View source for Institute of Public Affairs

{{Short description|Australian public policy think tank}}
{{About|the Australian free-market think tank|the Polish think tank|Institute of Public Affairs, Poland|the Chilean institute|Institute of Public Affairs of the University of Chile}}
{{Use Australian English|date=May 2011}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox institute
| name = Institute of Public Affairs<br />(IPA)
| image = I P A.jpg
| image_size =
| image_alt =
| caption =
| motto =
| founder =
| established = 1943
| mission =
| focus =
| chairman = [[Janet Albrechtsen]]
| head_label = Executive Director
| head = [[John Roskam]]
| staff =
| key_people =
| budget = [[Fiscal year|FYE June 2017]]<br />Income: {{dollarsign|AUD|lk=on}}6,100,000<br /> Expenses: {{dollarsign|AUD|lk=on}}5,570,000<ref name="ipa.org.au">[https://ipa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/2017_IPA_Annual_Report.pdf Institute of Public Affairs Annual Report 2017] (pdf) ipa.org.au</ref>
| num_members = 4,559<ref name="ipa.org.au"/>
| subsidiaries =
| non-profit_slogan =
| location = Level 2, 410 [[Collins Street, Melbourne]]. [[Victoria, Australia]]
| coor = {{Coord|-37.8170|144.9606|display=inline,title}}
| website = {{URL|https://ipa.org.au/}}
| footnotes =
}}

The '''Institute of Public Affairs''' ('''IPA''') is a [[Conservatism|conservative]] non-profit free market public policy [[think tank]]<ref name=ipa-about>[http://www.ipa.org.au/about About the IPA]. Retrieved 22 November 2015 ipa.org.au</ref><ref name = "Norington"/><ref name = "millar"/> based in [[Melbourne]], [[Victoria, Australia]]. It advocates [[free market]] economic policies such as free markets, [[privatization|privatisation]],<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Cottle|first1=Simon|last2=Nolan|first2=David|date=26 October 2007|title=Global humanitarianism and the changing aid-media field: 'Everyone was dying for footage'|journal=Journalism Studies| language=en| volume=8|issue=6|pages=862–878|doi=10.1080/14616700701556104|s2cid=145133279|issn=1461-670X}}</ref> [[deregulation]] of [[state-owned enterprises]], [[trade liberalisation]], deregulation of workplaces, abolition of the minimum wage,<ref>{{cite news|title=Institute of Public Affairs calls for the abolition of the minimum wage|url=http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/institute-of-public-affairs-calls-for-the-abolition-of-the-minimum-wage-20140406-366ve.html|access-date=12 August 2014|work=[[Sydney Morning Herald]]|date=7 April 2014}}</ref> [[criticism of socialism]], <ref>{{Cite web| last=Bertram|first=Michael|date=1989|title=A history of the Institute of Public Affairs|url=http://minerva-access.unimelb.edu.au/handle/11343/38363}}</ref> and repeal of [[Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975|Section 18C of the ''Racial Discrimination Act 1975'']].<ref>{{cite news|title=Conservative think tank the Institute of Public Affairs gives George Brandis race law ultimatum|url=http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/conservative-think-tank-the-institute-of-public-affairs-gives-george-brandis-race-law-ultimatum-20140502-zr2do.html|access-date=12 August 2014|work=Sydney Morning Herald|date=1 May 2014}}</ref> It also [[climate change denial|rejects large parts of climate science]].<ref name=james2019>{{cite web | title=Clive James' Chapter In Climate Change: The Facts 2017 |first=Clive| last=James| website=IPA | date=27 November 2019 | url=https://ipa.org.au/ipa-today/clive-james-chapter-in-climate-change-the-facts-2017 | access-date=22 August 2022}}</ref>

The IPA was founded during [[World War II]] by businessmen in response to the growing power of the [[Australian Labor Party|Labor Party]] and international [[socialism]], and has typically aligned with, and supported, the [[Liberal Party of Australia|Liberal Party]] in politics. It has in the past funded and created advertising campaigns for anti-Labor candidates, and has had an impact on Liberal Party policies,<ref name=":11" /><ref name=":21" /> according to former prime minister [[John Howard]].<ref name=smh2013/>

== History ==
Historian Michael Bertram, writing in 1989, identified three distinct periods for the Institute of Public Affairs:<ref name=":14">{{Cite journal|last=Michael|first=Bertram|date=1989|title=A history of the Institute of Public Affairs|url=https://minerva-access.unimelb.edu.au/handle/11343/38363|pages=i-ii, 69–105}}</ref>

# the war years and "immediate post-war years" where Australia's economic future was in question, ending with the election of [[Robert Menzies]] in 1949;
# the "Keynesian consensus" of the 1950s and 1960s and
# the "sea-shift to the right" of the 1970s and 1980s.

