The Australia Institute

The Australia Institute The Australia Institute is an independent Canberra-based think-tank established in 1994. Authorised by E. Bennett, The Australia Institute, Canberra 2604.
(441)

Research by The Australia Institute reveals the big four banks are raking in $228,900 profit over the 30-year life of an...
05/06/2026

Research by The Australia Institute reveals the big four banks are raking in $228,900 profit over the 30-year life of an average $736,000 home loan.

“These numbers are obscene. Rising interest rates and rising prices are hurting Australians. But you know who’s not hurting and who never hurts? The banks. While so many Australians are going backwards, the banks’ profits are only going in one direction – up,” said Dr Richard Denniss, co-CEO of The Australia Institute.

Read more ➡️ https://australiainstitute.org.au/post/australian-banks-now-make-228900-profit-from-the-average-home-loan-new-research/?utm_campaign=article&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_term=ECN_CostLiving

“Wearable mid-century to present-day articles of clothing make up the stock of excess clothing. However, the bulk of it ...
05/06/2026

“Wearable mid-century to present-day articles of clothing make up the stock of excess clothing. However, the bulk of it came in the last three decades with the explosion of mass produced fast fashion and, more recently, ultra-fast fashion” writes Nina Gbor, Director of the Circular Economy & Waste Program at the Australia Institute.

‘Globally, the acceleration of fast fashion has contributed to more than 100 billion garments being manufactured annually. In 2024, research from The Australia Institute revealed that Australia was the world’s largest per capita consumer of textile waste.’

‘Some might say excess is just the nature of capitalism. The cost to the environment, however, is so colossal that the fashion industry is often called one of the planet’s biggest polluters.’

Read the full piece on The Point: https://thepoint.com.au/opinions/260605-we-have-too-many-clothes-the-cost-of-textile-overproduction

The government’s latest reforms don’t do nearly enough to protect Australians from gambling harm.On this episode of Foll...
05/06/2026

The government’s latest reforms don’t do nearly enough to protect Australians from gambling harm.

On this episode of Follow the Money, Martin Thomas from the Alliance for Gambling Reform and Morgan Harrington from The Australia Institute join Ebony Bennett to discuss how Australians came to have the biggest per capita gambling losses in the world, how online sports betting is turbocharging the damage caused by gambling, and the government’s straw man argument about “balance” when it comes to reform.

🎧 Listen to the episode: https://australiainstitute.org.au/post/online-gambling-reshaping-a-whole-generation-as-government-reforms-fall-well-short/?utm_campaign=article&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_term=SOC_Gambling

“The Bill effectively accepts that some people may be unable to access appropriate healthcare because of cost or geograp...
05/06/2026

“The Bill effectively accepts that some people may be unable to access appropriate healthcare because of cost or geography, while also excluding them from accessing functional supports through the NDIS,” said Palliative Care Australia (PCA) National Policy Director Josh Fear.

Mr Fear said the proposed changes overlook the challenges faced by Australians living with serious illness, particularly those in rural, regional and remote areas where access to specialist and palliative care services is already limited.

“People approaching the end of life should not be left navigating gaps between systems while trying to manage serious illness, disability and distress,” he said.

“We are calling on the Senate Committee and the Australian Government to ensure the legislation protects equitable access to both healthcare and disability supports for people with life-limiting conditions,” Mr Fear said.

Read the full piece on The Point: https://thepoint.com.au/news/260605-proposed-ndis-changes-risk-leaving-australians-with-life-limiting-illnesses-without-essential-support-peak-body-warns

Come work with us!If you have a knack for media production and want an opportunity to make an impact on important social...
05/06/2026

Come work with us!

If you have a knack for media production and want an opportunity to make an impact on important social and environmental issues, this is the role for you!

Applications close 18th Jun 2026.
Apply here! ⤵️
https://australiainstitute.org.au/about/jobs/

This week, former Canberra Liberals leader Leanne Castley left the party and will now sit as an independent in the Legis...
05/06/2026

This week, former Canberra Liberals leader Leanne Castley left the party and will now sit as an independent in the Legislative Assembly.

Castley blamed the Liberal Party’s “toxic culture” as the reason for her move, saying “everyone deserves a safe workplace free from bullying, intimidation and threats of violence.”

This follows the Liberal party pushing out their first female leader in February, and with this move, the Coalition now has just 98 women elected across Australia’s state, territory and federal parliaments – compared to over 200 men.

That’s a far cry from Labor or the Greens, with women making up a majority of those parties’ MPs, and it’s only marginally ahead of One Nation, where three quarters of MPs are men.

Read the full piece on The Point: https://thepoint.com.au/off-the-charts/260605-the-coalitions-women-problem-still-isnt-going-away

“In 2025, the state government approved the clearing of 77,000 hectares of native vegetation, much of which supports spe...
05/06/2026

“In 2025, the state government approved the clearing of 77,000 hectares of native vegetation, much of which supports species recognised as being on track to extinction, including our iconic black cockatoo” said Conservation Council of WA Executive Director Matt Roberts.

According to CCWA’s newly released Back from the Brink report, WA has already lost 16 flora species and 23 fauna species to extinction.

Professor Kingsley Dixon AO, the 2026 WA Senior Australian of the Year, said scientists and community members had united behind a common cause.

“Significant transformation across society is needed for nature and people, and yet optimism is key to inspiring future generations of environmental stewards,” said Professor Rachel Standish, Research and Teaching Academic and Associate Dean Research and Innovation at Murdoch University.

Heidi Hardisty, Deputy-Chairperson, Urban Bushland Council WA Inc, said it was also time to stop urban sprawl in Perth.

“It’s time to protect our threatened native vegetation that is found nowhere else on earth.”

““For too long, our laws have failed to protect nature – in the courtroom, in ministers’ offices, in boardrooms and in the outside world,” said Ruby Hamilton, Special Counsel with the Environmental Defenders Office - EDO.

Read the full piece on The Point: https://thepoint.com.au/news/260605-pull-nature-back-from-the-brink-ccwa-urges-shift-in-wa-government-priorities-amid-ongoing-land-clearing-approvals

Address

PO Box 3839 Manuka
Canberra, ACT
2603

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Australia Institute posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to The Australia Institute:

Shortcuts

Share

Category