All Blueprint Papers
December 04, 2020
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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