Centre for Independent Studies

Centre for Independent Studies
Name	Centre for Independent Studies
Type	Think tank
Founded	1976
Founder	Greg Lindsay
Headquarters	Sydney
Location	Australia
Leader title	Executive Director
Leader name	Simon Breheny
Focus	Public policy

Centre for Independent Studies is an Australian public policy think tank founded in 1976. It is based in Sydney and engages in research, publications, and events on issues related to public policy reform and market-oriented approaches. The organisation interacts with Australian political institutions such as the Parliament of Australia, Liberal Party of Australia, and actors linked to John Howard and Malcolm Turnbull eras while also connecting to international networks including Atlas Network, Heritage Foundation, and Cato Institute.

History

The organisation was established in 1976 by Greg Lindsay during a period shaped by debates following the Whitlam Government and reactions in the aftermath of the 1975 Australian constitutional crisis, aligning with contemporaneous developments involving Margaret Thatcher, Ronald Reagan, and neoliberal policy shifts. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s it expanded amid policy debates involving the Hawke Government, the Keating Government, and discussions around Economic Rationalism linked to figures such as Paul Keating and commentators like Hugh Morgan. In the 2000s and 2010s the organisation hosted events with visitors from institutions like Heritage Foundation, Adam Smith Institute, and scholars associated with Friedrich Hayek and Milton Friedman, contributing to discourse during the Howard Government and later interactions during the Gillard Government and the Abbott Government periods. Leadership transitions included directors and scholars who previously worked with institutions such as University of Sydney, Australian National University, and international centres like George Mason University and London School of Economics.

Mission and Ideology

The organisation states a mission promoting classical liberal principles influenced by thinkers such as Friedrich Hayek, Adam Smith, Milton Friedman, and John Stuart Mill. Its ideological positioning aligns with networks that include Institute of Economic Affairs, Manhattan Institute, Hoover Institution, and Adam Smith Institute. Policy stances often reflect preferences for deregulation debated in contexts linked to the High Court of Australia, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, and regulatory reforms advocated during the Industry Commission era. The organisation's framing of reform has been discussed alongside advocates such as Tim Wilson, commentators like Ross Gittins, and economists associated with Reserve Bank of Australia debates.

Research and Publications

The organisation produces policy papers, monographs, and commentary often published by authors affiliated with universities such as University of Melbourne, Monash University, University of New South Wales, and international schools like Georgetown University and Stanford University. Its output includes research on taxation debated in relation to the Goods and Services Tax, welfare reform discussed amid policies from the Rudd Government, and energy papers intersecting with matters concerning Snowy Hydro and debates involving AEMO (Australian Energy Market Operator). The think tank’s scholars have published analyses referencing institutions such as Productivity Commission, International Monetary Fund, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and policy frameworks from World Bank reports. It operates events and lecture series hosting figures from Australian Broadcasting Corporation, The Australian Financial Review, Sky News Australia, and visiting fellows from Cato Institute and Hudson Institute.

Policy Areas

The organisation focuses on areas including public finance where it critiques tax settings tied to debates about the Fraser Government legacy, social policy engaging with issues from the National Disability Insurance Scheme rollout, education policy intersecting with discussions involving Gonski Review recommendations, and energy and climate policy related to controversies involving Emissions Trading Scheme proposals and the Paris Agreement. Other programs touch on regulation with reference to rulings from the High Court of Australia, immigration dialogues connected to Australian Border Force and policies following the Pacific Solution, and health policy including interactions with debates about Medicare and pharmaceutical reforms discussed alongside the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. The organisation has published on industrial relations in contexts linked to the Fair Work Act 2009 and infrastructure debates referencing projects like WestConnex and proposals discussed during Infrastructure Australia consultations.

Funding and Governance

Funding sources have included donations from individuals, philanthropic foundations, and corporate supporters; past donors and supporters have been discussed in media reports alongside firms active in sectors such as resources and finance including links to debates around BHP, Rio Tinto, and financial institutions engaged with Commonwealth Bank of Australia. Governance is overseen by a board comprising business leaders, academics from institutions such as University of Queensland and Macquarie University, and former public servants with backgrounds in ministries tied to the Treasury and state administrations such as New South Wales Government. The organisation’s transparency and donor disclosures have been compared with reporting standards at think tanks like Institute for Public Policy Research, Brookings Institution, and Chatham House.

Influence and Criticism

The organisation has influenced policy debates through submissions to inquiries by bodies such as the Productivity Commission and appearances before parliamentary committees in the Parliament of Australia. Supporters cite its role in policy innovation comparable to contributions by Heritage Foundation or Cato Institute in the United States, while critics from outlets including The Guardian, Sydney Morning Herald, and commentators associated with Australian Council of Social Service and academics from University of New South Wales argue it promotes pro-business positions and questions about donor influence. Debates involving its stance on climate policy have involved exchanges with groups like Australian Conservation Foundation and researchers at University of Melbourne; disputes over welfare and taxation have drawn responses from policy institutes such as Grattan Institute and Australia Institute.

Category:Think tanks based in Australia