The TJ Ryan Foundation is a progressive think tank focusing on Queensland public policy. The aims of the Foundation are to stimulate debate on matters of Queensland public administration and to review the policy directions of current and previous State governments on economic, social and cultural issues. This website focuses on evidence-based policy, providing access to our own research and a range of online policy resources.
Public service overhaul at what cost? »
Markus Mannheim comments on the Prime Minister's restructuring of the Australian public service, with federal departments reduced in number to 14.
TJ Ryan Foundation's 5th birthday celebration »
The TJ Ryan Foundation marked its 5th birthday with an evening event in Brisbane, themed 'A Century of Reform across Queensland: 1919 - 2019', on Wednesday 9 October. Speakers' presentations can be found via the link above.
The pitfalls of e-health systems »
Robert Merkel documents how past upgrades to Queensland's medical record systems have cost large amounts of money, and on at least one occasion forced clinicians to revert to paper-based methods.
Citizenship test for Indigenous people »
Helen Davidson reports on a High Court case deciding if the federal government can cancel the visas of non-citizen Indigenous Australians.
Lobby groups 'misuse' Reef science »
Graham Readfearn reports on warnings to a Senate inquiry about 'selective' and 'misrepresentative' use of Great Barrier Reef research evidence.
Garnaut on the threat of climate change »
Ross Garnaut argues that, if action on climate change fails, the consequences 'would be beyond contemporary Australia' to deal with. However, zero-emissions iron and aluminium processing could be a way forward.
Measuring the economy's 'carbon productivity' »
TJRF Research Associate, David Peetz, proposes that labour productivity doesn't matter as much as emissions productivity, since workers in the labour force 'aren't a particularly finite resource'.
Morrison government's 'punitive bent' »
Carol Johnson observes that the Morrison government's determination to punish certain groups makes the "authoritarian populist" label more apt than "conservative".
Manufacturing's future in QLD »
TJ Ryan Foundation, in conjunction with the AMWU and researchers at the University of Queensland, has produced a major research report on Queensland’s manufacturing sector.
'Reviving the Republic' symposium »
Video footage from the TJ Ryan Foundation / Australian Republic Movement joint event, 'Reviving the Republic', can now be viewed at the link above. This includes a keynote address from ARM Chair, Peter FitzSimons AM, and a panel discussion by TJRF Research Associates and others.
'Inequality in Australia' conference »
The TJ Ryan Foundation, with the support of QUT, QSuper and the QCU, convened a one-day conference around the theme of 'Inequality in Australia'. The conference featured a keynote address from ACTU Secretary, Sally McManus, and a closing address from Hon. Wayne Swan MP. Copies of speakers' presentations and links to video footage from the event are available at the conference page.
Researchers and research impact »
TJRF Deputy Executive Director, Paul Boreham, emphasises the importance of researchers making their findings freely available: "The primary aim of the TJ Ryan Foundation is to bridge the gap between academic researchers, other researchers and policy professionals."
'Jobs of the Future' seminar »
Papers presented at the QCU / TJRF seminar on 'the future of work in Queensland' can be found at the link above. Presentation slides will be added as they become available.
Ken Boston: 'Gonski Review: Vision or Hallucination?' »
Several media outlets reported on Ken Boston's keynote address, speaking of his experience on the Gonski Review panel, at the TJ Ryan Foundation's 3rd anniversary event. The full text of Dr Boston's speech, along with a video recording of his address, can be found at the link above.
RESEARCH REPORT 54: Pauline Hanson and Queensland politics »
Roger Scott examines the 'resurrection' of Pauline Hanson and the One Nation Party, discussing Hanson's charismatic appeal and controversial policies in the context of populist traditions and party politics in Queensland.
RESEARCH REPORT 53: Comparing Australian think tanks »
Andre Yeo analyses the think tank 'landscape' in Australia, comparing the financial and personnel resources of several organisations, as well as their research output and impact.
POLICY BRIEF 03: New opportunities for improving mine rehabilitation »
Michael Bidwell and collaegues explain how and why the statutory requirements for mining rehabilitation have failed Queensland in the past and evaluate the new Act.
POLICY BRIEF 02: Queensland Industry Policy »
Paul Boreham and Chris Salisbury provide an overview of innovation-led industry policies that engage in long-run strategic investments to create and shape industry trajectories rather than just responding to problems of industry decline.The paper outlines how such policies might be applied to the Queensland economy.
POLICY BRIEF 01: What next for economic policy and the economy? »
Geoff Dow argues that the development of economic policy needs to be founded on a clearer understanding of economic growth, debt, government spending and taxation.
Ann Scott, Howard Guille and Roger Scott provide an assessment of the second year in office of the Palaszczuk Government.
The Newman Years: rise, decline and fall »
An edited collection of TJ Ryan Foundation research papers and commentaries covering the Newman Government's years in office.
Earlier TJ Ryan Foundation Research Reports »
All TJ Ryan Foundation Research Reports can be found through this link.