The Australia Institute

Australians lose $32 billion to gambling every year. "We are the biggest losers in the world per capita when it comes to gambling," says Martin Thomas, CEO of the Alliance for Gambling Reform. "It's reshaping a whole generation." 🎧 bit.ly/4nXsbPW @ebonybennett.bsky.social #auspol

This morning our co-CEO Leanne Minshull helped launch a public inquiry into AUKUS! Australians deserve transparency and should not be asked to simply accept a project of this magnitude without scrutiny. @leanneminshull.bsky.social #auspol

"So instead of some new submarines, or a new submarine, that we're *definitely* going to get... "It's all gonna be old submarines that we're *definitely* going to get?" @emmashortis.bsky.social & @angusrb.bsky.social on the latest update to the AUKUS submarine deal. #auspol 🎧 theaus.in/4u5tWf5

"When it's our elected representatives handing out those free lunches, the parliament and the public should really scrutinise not just who's getting them, but why?" - co-CEO Richard Denniss on ABC RN @richarddenniss.bsky.social #auspol

The US & Australian governments insist that the AUKUS submarine deal is "full steam ahead". But there appears to be a big gap between that political rhetoric & the reality, says Guardian journalist Ben Doherty. "The US is getting slower at building submarines, not faster." 🎧 theaus.in/43vlCKI

“You can only insure against unlikely events . . . The insurance industry will not help people in 20 years’ time with their flooded houses.” – Dr Richard Denniss, co-CEO ✍️ Add your name to the call for a climate disaster levy! https://theaus.in/3S1clYh

“If we have a 25% gas export tax, we’ll be at least $17 billion a year better off.” – Dr Richard Denniss, co-CEO, The Australia Institute The Petroleum Resource Rent Tax is broken. Australians deserve a fair return for our resources. ✍ Sign the petition! https://theaus.in/4dwf7NR

A reminder that gas is not a vital industry to Australia. As Polly Hemming explains, if anything, it costs the Australian economy. Some more gas myths debunked here: https://thepoint.com.au/factchecks/251111-does-the-gas-industry-really-support-215000-jobs

In an ironic act of secrecy, an FOI request by The Australia Institute has exposed how the Attorney General’s Department deliberately avoided scrutiny of the government’s bungled attempt to change the nation’s FOI laws. 📺 Senator @davidshoebridge.bsky.social at Senate Estimates #auspol

'Great...now tax the gas!' The prime minister dismissed calls to implement a 25% gas export tax as a "social media campaign". Our research shows it could raise $17 billion a year that could fund vital services...and the PM's replies are lighting up about it. 🎧 theaus.in/4tPVYv7

Woodside wants you to think we need more of their gas to support the transition to renewables.... 🤔 Even though they export the vast majority of the gas they get from Australia...on top of getting most of it for free! @richarddenniss.bsky.social #auspol

The Santos CEO says the government's proposed gas reservation policy will kill gas companies... 🤔 Even though Santos' share price has gone up 3.4% since the policy was announced! 📈 @grogsgamut.bsky.social #auspol

As it currently stands, more than half of the benefit of the capital gains tax discount go to the top 1%. People under 30 only got 2% of the benefit! 📻Senior Economist @mattgrudnoff.bsky.social on ABC Radio National #auspol

"We don't have a gas supply problem. We have a gas export problem. “This is now the time to act.” – Nicolette Boele MP ✍ Sign the petition calling on the government to tax the gas industry its fair share! 👇 https://theaus.in/4uAU9Dp

Premier Peter Malinauskas’ decision to overturn SA's ban on gas fracking is not only irresponsible, but also unnecessary. Australia doesn't have a gas shortage problem, we have a gas export problem. And fracking in vulnerable farming communities won't fix it. #auspol @richarddenniss.bsky.social

"Australians deserve to get a fair return on the export of our gas." "Companies can export it...but they should be paying us 25% of whatever they get for that gas." - @davidpocock.bsky.social 👏👏👏 #auspol

The PM says we at the Australia Institute need to be 'fair dinkum' about a gas tax. We're happy to be fair dinkum! Including about how the PM said some pretty misleading things in that interview. 📻co-CEO Richard Denniss on ABC Radio Perth #auspol @richarddenniss.bsky.social

Future generations were never going to benefit from negative gearing and the CGT discount in the same way as boomers and Gen X. They were effectively locked out. 📺 Chief Economist Greg Jericho at the Senate Committee on Intergenerational Housing Inequity @grogsgamut.bsky.social #auspol

"The security boys just go wild for it." @emmashortis.bsky.social on the 'Thucydides trap' & false narratives about war being inevitable. "What some blokes thought about war several millennia ago is not really relevant to our significantly changed circumstances." 🎧 theaus.in/4di7GcT

"Over the last ten years, the population has increased by 16%, and the number of homes has increased by 19%." "The housing crisis wasn't caused by a drop in supply." @mattgrudnoff.bsky.social #auspol

"If you look around the world, there are some countries that don't have housing affordability issues, and they all have one thing in common. And that's a large role for the government in the housing sector." @mattgrudnoff.bsky.social #auspol

Did you see our billboard truck in Bondi, NSW? 👀 Australia’s great gas giveaway has now reached more than $70 billion. That's revenue the government is estimated to have lost that by failing to implement a 25% gas export tax. ✍️ Sign to support a 25% gas export tax ➡️ https://theaus.in/3R8Lh9o

Australia Institute Deputy Director Ebony Bennett asks The People's Economist Gary Stevenson, why don't Government's tax wealth properly? Listen to Follow the Money for more from Gary: https://theaus.in/4rM2fYh

