All Blueprint Papers
December 04, 2020
Measuring up: leveraging consumer demand to drive agricultural sustainability
December 02, 2025
Agriculture is at the heart of Australia's identity, economy, and future. With farmers caring for over half the country’s land and producing 90% of the food we eat, agriculture underpins our food security, sustains rural livelihoods, and helps feed a growing world. Despite the ongoing work by farmers to innovate their practices...
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Winning back the Coalition's missing middle
September 01, 2025
At the 2025 House of Representatives Election the number of Australians allocating their primary vote to candidates from the Liberal and National Parties (including their associated state and territory parties) hit a historic low of 31.8%. Unlike Labor, whose declining vote share has historically flowed back through the Greens, the Coalition cannot...
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Between promise and pragmatism: why renewables should lead and nuclear should wait
May 01, 2025
Australia faces an urgent need to decarbonise its energy grid as 90% of the coal-fired power fleet retires by 2035. Delaying coal’s exit risks severe economic, environmental, and reliability consequences, including billions more emissions and potential blackouts. Accelerating renewable energy deployment is critical, yet a pragmatic, evidence-based approach must also consider all...
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Supporting policymaking accountability by optimising Statements of Public Interest: lessons learned report
April 23, 2025
High quality policymaking is essential for the wellbeing and progress of Australian society. Transparent, high quality policymaking also enhances public trust in government decisions. Improving the quality of policy in Australia is of fundamental importance in the face of declining public trust in political institutions and the increasing complexity of challenges facing...
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Cultivating resilience: advancing sustainable agriculture in Australia
February 27, 2025
Australia’s agricultural sector is a cornerstone of our national identity. Our farmers feed our country, keep supermarket shelves stocked, support the vitality of our regional and rural centres, and make essential contributions to the Australian economy. Farmers already well know how closely their businesses and livelihoods are intertwined with the health of...
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How the sausage is made: assessing Australian policymaking practices in the energy sector
February 13, 2025
The energy sector is critical to the wellbeing of Australians and is going through major structural change. Australia’s energy sector is facing a seismic shift, with the phase-out of coal and the integration of renewable energy sources transforming both Australia’s energy landscape and economy. To rise to the challenge and meet Australia’s...
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Submission to the NSW parliamentary inquiry on the impact of Renewable Energy Zones (REZs) in rural and regional communities in NSW
February 01, 2025
This submission centres on the adequacy of community consultation and engagement in the development of Renewable Energy Zones and associated projects. Our analysis is based on independent research, as well as interviews with government and community officials. Our recommendations include: Improving transparency in landowner negotiations; Developing a standard template for lease agreements;...
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Submission to the Productivity Commission inquiry on opportunities in the circular economy
November 04, 2024
This submission outlines policy mechanisms that the Government can implement to boost industry adoption of sustainable practices, thereby facilitating Australia’s transition to a circular economy. As we stand at a crucial juncture in our economic development, it is imperative that we continue to update our approach to growth in ways that will...
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Submission to the NSW Independent Forestry Panel
October 12, 2024
This submission offers policymakers a practical blueprint for a just transition for workers and communities affected by industry change. It recommends establishing regional adaptation authorities, ending public subsidies for native logging, and embedding the value of natural capital in public investment decisions. With a major review of the industry scheduled for 2024,...
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Wicked solutions: A long term approach to housing affordability
August 20, 2024
Australia is facing a housing crisis. Property prices have outstripped wage growth. Households of all ages are becoming more indebted and are working longer hours to pay off oversized mortgages before retirement. Today, the median house costs three times the median income, compared to half that in the 1980s. Decades of policy...
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Budget Blueprint 2024: Financing our future
May 13, 2024
Our 2024–25 Budget Blueprint paper focuses on three areas critical for Australia’s long term success—system-wide tax reform, picking up the pace and impact of the climate and energy transition, and boosting Australia’s innovation and productivity. Despite the enormous looming challenges of climate change, an ageing population, mounting public debt, time-limited foreign demand for our...
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Budget Blueprint 2024: Protecting our future
May 13, 2024
Our 2024–25 Budget Blueprint paper focuses on three areas critical for Australia’s long term success—system-wide tax reform, picking up the pace and impact of the climate and energy transition, and boosting Australia’s innovation and productivity. This paper outlines the necessary immediate climate and energy priorities for a net zero and nature positive future at...
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Budget Blueprint 2024: Invigorating our future
May 13, 2024
Our 2024–25 Budget Blueprint paper focuses on three areas critical for Australia’s long term success—system-wide tax reform, picking up the pace and impact of the climate and energy transition, and boosting Australia’s innovation and productivity. ‘Invigorating our future’ outlines reforms to boost our research capacity and stimulate investment to revitalise Australia’s productivity and competitiveness...
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An examination of antisemitism in Australian schools
February 27, 2024
This report centers on a recent survey, designed by Blueprint Institute and conducted by YouGov, aimed at measuring the prevalence and types of antisemitism manifesting within Australian public schools. It is important to note that a rise in antisemitism— or indeed the vilification or dehumanisation of any minority group—have been shown to...
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Submission to the Federal Senate inquiry on improving consumer experiences, choice, and outcomes in Australia’s retirement system
February 24, 2024
Home ownership today remains out of reach for many Australians. This submission investigates the idea of enabling Australians to access mandatory superannuation contributions to buy their first property. Our analysis indicates that permitting withdrawals of mandatory superannuation payments for the purposes of purchasing a home would substantially broaden access to the housing...
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Seeing the forest for the trees: Exploring alternate land use options for the native forests of Tasmania
November 29, 2023
Australia is home to some of the world’s most ancient forests. These native forests are some of the most biodiverse environments on the planet, and are a valuable tool in the fight against climate change through their ability to capture and store carbon and regulate the water cycle. This paper offers policymakers...
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Budget Blueprint 2023: Re-imagining productivity
May 09, 2023
As a think tank that subscribes to classical liberalism, Blueprint naturally embraces meritocracy. We believe that success should be a function of hard work, talent, and free and open market-based competition. But if we are being honest, it has been a generation since Australia was a true meritocracy. As the gap between...
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Branching out: Exploring alternate land use options for the native forests of NSW
April 27, 2023
Australia is home to some of the world’s most ancient forests. The benefits of native 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 a...
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Achieving prosperity in a net-zero future: market-friendly climate and energy blueprint for the 47th Parliament
February 07, 2023
The economic case for action on climate is clear. Over the past decade, the precipitous decline in the cost of renewable energy has opened a window of opportunity. The race to decarbonise is gathering pace—future growth and prosperity will be determined by our ability to capture green capital and low-carbon industry. Countries...
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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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Voices from the regions
November 01, 2021
The policy debate around energy and climate is saturated with myths about what is or isn’t politically feasible. Blueprint Institute’s latest polling project, Voices from the Regions, puts these myths under the microscope. The poll, conducted by YouGov, gauges the opinions of nine regional communities with strong connections to coal. Eight currently house...
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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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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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