global warming...
. It supports the view that the former Prime Minister and some senior ministers are climate change skeptics
Global warming controversy
Global warming controversy refers to a variety of disputes, significantly more pronounced in the popular media than in the scientific literature, regarding the nature, causes, and consequences of global warming...
, and that the resources sector drives government energy policy, using the leaked minutes of a meeting between the Energy Minister, the Prime Minister and fossil fuel lobbyists to support their claim.
The Institute has been active in promoting renewable energy development
Renewable energy commercialization
Renewable energy commercialization involves the deployment of three generations of renewable energy technologies dating back more than 100 years. First-generation technologies, which are already mature and economically competitive, include biomass, hydroelectricity, geothermal power and heat...
, and other mitigation measures, and it has campaigned strongly against developing a nuclear industry
Anti-nuclear movement in Australia
Nuclear testing, uranium mining and export, and nuclear energy have often been the subject of public debate in Australia, and the anti-nuclear movement in Australia has a long history...
in Australia.
More recently, the Institute has provided a critique of the proposed Australian emissions trading scheme (or Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme
Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme
The Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme was a proposed cap-and-trade system of emissions trading for anthropogenic greenhouse gases, due to be introduced in Australia in 2010 by the Rudd government, as part of its climate change policy. It marked a major change in the energy policy of Australia...
), based on concerns that the proposed scheme failed to adequately take into account voluntary action.
Media regulation
The Australia Institute was sued by retail department store David JonesDavid Jones Limited
David Jones Limited , colloquially known as DJs, is a high-end Australian department store chain.David Jones was founded in 1838 by David Jones, a Welsh immigrant, and is claimed to be the oldest continuously operating department store in the world still trading under its original name. It...
for allegedly engaging in misleading and deceptive conduct: David Jones Ltd v The Australia Institute Ltd [2007] FCA 962. David Jones objected to a media release by the Australia Institute entitled "Corporate paedophilia – Sexualising children by advertising and marketing". The press release contained the statements: "It is particularly disturbing that this exploitation of young children appears to be becoming accepted or mainstream. Major retail chains such as David Jones and Myer have jumped on the bandwagon. When family department stores show no conscience on these issues, or are inured to the effects of their behaviour, the situation is very unhealthy." David Jones claimed that this statement contained a number of misleading and deceptive representations - including that "David Jones eroticises children in order to obtain profits". The matter was later settled.
Mandatory internet filter
Electronic Frontiers AustraliaElectronic Frontiers Australia
Electronic Frontiers Australia Inc. is a non-profit Australian national non-government organisation representing Internet users concerned with online liberties and rights...
criticised the Australia Institute for its proposal for mandatory filtering
Internet censorship in Australia
Internet censorship in Australia currently consists of a regulatory regime under which the Australian Communications and Media Authority has the power to enforce content restrictions on Internet content hosted within Australia, and maintain a "black-list" of overseas websites which is then...
of Internet Access by Internet service providers, which in 2008 become policy of the Federal Government:
"The proposed implementation of [this] system... would block innocuous and educational information and infringe Internet users' privacy."
Funding
The Australia Institute is funded by memberships, donations from philanthropic trusts and individuals, and commissioned research. It has no formal political or commercial ties, the Institute states that it "is in a position to maintain its independence while advancing a vision for a fair and progressive Australia."The Institute has been largely funded by the Poola Foundation - a philanthropic organisation run by the Kantors, an offshoot of Rupert Murdoch
Rupert Murdoch
Keith Rupert Murdoch, AC, KSG is an Australian-American business magnate. He is the founder and Chairman and CEO of , the world's second-largest media conglomerate....
's family
Directors
- Sarah MaddisonSarah MaddisonSarah Maddison is an Australian author and Australian Research Council Future Fellow in the Faculty of Arts and Social Science at University of New South Wales....
(Chair), Senior Associate Dean, School of Politics and International Relations, University of New South WalesUniversity of New South WalesThe University of New South Wales , is a research-focused university based in Kensington, a suburb in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia... - Tony McMichael, Professor, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, The Australian National University
- Meredith Edwards, Emeritus Professor, University of CanberraUniversity of CanberraOver the years the Stone Day program has gradually become larger and larger, taking up a whole week and now Stonefest is one of Australia's most popular music festivals. The first foundation celebrations were held in 1971. In 1973 Stone Day celebrations were held over two days, which was expanded...
- Richard DennissRichard DennissRichard Denniss is the Executive Director of The Australia Institute and Adjunct Associate Professor in the Crawford School of Economics and Government at the Australian National University in Canberra, Australia...
(Executive Director) - Sharan BurrowSharan BurrowSharan Burrow is the General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation and a former President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions...
, President, Australian Council of Trade UnionsAustralian Council of Trade UnionsThe Australian Council of Trade Unions is the largest peak body representing workers in Australia. It is a national trade union centre of 46 affiliated unions.-History:The ACTU was formed in 1927 as the "Australian Council of Trade Unions"... - Barbara Pocock Director, Centre for Work and Life, University of South AustraliaUniversity of South AustraliaThe University of South Australia is a public university in the Australian state of South Australia. It was formed in 1991 with the merger of the South Australian Institute of Technology and Colleges of Advanced Education. It is the largest university in South Australia, with more than 36,000...
- Hugh SaddlerHugh SaddlerHugh Saddler has a degree in science from Adelaide University and a PhD from Cambridge University. He is the author of a book on Australian energy policy, Energy in Australia and over 50 scientific papers, monographs and articles on energy technology and environmental policy, and is recognised as...
, Managing Director, Energy Strategies Limited - Mark Wootton, Principal and Manager of Jigsaw Farms and Director of the Poola Charitable Foundation
- Spencer Zifcak Allan Myers Professor of Law, ACU and Barrister and Solicitor, Supreme Court of Victoria
- Lin Hatfield DoddsLin Hatfield DoddsLin Hatfield Dodds , Australian social activist and former Churchill Fellow, was an unsuccessful candidate for political office for the Australian Senate representing the Australian Capital Territory at the 2010 federal election, for the Australian Greens.-Early life and background:Hatfield Dodds...
National Director, UnitingCare AustraliaUnitingCare AustraliaUnitingCare Australia is the Uniting Church in Australia's umbrella community services body. UnitingCare Australia is committed to values based advocacy, speaking with and on behalf of those who are the most vulnerable and disadvantaged, for the common good.It is a sister body to UnitingJustice...
and President, Australian Council of Social ServiceAustralian Council of Social ServiceThe Australian Council of Social Service is an Australian advocacy group that represents the interests of organisations and individuals engaged in social welfare in Australia. It was formed in 1956.... - Ben Oquist Chief of Staff, Senator Bob Brown