The Brisbane Institute
Encyclopedia
The Brisbane Institute is an independent think tank
based in Brisbane
, Queensland
, Australia
, founded in 1999. It holds various talks, functions, debates and similar activities on average once every 2 to 3 weeks. Notable speakers include Justice Michael Kirby, Lady Kennedy of The Shaws
and the painter Jeffrey Smart
.
The Institute specialises in social, political, economic and cultural issues. In 2004-05 it had a particular emphasis on the regional planning issues confronting South East Queensland
(SEQ). In addition to the regular functions, The Brisbane Institute also curates exhibitions, including 'The Two Hundred Kilometre City' and 'Defending the North: Queensland in the Pacific War'.
The Brisbane Institute is funded by The University of Queensland
, the Brisbane City Council, the Queensland State Government
and a number of companies. The Institute runs an e-zine on its website called The Brisbane Line - a somewhat cheeky title alluding to the widespread fear and belief in Queensland that in the event of an invasion of Queensland by the Japanese in the Pacific War
, that the rest of Australia through the Federal government would abandon all of Queensland to the north of Brisbane (the theoretical 'Brisbane Line
'.)
The Brisbane Institute receives a mention in The Latham Diaries, Mark Latham
, MUP 2005, on page 109.
to Noosa
and the possibility of that development being continuous sometime in the future. Currently 2.335 million people live in this area, 1.8 million of which live in Brisbane. It is estimated that the total population of the "200 Kilometre city" could be 7 million by 2026.
A related issue put forward by the Institute is that of the amount of "green space" in SEQ. In an audit by the Institute comparing the green space of greater Sydney
and SEQ, it was found that 17.4% of SEQ was green space (including National Park, Conservation Park, State Forest and State Reserve) compared with 42.9% of Greater Sydney. The study area for both cities was 150 kilometres East-West and 250 kilometres North-South.
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...
based in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Australia
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...
, founded in 1999. It holds various talks, functions, debates and similar activities on average once every 2 to 3 weeks. Notable speakers include Justice Michael Kirby, Lady Kennedy of The Shaws
Helena Kennedy, Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws
Helena Ann Kennedy, Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws QC, FRSA, is a British barrister, broadcaster, and Labour member of the House of Lords. She is a former chair of the Human Genetics Commission, which advises the UK government on ethical, social, and legal issues arising from developments in...
and the painter Jeffrey Smart
Jeffrey Smart
Jeffrey Smart , is an expatriate Australian painter, who is known for his modernist depictions of urban landscapes.His first goal was to become an architect; however, he went on to become an art teacher after studying at Adelaide Teacher's College and the South Australian School of Art and Crafts...
.
The Institute specialises in social, political, economic and cultural issues. In 2004-05 it had a particular emphasis on the regional planning issues confronting South East Queensland
South East Queensland
South East Queensland is a region of the state of Queensland in Australia, which contains approximately two-thirds of the state population...
(SEQ). In addition to the regular functions, The Brisbane Institute also curates exhibitions, including 'The Two Hundred Kilometre City' and 'Defending the North: Queensland in the Pacific War'.
The Brisbane Institute is funded by The University of Queensland
University of Queensland
The University of Queensland, also known as UQ, is a public university located in state of Queensland, Australia. Founded in 1909, it is the oldest and largest university in Queensland and the fifth oldest in the nation...
, the Brisbane City Council, the Queensland State Government
Government of Queensland
The Government of Queensland is commonly known as the "Queensland Government".The form of the Government of Queensland is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1859, although it has been amended many times since then...
and a number of companies. The Institute runs an e-zine on its website called The Brisbane Line - a somewhat cheeky title alluding to the widespread fear and belief in Queensland that in the event of an invasion of Queensland by the Japanese in the Pacific War
Pacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
, that the rest of Australia through the Federal government would abandon all of Queensland to the north of Brisbane (the theoretical 'Brisbane Line
Brisbane Line
The "Brisbane Line" was a controversial defence proposal allegedly formulated during World War II to concede the northern portion of the Australian continent in the event of an invasion by the Japanese...
'.)
The Brisbane Institute receives a mention in The Latham Diaries, Mark Latham
Mark Latham
Mark William Latham , an author and former Australian politician, was leader of the Federal Parliamentary Australian Labor Party and Leader of the Opposition from December 2003 to January 2005....
, MUP 2005, on page 109.
The 200 Kilometre City
The Brisbane Institute curated the exhibition "The 200 Kilometre City" which opened in September 2004 at the Museum of Brisbane. The title refers to the linear urban development extending from Tweed HeadsTweed Heads, New South Wales
Tweed Heads is a town located on the Tweed River in north-eastern New South Wales, Australia in Tweed Shire. Tweed Heads is located next to the border with Queensland, adjacent to the "Twin Town" of Coolangatta, a suburb of the Gold Coast...
to Noosa
Noosa, Queensland
The Shire of Noosa was a Local Government Area located about north of Brisbane in the Sunshine Coast region of South East Queensland, Australia...
and the possibility of that development being continuous sometime in the future. Currently 2.335 million people live in this area, 1.8 million of which live in Brisbane. It is estimated that the total population of the "200 Kilometre city" could be 7 million by 2026.
A related issue put forward by the Institute is that of the amount of "green space" in SEQ. In an audit by the Institute comparing the green space of greater Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
and SEQ, it was found that 17.4% of SEQ was green space (including National Park, Conservation Park, State Forest and State Reserve) compared with 42.9% of Greater Sydney. The study area for both cities was 150 kilometres East-West and 250 kilometres North-South.