“It seems to be entirely lost on the government . . . that Australia’s natural gas does NOT belong to them. "Australia's natural gas resource belongs to ALL Australians." – Andrew Wilkie MP ✍️ Sign to support a 25% gas export tax ➡️ https://theaus.in/4eNfW5P

The Farrer by-election result is another example of how there is no such thing as a safe seat. Director of The Australia Institute's Democracy & Accountability Program Bill Browne explains. Read more here: https://australiainstitute.org.au/report/power-sharing-in-australian-parliament/

"Power and resistance flow through everyday acts of courage. Together, we hold quite a lot of power." - Polly Hemming There's bravery out there right now, in Australia and around the world. You can pre-order our new book about bravery here: https://australiainstitute.org.au/store/a-time-for-bravery

Anthony Albanese says we at the Australia Institute need to be fair dinkum about a 25% gas export tax. Well, this is us being fair dinkum! @richarddenniss.bsky.social #auspol

A federal court has ruled that Coles misled shoppers over discounted prices. "It's not like we were just talking about 1 or 2 items. We were talking well over 200." - Chief Economist Greg Jericho @grogsgamut.bsky.social #auspol

“Gas that is exported from this country should be paid for by the gas companies that export it. "And a 25% gas export tax is the way to go. "Australians deserve a fair return." – Senator David Pocock ✍️ Sign to support a 25% gas export tax ➡️ https://theaus.in/4dkPcsp

“You know why the Norwegians charge their kids nothing to go to university? “Because they tax the gas industry and they fund public services.” – Dr Richard Denniss, co-CEO of The Australia Institute ✍ Sign to support a 25% tax on all Australian gas exports ➡️ https://theaus.in/3R78MQ4

Angus Taylor''s plan to bar migrants from accessing welfare until they become citizens ignores the fact that the vast majority of those people already face up to decades-long waits to access welfare. "It's just another bomb in the culture war." @amyremeikis.bsky.social #auspol

Coles are facing tens of millions in fines after a federal court found it mislead shoppers over discount prices. "It really needs to send a message both to Coles and the entire industry just how egregious this type of behaviour is" @grogsgamut.bsky.social #auspol

“We’ve actually changed direction in this Budget and said . . . we need to start making sure that whether you work for a living or you inherit for a living, you have to pay tax.” – Dr Richard Denniss, co-CEO of The Australia Institute Read our coverage on The Point ➡️ https://thepoint.com.au/

Albanese was asked about a gas tax on SBS, and a few of his answers sounded more like gas company spin than a government making sure Australians get a fair return for their resources! @grogsgamut.bsky.social #auspol

"A majority think that Trump is a greater threat to world peace than the leaders of the two most powerful authoritarian states." - @emmashortis.bsky.social 52% of Australians now believe Trump is a greater threat to world peace than Vladimir Putin (17%) or Xi Jinping (16%). 🎧 theaus.in/4d6h2IA

“A gas export tax would raise $17 billion a year ✅ “The only way to avoid paying a gas export tax would be to sell it to Australians ✅ “So you don’t need a [gas] reservation policy if you’ve got a gas export tax in place.” ✍ Sign to support a 25% gas export tax ➡️ https://theaus.in/4d8tAiH

The massive cuts to the NDIS won't fix the systemic fraud and inflated costs. Instead, some of the most vulnerable members of the community will pay the price. @grogsgamut.bsky.social #auspol

Now that Tammy Tyrell's joined the Labor Party, that's one more member who supports a 25% tax on gas exports! A 25% tax would raise $17 billion every year to fund essential services. It just makes sense! #auspol

The changes to the capital gains tax discount don't apply to new build houses, so fearmongering about discouraging new supply is just wrong. "If the old system did encourage new supply, then it's going to continue to encourage new supply." @mattgrudnoff.bsky.social @ebonybennett.bsky.social #auspol

“The foreign owned gas companies get more than half the gas we export for free,” says Dr Richard Denniss, co-CEO of The Australia Institute. “You know, brickies pay for bricks, bakers pay for flour, the gas industry doesn’t pay for gas.” ✍ Sign the petition: https://theaus.in/4dmljX8

What the hell is going on with gas in this country? 👉 Join Dr Richard Denniss and Ebony Bennett to unpack everything gas and the 2026-27 Federal Budget this Thursday 14 May at 11AM AEST – LIVE on Zoom! Register now ⬇️ https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/9217786425965/WN_LdxUQzgfRvGrxFb3VmmjDw

The Albanese government finally released its formal response to the Murphy review into online gambling, but there's a lot missing. "These kinds of restrictions fall well short of the total ban that the Murphy Review called for." @mhharrington.bsky.social #auspol

Inflation means more GST going to Tasmania, but everyone pays higher prices. A 25% tax on gas exports could provide enough for Tassie to fund a stadium every three years! @leanneminshull.bsky.social #auspol

There was no ambition in the budget to end the free ride for big gas. And not only will the beer excise continue to raise more than the PRRT, the gap between them is growing! @grogsgamut.bsky.social @mattgrudnoff.bsky.social #auspol #Budget2026

The massive cuts to the NDIS in this year's budget are going to have devastating consequences for some of the most vulnerable members of our communities. All while big gas continues to get a free ride. @mattgrudnoff.bsky.social @grogsgamut.bsky.social #auspol #Budget2026

The budget brought big changes to how wealth is taxed in Australia! Trusts will now pay a minimum 30% tax rate, which will raise around $4.4 billion a year, and reduce inequality. @grogsgamut.bsky.social @mattgrudnoff.bsky.social #auspol #Budget2026

The rumours were true, the budget brought big changes for negative gearing and the capital gains tax discount! "For the first time in forever, I'm actually optimistic about housing affordability." - @mattgrudnoff.bsky.social @grogsgamut.bsky.social #auspol #Budget2026