Centre for Independent Studies

The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) is an Australian libertarian think tank founded in 1976 which specialises in public policy research.[1] It is based in Sydney and focuses on classical liberal issues such as free markets and limited government.

Centre for Independent Studies
MottoIdeas for a better Australia
Founder(s)Greg Lindsay
Established1976
FocusA "free enterprise economy and a free society under limited government where individuals can prosper and fully develop their talents".
ChairmanNicholas W. Moore
Executive DirectorTom Switzer
AddressLevel 1, 131 Macquarie Street, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 2000
Websitehttp://www.cis.org.au/

The CIS is funded solely by donations, membership subscriptions, and book and event sales from individuals, companies and charitable trusts. It does not accept government funding.[2] All research decisions are made by the research team and not by the donors.

Philosophy

Many CIS scholars are self-described classical liberals.

The CIS has been associated with some of the greatest leaders in business and academia as visiting lecturers or as CIS members, staff or Directors.Through public policy research, media exposure and events such as Consilium and the student program Liberty & Society, the CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public. The CIS aims to make sure good policy ideas are heard and seriously considered so that Australia can continue to prosper into the future.The CIS measures its performance by monitoring and analysing the output of research papers, events, presentations, opinion pieces and media mentions, changes in the policy environment, website page views and financial support.

CIS is affiliated with the United States-based Atlas Network, which advocates free market economic policies across the world.[3]

Research programs

The CIS has research programs on:[4]

  • Education
  • Economic Policy (Tax Policy, Infrastructure, Workplace reform, government spending)
  • Culture, Prosperity & Civil Society
  • Indigenous Affairs
  • China and Free Societies

Most policy research focuses upon the role of the free market in an open society, and how voluntary processes could be used to provide many of the goods and services normally supplied by the compulsory methods of government. Individual liberty and choice, including freedom of association, religion, speech and the right to property are also common themes.

A report dated 2 November 2016 on Australia’s health system by CIS stated “government restrictions, regulations, and other barriers to entry within the health care and medical insurance industries cripple [competition]” and proposed setting up of “Health Innovation Communities”.[5][6]

A June 2018 CIS report found that the overwhelming majority of Australian “millennials” (defined as those born between 1980 and 1996) have a favourable view of socialism. The report was described as "a worried warning to Australia’s ruling elite of a political radicalisation among young people and the threat that it poses to the capitalist system."[7]

Media

CIS researchers regularly comment in opinion pieces in Australian newspapers,[8] online,[9] on radio[10] and on TV, with content mirrored on their YouTube channel.[11]

CIS also has a weekly newsletter ideas@thecentre.[12]

Staff

Tom Switzer has been Executive Director of CIS since 2018, succeeding founder Greg Lindsay who had held the position for 42 years. In February 2019, Nicholas Moore was appointed Chairman of the CIS board succeeding Peter Mason.[13]

Notable individuals in the CIS research staff include:[14]

References
  1. "About CIS". Archived from the original on 6 August 2012.
  2. "Support CIS". Archived from the original on 16 September 2010.
  3. Atlas Network, 12 June 2017, GREG LINDSAY OF AUSTRALIA’S THE CENTRE FOR INDEPENDENT STUDIES PASSING THE TORCH
  4. "CIS Research Programs".
  5. MEDI-VATION: ‘Health Innovation Communities’ for Medicare Payment and Service Reform
  6. HEALTH INNOVATION COMMUNITIES IN AUSTRALIA WOULD CREATE COMPETITIVE DYNAMIC IN UNIVERSAL SYSTEM
  7. Report finds majority of Australian youth favour socialism, by Oscar Grenfell, 25 June 2018
  8. "CIS Opinion Pieces". Archived from the original on 15 September 2012.
  9. "CIS media information". Archived from the original on 19 August 2012.
  10. "CIS Audio". Archived from the original on 29 July 2012.
  11. "CISAus YouTube page" – via YouTube.
  12. "Ideas@TheCentre".
  13. "Board of Directors". The Centre for Independent Studies. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  14. "CIS Research Scholars". Archived from the original on 13 August 2012.
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