No public funds for right-wing think tanks!
In a recent explosive committee hearing, the Reserve Bank of Australia revealed it's been paying $20,000 a year to the Centre for Independent Studies and The Sydney Institute since 2006.1
Both think tanks are key players in the right-wing fringe – endorsing policies like deregulating Medicare,2 promoting demagogues like Miranda Devine3 and Donald Trump,4 and doubting the link between climate change and the devastating bushfires last year.5
The Reserve Bank's charter stipulates that it must act for the public interest6 – but its ties to the Centre for Independent Studies and The Sydney Institute undermine this.
We can't let these hard right think tanks subvert public trust in our central bank. A parliamentary committee brought these payments to light, but enforcing accountability will require a public push.
Can you sign this petition asking the Reserve Bank to cut its ties with partisan right-wing think tanks?
Both think tanks are key players in the right-wing fringe – endorsing policies like deregulating Medicare,2 promoting demagogues like Miranda Devine3 and Donald Trump,4 and doubting the link between climate change and the devastating bushfires last year.5
The Reserve Bank's charter stipulates that it must act for the public interest6 – but its ties to the Centre for Independent Studies and The Sydney Institute undermine this.
We can't let these hard right think tanks subvert public trust in our central bank. A parliamentary committee brought these payments to light, but enforcing accountability will require a public push.
Can you sign this petition asking the Reserve Bank to cut its ties with partisan right-wing think tanks?
The Centre for Independent Studies is one of Australia's leading conservative and libertarian think tanks, shaping hard right politics since it was founded in 1976.
But despite its stated mission as a policy think tank, the Centre mostly focuses on waging culture wars and promoting dangerous and fringe economics.
Among its list of achievements, the Centre has:
Similarly, The Sydney Institute – headed by Gerard Henderson – claims to be a broad public affairs think tank but is also known for its conservative views. Among these include:
But despite its stated mission as a policy think tank, the Centre mostly focuses on waging culture wars and promoting dangerous and fringe economics.
Among its list of achievements, the Centre has:
- Endorsed the presidency of Donald Trump and called systemic racism "imaginary".4
- Hosted the likes of Miranda Devine and Tony Abbott.3
- Argued the High Court decision to allow a plebiscite on marriage equality was incorrect.7
- Argued that the criteria for welfare payments like family tax benefits, the age pension, childcare benefits, paid parental leave, and potentially others should be "substantially tightened."8
- Called to deregulate and/or privatise government assets and services, including Medicare.9
- Likened believing in climate science to believing in ghosts.10
- Openly called for lower company taxes.11
- Awarded 1st place in their Nanny State awards to lockdowns.12
- Called the COVID welfare increases a "virus".13
- Accused the ABC of left-wing bias.14
Similarly, The Sydney Institute – headed by Gerard Henderson – claims to be a broad public affairs think tank but is also known for its conservative views. Among these include:
- Supported undermining industrial relations protections.15
- Declared scepticism about the links between climate change and the 2019/2020 bushfires.16
- Downplayed the scale of racism against First Nations people in Australia and accused Black Lives Matters protests here of just trying to "feel good".17
- Saw the charges against Cardinal George Pell as a "pile-on."18
Beyond these annual payments to the Centre for Independent Studies, the Reserve Bank also has other connections with the Centre.
Two of the Reserve Bank Board's members are involved with CIS:19 Mark Barnaba, the Chair of the Reserve Bank Board Audit Committee, is also a Board Member of CIS. Alison Watkins, who was appointed only a month ago, is a Non-Executive Director at CIS.
Two of the Reserve Bank Board's members are involved with CIS:19 Mark Barnaba, the Chair of the Reserve Bank Board Audit Committee, is also a Board Member of CIS. Alison Watkins, who was appointed only a month ago, is a Non-Executive Director at CIS.
[1] RBA paying $20,000 a year to Sydney Institute, Centre for Independent Studies, Sydney Morning Herald, 31 December 2020.