=== War and immediate post-war years (1943–1949) ===
The Institute of Public Affairs was founded in 1943 as the Institute of Public Affairs Victoria, with [[Charles Denton Kemp|Charles Kemp]] as its inaugural director and [[George Coles (entrepreneur)|George Coles]] as its inaugural chair. The founders were prominent businessmen,<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|date=April–June 1968|title=About the IPA|url=https://ipa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/archive/1210645977_document_review1968_vol.22no.2.pdf|journal=IPA Review|volume=22|pages=33–40}}</ref> and current executive director John Roskam says of the occasion: "Big business created the IPA".<ref name="Financial Review">{{Cite news|url=http://www.afr.com/lifestyle/arts-and-entertainment/art/john-roskamthe-man-out-of-right-field-20140627-j05q0|title=John Roskam: the man out of right field|date=2014-06-28|work=[[Australian Financial Review]]|access-date=2018-04-19}}</ref> The idea to form the Institute of Public Affairs was first floated in the [[Victorian Chamber of Manufactures]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://books.publishing.monash.edu/apps/bookworm/view/Orb+and+Sceptre:+Studies+on+British+Imperialism+and+its+Legacies,+in+Honour+of+Norman+Etherington/141/xhtml/chapter11.html#ich11en17|title=Monash University EPress|last=Limb|first=Peter|website=books.publishing.monash.edu|access-date=2018-04-19}}</ref>

The IPA's formation was prompted by the collapse of Australia's main right-wing party, the [[United Australia Party (1931-1945)|United Australia Party]].<ref name="IPA">{{cite web|url=https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2014/05/31/abbotts-faceless-men-the-ipa/1401458400#.VZGgBTiJhtQ|title=Abbott's faceless men of the IPA|last1=Seccombe|first1=Mike|publisher=The Saturday Paper|access-date=29 June 2015|date=31 May 2014}}</ref> The IPA's initial purpose was to influence Australia's post-war reconstruction, with business interests concerned that popular sentiment supported a Labor-led, collectivist post-war construction, a "prevailing clamour for a new kind of society".<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite book|url=https://ipa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/archive/2002hyde_dry.pdf|title=Dry|last=Hyde|first=John|year=2002|pages=110–113}}</ref>

Throughout 1943, branches were set up in [[New South Wales]] (May), [[South Australia]] (June) and [[Queensland]] (August),<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://soda.naa.gov.au/item/1108226|title=Institute of Public Affairs 1943 – 1953|website=[[National Archives of Australia]]|pages=86, 127, 180}}</ref> although the state branches remained administratively and ideologically distinct (the SA and Queensland branches closed in the 1950s).<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|url=http://research-repository.uwa.edu.au/files/3229956/Thackrah_Andrew_2012.pdf|title="The world is ruled by little else": Australian neo-liberal think tanks during the Howard years|last=Thackrah|first=Andrew|publisher=University of Western Australia|year=2012|pages=121–123}}</ref> There seems to have been a pre-existing body called the Institute of Public Affairs in [[Western Australia]], which operated between 1941 and 1942.<ref name=":15">{{Cite web|url=http://soda.naa.gov.au/item/1108226|title=Institute of Public Affairs 1943–1953|website=[[National Archives of Australia]]|pages=127, 146, 149, 163–165, 188}}</ref> The IPA NSW engaged in "party political activism",<ref name=":1" /> while at the IPA Victoria's first annual meeting in 1944 chair GJ Coles said that they "did not wish to be directly involved in politics".<ref name=":0" />

