The Centre for Independent Studies is an Australian libertarian think tank founded in 1976 which specialises in public policy research. It is based in Sydney and focuses on classical liberal issues such as free markets and limited government. 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. 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.
Research programs
The CIS has research programs on:
Education
Economic Policy
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 ” and proposed setting up of “Health Innovation Communities”. A June 2018 CIS report found that the overwhelming majority of Australian “millennials” 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."
Media
CIS researchers regularly comment in opinion pieces in Australian newspapers, online, on radio and on TV, with content mirrored on their YouTube channel. CIS also has a weekly newsletter ideas@thecentre.
Staff
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. Notable individuals in the CIS research staff include:
