Report
What is prison good for?
This report investigates the place and purpose of prison in contemporary Australian society and assess the part it plays in the criminal justice systems. It also argues, in line with recent research, that the marginal effect of prison in Australia appears to be declining.
Report
Free to speak and free to believe? What Australians think about freedom of speech
In order to determine the attitudes of Australians towards freedom of speech, the Centre for Independent Studies commissioned YouGov to poll 2169 Australians in December 2022, with the data weighted by a number of factors, including age, gender, education, socio-economic status and religion. This resultant paper provides an important insight into just what Australians think...
Report
Cancelling the culture: Critical Theory and the chasm of incoherence
This report looks at key philosophical and ideological issues underlying cancel culture and examines the flawed foundations upon which Critical Theory rests. The report also sets out some key principles to guide responses to critics who insist that Australia — a country we know exemplifies a liberal and tolerant society — must be condemned and...
Report
Cancelled! How ideological cleansing threatens Australia
Like all modern societies, Australia has to understand, interpret and learn from its history. In this paper, Peter Kurti argues that we must be sure to protect our country, our communities and our citizens from the three dangers posed by cancel culture — the corrosion of civility; the destruction of trust; and the fuelling of...
Report
Civil society after COVID: on re-building a virtuous civic culture
Australia faces an unprecedented economic and social challenge. In addition to economic recovery, the equally crucial work of civic repair is required as part of the social transition out of the Covid-19 pandemic. This paper argues that a strong civic culture will be integral to rebuilding prosperity.