In March 1943, the head of the [[Commonwealth Police#Security Service of the Commonwealth Investigation Branch|Commonwealth Security Service]] (CSS), Brigadier [[William Simpson (judge)|William Simpson]] requested a report into whether the newly formed IPA had sympathies with "fascism", "counter-revolution" or the powers that Australia was at war with, but his deputy director said that its committee and sponsors were "beyond reproach".<ref name=":16">{{Cite web|url=https://ipa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/archive/1210834705_document_60-1_berg_overland.pdf|title=What 'fascist mob'? ''Overland'' and the IPA|last=Berg|first=Chris|date=March 2008|website=Institute of Public Affairs}}</ref><ref name=":17">{{Cite news|url=https://overland.org.au/previous-issues/issue-189/feature-shane-cahill/|title=This fascist mob|work=Overland literary journal|access-date=2018-07-26}}</ref><ref name=":15" />

The CSS was restructured in late 1943 and it again investigated the IPA's state branches.<ref name=":17" /> The IPA Queensland's radio play The Harris Family was required to be submitted to and approved by the [[Censorship in Australia|Chief-Inspector (Wireless)]].<ref name=":16" /><ref name=":15" /> The second review was completed in 1944. The CSS reported that nothing could be found to suggest that the IPA was subversive, and the war record of its supporters was "very fine", although two of the IPA NSW's council members were members of the Japan-Australia Society and one was associated with the [[Old Guard (Australia)|Old Guard]].<ref name=":17" /><ref name=":15" /> The [[National Archives of Australia]] preserve the CSS' reports into each branch, as well as material collected in the course of their investigation.<ref name=":15" />

In October 1944, the IPA printed 50,000 copies of ''Looking Forward'', an 80-page booklet which set out the possibilities of post-war reconstruction.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> [[Robert Menzies]] described ''Looking Forward'' as "the finest statement of basic political and academic problems made in Australia for many years".<ref name=":1" />

The IPA had no formal association with the formation of the [[Liberal Party of Australia]] by Menzies in 1945. Political scientist Marian Simms says that the IPA's role was to act as "an interim finance collector for non-Labor political interests", initiate "the unification of the non-Labor organizations in Victoria … and then [mediate] among them" and provide "much of the content of the federal platform of the LPA and propaganda for political campaigns".<ref name=":2" /> ''Looking Forward'' was influential in the Liberal Party's inaugural platform.<ref name=":1" />

[[Norman Abjorensen]] credits the IPA in this period with the collapse in ALP support, saying that the IPA was "the architect of a stream of propaganda that sought, successfully, to discredit Australia's very moderate Labor Party as a socialist tiger waiting to pounce once the war had ended."<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://insidestory.org.au/the-wartime-origins-of-the-culture-wars/|title=The wartime origins of the culture wars {{!}} Inside Story|date=2017-03-07|work=Inside Story|access-date=2018-04-19}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+Founders (IPA Victoria)<ref name=":0" />
|[[George Coles (entrepreneur)|G. J. Coles]] (Chairman)
|Chairman of Directors, [[Coles Supermarkets|G. J. Coles & Co.]]
|-
|H. G. Darling
|Chairman of Directors, [[BHP|The Broken Hill Pty. Co.]]
|-
|Captain C. A. M. Derham
|President, Victorian Chamber of Manufacturers.
|-
|G. H. Grimwade
|Director, [[Drug Houses of Australia]].
|-
|H. R. Harper
|General Manager, the Victoria Insurance Co.
|-
|W. A. Ince
|Lawyer and Company Director.
|-
|F. E. Lampe
|President, Australian Council of Retailers.
|-
|Sir [[Walter Massy-Greene]]
|Company Director, with a distinguished past career in Federal politics.
|-
|Sir [[Keith Murdoch]]
|Chairman of Directors, [[Herald & Weekly Times]].
|-
|L. J. McConnan
|Chief Manager, the [[National Bank of Australasia]]
|-
|Cecil N. McKay
|Managing Director, H. V. McKay-Massey-Harris.
|-
|W. E. McPherson
|Chairman of Directors, McPherson's.
|-
|W. I. Potter
|Founder, Ian Potter & Co. (Sharebrokers).
|-
|A. G. Warner
|Managing Director, Electronic Industries.
|}

=== Keynesian consensus (1949–1972) ===
During the 1950s and 1960s, the IPA "came to wholeheartedly support" [[Keynesian economics]], with director C. D. Kemp writing "we are all socialists now".<ref name=":14" /> Over this period, the Institute argued for Australia's migration rate to be halved, which drew criticism from the [[Australian Industries Development Association]] and ''[[The Age]]''.<ref name=":14" /> The institute also identified inflation as a major issue, and opposed the abolition of the [[means test]], called for lower taxes, criticised the introduction of the [[Trade Practices Act]], advocated for fewer restraints on foreign investment and celebrated Britain joining the [[European Economic Community]].<ref name=":14" />

