All Blueprint Papers
December 04, 2020
Evidence-Based Policy Research Project 2022
November 21, 2022
Blueprint Institute worked with Per Capita as part of the Evidence-Based Policy Research Project's 2022 iteration. Our analysis used the Wiltshire Criteria to assess the evidence base for 20 federal and state bills. The Evidence Based Policy Research Project seeks to determine the degree to which Australian public policymakers adequately follow an evidence-based...
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Logging off: A cost-benefit analysis of land use options for the native forests of the Central Highlands, Victoria
November 15, 2022
Australia is home to some of the world’s most ancient forests. The benefits of native species forests are extensive—they are efficient carbon sinks, they are amongst the most biodiverse environments on the planet, and they provide vast quantities of water (and preserve the quality of the water table). This paper offers policymakers...
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Ensuring choice: A mechanism to control non-government school fees
September 08, 2022
Over the last decade, fees at independent schools have risen by over 50% nationwide, 54% in major cities, and in some instances up to 80%—far outstripping both inflation and wage growth, and creating an affordability crisis for families across Australia. The lack of transparency around non-government school expenditure presently means that funds raised...
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Breaking new ground: Challenges and opportunities of a changing energy landscape in regional Australia (Latrobe Valley, Victoria)
August 04, 2022
A new Blueprint institute series takes a deep dive into the regional realities of Australia’s shift to a clean energy future—and what that will mean for communities on the ground. Alongside the already released South-West Queensland paper, they examine Central Queensland, the Latrobe Valley of Victoria, the Central Coast of NSW, and...
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Breaking new ground: Challenges and opportunities of a changing energy landscape in regional Australia (Central Queensland)
August 04, 2022
A new Blueprint institute series takes a deep dive into the regional realities of Australia’s shift to a clean energy future—and what that will mean for communities on the ground. Alongside the already released South-West Queensland paper, they examine Central Queensland, the Latrobe Valley of Victoria, the Central Coast of NSW, and...
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Breaking new ground: Challenges and opportunities of a changing energy landscape in regional Australia (Central Coast NSW)
August 04, 2022
A new Blueprint institute series takes a deep dive into the regional realities of Australia’s shift to a clean energy future—and what that will mean for communities on the ground. Alongside the already released South-West Queensland paper, they examine Central Queensland, the Latrobe Valley of Victoria, the Central Coast of NSW, and...
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Breaking new ground: Challenges and opportunities of a changing energy landscape in regional Australia (Collie WA)
August 04, 2022
A new Blueprint institute series takes a deep dive into the regional realities of Australia’s shift to a clean energy future—and what that will mean for communities on the ground. Alongside the already released South-West Queensland paper, they examine Central Queensland, the Latrobe Valley of Victoria, the Central Coast of NSW, and...
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Untangling the NEM: A policymaker's guide to the National Electricity Market
June 14, 2022
With the rise in electricity prices, the National Electricity Market is at the front and centre of our political discourse. It is now more important than ever that our leaders understand how the NEM works. Conjecture abounds on what happens when the wind doesn’t blow and the sun doesn’t shine, but these...
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Post-election briefing 2022: Changing constituencies, changing prospects for reform
May 26, 2022
The 2022 Federal Election reshaped our political landscape. Labor will form government despite having an astonishingly low primary vote of around 32%. The Coalition—particularly the Liberal Party—also suffered from a historically low primary vote. The Morrison Government primarily lost the election due to the rise of strong independents in traditionally safe, blue-ribbon...
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Budget Blueprint 2022: From recovery to resilience
March 24, 2022
Since Federation, Australia has grown from a colonial outpost to a leading global economy on the back of a series of commodities booms. Successive generations have benefitted from continually improving living standards. But by inheriting lucrative, plentiful natural resources like coal and iron ore, our development has not cultivated the diversification necessary...
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Breaking new ground: Challenges and opportunities of a changing energy landscape in regional Australia (South-West Queensland)
February 08, 2022
The emerging clean energy economy offers a window of opportunity for South-West Queensland. Capturing this potential requires a targeted and proactive policy approach that leverages the region’s entrenched advantages and lays the bedrock for sustained prosperity. Communities in South-West Queensland—including those which house our coal-fired generators—have long formed a cornerstone of our...
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From the ground up: A Blueprint for economic diversification in regional Australia
September 28, 2021
Coal mining communities, and those that house our coal-fired generators, have long been the backbone of the Australian economy. These communities have supplied power to our homes, provided employment to millions of Australians, and brought foreign capital to our shores. But in Australia, a massive change is already underway in our regions....
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Budget Blueprint 2021: The roaring twenties
May 04, 2021
This decade could go one of two ways. It could be like the last one—marred by political instability, a few epic policy failures, and a stagnant economy. Or it could be like the last twenties in much of Western society—a decade of economic prosperity with a distinct cultural edge. Our relatively unscathed...
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Bye-bye tax returns
April 27, 2021
Australians spend $2.3 billion a year managing their tax affairs—about what we spend on Coca-Cola products. And, because it’s tax deductible, a big chunk is picked up by the taxpayer. 70% of people pay an accountant to prepare their tax return—an unusually high proportion compared to other countries. The ATO costs us...
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JobMatcher: Real unemployment insurance
February 16, 2021
Australia doesn’t have true unemployment insurance. Not really. Instead what we have is a fairly meagre form of permanent welfare—not too high to prevent recipients from accepting whatever work they can get, but not high enough to ensure a dignified standard of living. With its universal, flat, and very low rate, our...
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Phasing down gracefully: Halving electricity emissions this decade
December 21, 2020
Net-zero is inevitable, by 2050 or even earlier. To get there, our economy will need to undergo a tremendous structural transformation. The longer we delay, the costlier it will be. Our 2030 emissions target is a critical milestone on the path to net-zero. Relying on the COVID-19 slowdown and uncoordinated state action...
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Powering the next boom
October 29, 2020
Australia has committed to full decarbonisation by some point this century. But if we don’t commit soon to rapidly decarbonise, the decision may be forced upon us. Japan, South Korea, the UK, and the EU, among others, have already committed to net-zero by 2050. China has pledged net-zero by 2060. The Biden...
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Budget Blueprint
September 28, 2020
Australia is at a critical juncture. The COVID-19 crisis has cut short three decades of uninterrupted economic growth. We must support the economy while demand remains weak, but we must also give targeted support to the most vulnerable. The combination of welcome discretionary actions and automatic stabilisers have ballooned net debt, and...
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Kickstarting the engine - short-term support for Australia's Small Businesses
August 19, 2020
Small businesses are the bedrock of the Australian economy, but they are suffering disproportionally through the COVID-19 crisis. With limited cash reserves and limited access to capital relative to larger businesses, many small businesses have been riding out the times of lockdown and uncertainty by relying on government support, tax holidays (e.g....
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A Blueprint for the National Cabinet
June 09, 2020
The National Cabinet has the potential to solve some of the most intractable challenges facing Australia. The Blueprint Institute commends Prime Minister Morrison and the State Premiers for committing to it for the long term. The Australian people are on the same page as our national leaders and have high hopes for...
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