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.
2017 'Inequality' Conference »
The TJ Ryan Foundation, with the support of QUT, QSuper and the QCU, is convening a one-day conference around the theme of 'Inequality'. The conference will be held in the OJW Room at QUT Gardens Point campus, Brisbane, on Friday 1 September 2017. Find details at the link above.
Debate over inequality effects »
Tim Colebatch, Eva Cox and others suggest that advocates for reducing inequality argue from a number of standpoints - not merely economics.
TJRF Board member, John Quiggin, cautions that recent data show worrying disparities in incomes and wealth in Western economies, and wonders if developed nations will have to learn to live in a less socially mobile, 'patrimonial' society.
'Inequality is a political choice' »
John Falzon, CEO of the St Vincent de Paul Society of Australia, argues that, despite signs of rising inequality, some politicians choose to ignore the problem, or attack those calling for action to address it: 'When ordinary people are under attack, whether they are struggling to make ends meet with inadequate wages or with inadequate income support, the whole of society suffers.'
Hollow prize at the political centre? »
Greg Jericho comments on the major parties' battle over the political 'middle ground', arguing that this is a futile race to an imagined 'sensible centre': "Bill Shorten has correctly gauged that progressive parties don’t win by conforming to a pre-established centre, but by instead convincing people that the centre needs to be more progressive."
Falling foul of the Constitution »
TJRF Research Associate, Graeme Orr, writes about the constitutional rules that have recently seen two Greens senators - and possibly more members to follow - resign from the federal parliament over their holding dual citizenship.
David Ritter, CEO of Greenpeace (Australia Pacific), proposes that the health of the Great Barrier Reef is intimately linked to both the health of our nation's politics and the future of our communities - a future in which, he argues, coal has no role to play.
Populism's appeal and the 'restorationist' impulse »
Rodney Tiffen highlights recent attention on the resurgence of populism, pointing out that 'restorationism' - a political appeal to a 'better' past - is a subset of this phenomenon: 'The two most successful slogans of 2016 ... appeal to moving from an unsatisfactory present to a romantically remembered past. It is wrong to cast these sentiments as conservative. Their proponents are not champions of the status quo, but rather want to overthrow it.'
Researchers and the mission of research impact »
TJRF Deputy Executive Director, Paul Boreham, outlines the importance of researchers making their findings available: "The primary aim of the TJ Ryan Foundation is to bridge the gap between academics and other researchers and policy professionals in order to enhance evidence-based policymaking." For more details, contact Paul Boreham.
'Accountability and the Law' 2017 »
The Australia Institute is presenting the 'Accountability and the Law' Conference at Parliament House, Canberra, on Thursday, 17 August 2017, featuring a number of TJRF Research Associates speaking on accountability issues.
'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 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.
RESEARCH REPORT 51: Leaners and Luddites »
Ann Scott discusses the lessons that might be learned from the Industrial Revolution, Margaret Thatcher's divisiveness, and the Brexit vote; she recalls Winston Churchill's 1939 appeal to Americans to maintain 'ceaseless vigilance to protect democracy'.
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.