Summary: The Australian government has recently approved Adani’s Carmichael coal project. If built, it would be the biggest coal mine in Australia. This briefing note puts the vast scale of Carmichael into context. The mine pits themselves would be 40km long and 10km wide, bigger than many capital cities. At peak capacity the mine would...

This report examines the potential economic harm that major expansion and construction of new coal mines can cause, including: Lower coal prices associated increased supply and associated reductions in royalty and corporate tax payments Decline in the terms of trade Job losses in existing coal mines and regions Bankruptcies of coal companies and the inability...

Overview Examines the relationship between the Queensland Government and the fossil fuel industry. The report reveals a pattern of secrecy, a lack of accountability and transparency and a fast moving revolving door between the highest level of the bureaucracy and government, where political donations may well be just the tip of the iceberg. The cosy...

In July 2015 The Australia Institute conducted a national opinion poll of 1408 people through Research Now. Respondents were selected to produce a representative sample based on gender, age and state.The survey asked about the government’s higher education policy and about opinions on Australia’s universities. The poll focused on opinions of universities and funding arrangements...

Australia is one of the richest nations in the world, at arguably the richest point in our history. Yet our commitment to foreign aid is declining. The Coalition government plans to cut aid funding by $1.4 billion per year or 33 per cent by 2017-18. To put our aid budget in perspective, however, we need...