In 1962, the IPA dropped "Victoria" from its name, an act that caused relations between it and the IPA NSW to "deteriorate further".<ref name=":2" />

=== "Sea-shift to the right" (1972–1995) ===
In the 1970s, the IPA and IPA NSW cooperated to establish Enterprise Australia. This organisation had as "an immediate target … the removal of the [[Whitlam government|present Labor Government]] in Canberra", while the IPA ostensibly stayed at arm's length in an attempt to be perceived as above party politics.<ref name=":2" />

From its founding to the late 1970s, the IPA had been associated with anti-socialist [[Keynesian economics]] and [[Protectionism|protectionist]] industry.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite thesis|last=C|first=Cahill, Damien|title=The radical neo-liberal movement as a hegemonic force in Australia, 1976-1996|date=2004|publisher=University of Wollongong|url=http://ro.uow.edu.au/theses/193/}}, p 112-118, 196-200, 301</ref> The appointment of [[Rod Kemp]] (CD Kemp's son) as executive director in 1982, along with other administrative changes that had occurred in the late 1970s and early 1980s, marked a shift to neo-liberal ideology that continues to this day.<ref name=":3" />

In June 1987 the IPA was incorporated as a company limited by guarantee.<ref name=":10">{{Cite web|url=https://ipa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/archive/1274398003_document_ipa_2009_financials_-_adjusted.pdf|title=IPA Annual Report 2009}}</ref>

In 1989, the IPA NSW – which had always been administratively and ideologically distinct – changed name to the [[Sydney Institute]], and transitioned from neo-liberal think tank to discussion forum.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" /> The IPA NSW had a budget of $120,000 in 1985, compared to the IPA Victoria's $300,000.<ref name=":1" />

Rod Kemp left his position as executive director in 1989 as he had been elected to Parliament.

In 1991, the IPA amalgamated with the Perth-based Australian Institute of Public Policy and [[John Hyde (Australian federal politician)|John Hyde]] moved from executive director of the Australian Institute of Public Policy to executive director of the IPA.<ref name="IPA" /><ref name=":1" /> The AIPP had been founded by Hyde in 1983 as a neo-liberal think tank, and the merger brought its annual revenue of about $300,000 or $400,000 to the IPA. Hyde described the merger as "joining forces with old friends".<ref name=":3" />

The IPA cooperated with the [[Tasman Institute]] on Project Victoria, which provided a blueprint for the privatisation and deregulation of the Victorian economy when Jeff Kennett became premier in 1992.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Craig|first=McIntosh, Peter|date=2010|title=Crisis management: the Kennett Government and the neo-Liberalising of Victoria|url=https://researchbank.swinburne.edu.au/items/d193507f-9b9d-49de-b15c-3d2e7982c317/1/}}</ref> The research was done with the assistance of Westpac staff seconded to work on the project.<ref name=":3" />

=== Nahan and Roskam eras (1995–present) ===
John Roskam replaced [[Mike Nahan]] as executive director in 2005, although he had worked at the IPA for a number of years before that.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/free-radicals-20130824-2sik1.html|title=Free radicals|last=Schneiders|first=Royce Millar, Ben|date=2013-08-24|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=2018-04-19}}</ref>

Between 2009 and 2013, the IPA's annual revenue doubled to $3.2 million a year, an increase attributed by Roskam to the IPA's campaign against parts of the ''[[Racial Discrimination Act 1975|Racial Discrimination Act]]'' and the [[Gillard government]]'s media regulation proposals.<ref name="Financial Review"/>

In 2008, former executive director of the IPA Rod Kemp was appointed chair of the IPA.<ref>{{Cite book|chapter-url=http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/kemp-charles-denton-ref-18187|title=Australian Dictionary of Biography|last=Roskam|first=John|publisher=National Centre of Biography, Australian National University|location=Canberra|chapter=Kemp, Charles Denton (Ref) (1911–1993)}}</ref>

