MEDIA RELEASE: 'To Do' List for next government: Centre for Independent Studies - The Centre for Independent Studies
Donate today!
Your support will help build a better future.
Your Donation at WorkDonate Now

MEDIA RELEASE: ‘To Do’ List for next government: Centre for Independent Studies

Simon Cowan , Trisha Jha , Sara Hudson, Michael Potter, Jeremy Sammut, Jennifer Buckingham AOM

cis logo 640x360Six years, five Prime Ministers, three elections — and no answers. Labor and Liberal have failed to address Australia’s pressing policy problems for almost a decade now.
The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) has released a ‘To Do’ List for the incoming government, outlining 30 key policy proposals to address 10 crucial issues. A summary list is below, and the full policy paper can be accessed here.
“Every election campaign seems full of promises to spend more money, raise more taxes and make government bigger,” CIS research manager Simon Cowan said.
“This policy paper presents 30 real solutions that will put power back in the hands of the voters and money back in the pockets of the taxpayers,” he said.
1.            Cut spending by $15 billion each year for three years
2.            Introduce an independent fiscal commission to set budget caps
3.            Make subsidies transparent
4.            Pool state hospital and federal Medicare funding
5.            Extend the Medicare benefit freeze
6.            Introduce choice-based Health Savings Accounts
7.            Include the family home in the pension assets test
8.            Introduce a government guaranteed reverse mortgage
9.            Deem reverse mortgage income in the pension income test
10.          Pilot a Phonics Screening Check
11.          Improve Initial Teacher Education
12.          Introduce student funding vouchers
13.          Reduce planning regulations over childcare centres
14.          Combine Child Care Rebate and Child Care Benefit
15.          Cut onerous requirements in National Quality Framework
16.          Index income tax thresholds
17.          Cut company tax to 25% immediately
18.          Reduce marginal income tax rates below 35%
19.          Indigenous programs should be needs-based
20.          End state and federal duplication in Indigenous spending
21.          Ensure Indigenous programs have outcomes
22.          Make room for State income taxes
23.          Cut tied federal grants in education, health and housing
24.          End the overlap between federal and state departments
25.          Simplify the Family Benefit means test
26.          Reduce family benefits for multiple children
27.          Index family benefit thresholds to average wages and payments to CPI
28.          Allow local variation in minimum wages
29.          Discount the minimum wage for the long-term unemployed
30.          Cut penalty rates
Simon Cowan is Research Manager at the Centre for Independent Studies, and Director of TARGET30, the Centre’s campaign to reduce government spending to less than 30% over the next 10 years.