[2] Towards a more competitive Medicare: The case for deregulating medical fees and co-payments in Australia, Centre for Independent Studies, 3 May 2015.
[3] The Capitalist Claus – Why commercialism is good for Christmas, Centre for Independent Studies, 15 November 2013.
[4] The case for re-electing Donald Trump, Centre for Independent Studies, 4 November 2020.
[5] It's all about feelings for climate change theorists on fires, The Sydney Institute, 6 June 2020.
[6] Our Role, Reserve Bank of Australia.
[7] The High Court, Democracy and Same Sex Marriage, Centre for Independent Studies, 19 July 2016.
[8] Welfare reform beyond decades of dependence, 'dole bludgers' and 'double dipping', Centre for Independent Studies, 31 May 2017.
[9] Towards a more competitive Medicare: The case for deregulating medical fees and co-payments in Australia, Centre for Independent Studies, 3 May 2015.
[10] The ghosts of global warming, Centre for Independent Studies, 30 October 2009.
[11] Lower Company Tax to Resuscitate the Economy, Centre for Independent Studies, 6 July 2020.
[12] 2020 Nanny State Awards, Centre for Independent Studies, 11 December 2020.
[13] Panicked welfare policy also viral, Centre for Independent Studies, 2 April 2020.
[14] ABC should rise above the rancour, Centre for Independent Studies, 5 March 2018.
[15] Workers know a job is better than no job, The Sydney Institute, 12 December 2020.
[16] It's all about feelings for climate change theorists on fires, The Sydney Institute, 14 December 2019.
[17] No link to Australia but protesters will feel virtuous, The Sydney Institute, 6 June 2020.
[18] Basic tenet of law spurned in ongoing pile-on of George Pell, The Sydney Institute, 19 December 2020. [19] Reserve Bank Board, Reserve Bank of Australia.
[2] Towards a more competitive Medicare: The case for deregulating medical fees and co-payments in Australia, Centre for Independent Studies, 3 May 2015.
[3] The Capitalist Claus – Why commercialism is good for Christmas, Centre for Independent Studies, 15 November 2013.
[4] The case for re-electing Donald Trump, Centre for Independent Studies, 4 November 2020.
[5] It's all about feelings for climate change theorists on fires, The Sydney Institute, 6 June 2020.
[6] Our Role, Reserve Bank of Australia.
[7] The High Court, Democracy and Same Sex Marriage, Centre for Independent Studies, 19 July 2016.
[8] Welfare reform beyond decades of dependence, 'dole bludgers' and 'double dipping', Centre for Independent Studies, 31 May 2017.
[9] Towards a more competitive Medicare: The case for deregulating medical fees and co-payments in Australia, Centre for Independent Studies, 3 May 2015.
[10] The ghosts of global warming, Centre for Independent Studies, 30 October 2009.
[11] Lower Company Tax to Resuscitate the Economy, Centre for Independent Studies, 6 July 2020.
[12] 2020 Nanny State Awards, Centre for Independent Studies, 11 December 2020.
[13] Panicked welfare policy also viral, Centre for Independent Studies, 2 April 2020.
[14] ABC should rise above the rancour, Centre for Independent Studies, 5 March 2018.
[15] Workers know a job is better than no job, The Sydney Institute, 12 December 2020.
[16] It's all about feelings for climate change theorists on fires, The Sydney Institute, 14 December 2019.
[17] No link to Australia but protesters will feel virtuous, The Sydney Institute, 6 June 2020.
[18] Basic tenet of law spurned in ongoing pile-on of George Pell, The Sydney Institute, 19 December 2020. [19] Reserve Bank Board, Reserve Bank of Australia.
RBA: CUT TIES TO THE HARD RIGHT
To the Reserve Bank Board,
The Centre for Independent Studies and The Sydney Institute are hard right think tanks and should not receive funds from public institutions. Please cut your ties with these organisations.
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