In 2013 the IPA celebrated its 70th anniversary, [[Master of ceremonies|MCed]] by political commentator [[Andrew Bolt]]. Notable in attendance at the celebrations were:<ref name="ANDEV Home">{{cite web | title=Institute of Public Affairs 70th Anniversary Dinner | website=ANDEV Home | url=http://www.andev-project.org/resources/institute-of-public-affairs-70th-anniversary-dinner/ | access-date=7 August 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.crikey.com.au/2013/04/05/abbott-bolt-rinehart-fawn-in-the-ipa-court-of-king-murdoch/|title=Abbott, Bolt, Rinehart fawn in the IPA court of King Murdoch|date=2013-04-05|website=Crikey|access-date=2019-03-08}}</ref>
* [[Gina Rinehart]]
* [[Rupert Murdoch]]
* [[Tony Abbott]] - Liberal Opposition Leader
* [[George Pell]] - Australian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church
* [[Michael Kroger]] - then President of the Victorian division of the [[Liberal Party of Australia]] and former director of the IPA
* [[Mitch Fifield]] - Liberal Communications Minister
* [[Robert Doyle]] - Liberal Lord Mayor of Melbourne
* [[Denis Napthine]] - Liberal Premier of Victoria

In August 2018, [[Australian Public Service Commission]]er John Lloyd resigned during an investigation into correspondence he had with his former colleagues at the Institute of Public Affairs. On the day he retired, the investigation concluded that he had breached the [[Australian Public Service]] code of conduct by corresponding with the Institute of Public Affairs, but the breach did not warrant sanction.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/politics/federal/john-lloyd-breached-code-of-conduct-over-emails-to-think-tank-inquiry-finds-20180808-p4zwc2.html|title=John Lloyd breached code of conduct over email to think tank, inquiry finds|last=Dingwall|first=Doug|date=2018-08-08|website=Canberra Times|access-date=2018-12-10}}</ref> Lloyd subsequently returned to work at the IPA.<ref name="Hannan">{{Cite web|url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/industrial-relations/ir-warrior-john-lloyd-takes-up-cudgels-at-ipa/news-story/4c569596f45b620002596868f3c33fae|title=IR warrior John Lloyd takes up cudgels at IPA|last=Hannan|first=Ewin|date=2018-12-17|website=[[The Australian]]}}</ref>

In 2018, the IPA held two dinners to celebrate its 75th anniversary. The first was sponsored by [[Visy]] and took place on 21 August, the night of the first [[2018 Liberal Party of Australia leadership spills|2018 Liberal Party of Australia leadership spill]]. Former prime minister [[John Howard]] was interviewed at the dinner by [[Janet Albrechtsen]] about the spill, but did not explicitly support either candidate. [[Gina Rinehart]] and [[Rupert Murdoch]] praised US President [[Donald Trump]] at the dinner.<ref name=":19">{{Cite web|url=https://www.afr.com/brand/rear-window/howard-says-a-leaders-first-responsibility-is-to-their-party-20180821-h149er|title=Howard says a leader's first responsibility is to their party|date=2018-08-21|website=Australian Financial Review|access-date=2018-12-10}}</ref>

The second dinner was hosted by [[Crown Melbourne]] in November, and was hosted by Janet Albrechtsen, Andrew Bolt and [[Brendan O'Neill (journalist)|Brendan O'Neill]]. Guests included chair of Liberal Party fundraiser the [[Cormack Foundation]] Charles Goode; former Cormack board members [[Hugh Morgan (businessman)|Hugh Morgan]] and John Calvert-Jones; Liberal minister Alan Tudge; and Liberal strategist Brian Loughnane.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/bush-stand-off-as-lobbyist-nats-go-head-to-head-20181129-p50j8p.html|title=Bush stand-off as lobbyist, Nats go head-to-head|last=Loussikian|first=Kylar|date=2018-11-29|website=Canberra Times|access-date=2018-12-10}}</ref>

In 2021, in reaction to Victorian Labor Government moves to ban the public display of the Nazi swastika and other hate symbols, Roskam decried the move as "the most vicious attack on free speech ever contemplated anywhere in Australia".<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-09-02|title=Victoria to ban swastikas as anti-vilification laws strengthened|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-02/victoria-to-ban-swastika-under-tighter-anti-vilification-laws/100428628|access-date=2020-09-02|website=www.abc.net.au|language=en-AU}}</ref>

== Governance and membership ==
The voting members are distinct from the general membership, who numbered 4,559 in 2017.<ref name=":12">{{Cite web|url=https://ipa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/2017_IPA_Annual_Report.pdf|title=IPA Annual Report 2017}}</ref> Non-voting membership is open to the public, with membership fees ranging between $22 and $249 as of July 2018. Membership has increased since 2010, when there were 826 members.<ref name=":12" />

==Finances and donors==
The IPA is funded by its membership, which include both private individuals and businesses. It has a dual structure, with the IPA as a whole reporting revenues of $6.1 million in financial year 2017<ref name=":12" /> which includes funds from its charitable arm, the Institute of Public Affairs Research Trust, which reported revenue of $0.6 million.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://acnc.gov.au/AIS2017?ID=92FFFA70-B7C5-4709-812D-8E4D50C71090&noleft=1|title=Annual Information Statement 2017 The Trustee For Institute Of Public Affairs Research Trust|website=Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission}}</ref>

The IPA has been significantly funded by [[Hancock Prospecting]], of which [[Gina Rinehart]] is the Executive Chair. Hancock Prospecting paid the IPA $2.3 million in financial year 2016 and $2.2 million in financial year 2017,<ref name=":13">{{Cite web|url=https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/5b4d22a6e4b0b9ab4020dda9|title=Rinehart v Rinehart - NSW Caselaw|website=www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au|access-date=2018-07-19}}</ref> which represents one-third to a half of the IPA's total revenue in those years.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.desmogblog.com/2018/07/17/billionaire-mining-magnate-gina-rinehart-revealed-key-donor-australian-climate-science-denial-promoter-institute|title=Billionaire Mining Magnate Gina Rinehart Revealed As Key Donor to Australian Climate Science Denial Promoter Institute of Public Affairs|work=DeSmogBlog|access-date=2018-07-19}}</ref> These payments were not disclosed in IPA annual reports,<ref name=":4">{{cite web | title=Bid to involve Barnaby Joyce an attempt to embarrass former deputy PM, says magnate | website=Daily Telegraph | url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/bid-to-involve-barnaby-joyce-an-attempt-to-embarrass-former-deputy-pm-says-magnate/news-story/6869c1d198e242ef97eea7bc4b3094fb | access-date=7 August 2018|url-access=subscription}}</ref> and Rinehart's daughter [[Bianca Hope Heyward]] submitted in court that the Hancock Prospecting payments were credited to Rinehart in an individual capacity.<ref name=":13" /> Gina Rinehart was made a life member of the IPA in November 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ginarinehart.com.au/mrs-rinehart-made-honorary-life-member-institute-public-affairs-ipa/|title=Mrs. Rinehart made an Honorary Life Member of the Institute of Public Affairs (IPA)|last=Rinehart|first=Gina|website=Gina Rinehart}}</ref>

Other businesses who fund or have funded the IPA include [[ExxonMobil]],<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/11/26/1101219743320.html |title=The global warming sceptics |newspaper=theage.com.au |access-date=2 November 2009 | location=Melbourne | date=27 November 2004}}</ref> [[Telstra]], [[WMC Resources]], [[Altria Group|Philip Morris]],<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/thinkers-of-influence/2005/12/09/1134086810518.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap2 | title=Thinkers of Influence | newspaper=The Age | date=10 December 2005 | location=Melbourne}}</ref> Murray Irrigation Limited,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/programs/|title=VIC Country Hour &#124; ABC Rural (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)|website=www.abc.net.au}}</ref> [[Visy]],<ref name=":19" /> [[Clough Engineering]], [[Ampol|Caltex]], [[Shell Australia|Shell]], [[Esso]]<ref name="Norington">{{cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/08/11/1060588322537.html |author = Norington, Brad | title=Think tank secrets - National - smh.com.au |newspaper=smh.com.au |access-date=11 April 2010 | date=12 August 2003}}</ref> and [[British American Tobacco]] (BAT).<ref name="Norington" />

Funders are able to "earmark" their payments to support the work of particular units within the IPA.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Inside spin : the dark underbelly of the PR industry|last=Burton|first= Bob|date=2007|publisher=[[Allen & Unwin]]|isbn=9781741752175|location=Crows Nest, N.S.W.|pages=117 (Kindle edition)|oclc=173372058}}</ref>

The Institute of Public Affairs has also been funded by Liberal Party associated entity the [[Cormack Foundation]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.afr.com/news/economy/kroger-loses-the-pot-20180614-h11ed2|title=Kroger loses the pot in the battle with the Cormack Foundation|date=2018-06-14|website=Australian Financial Review|access-date=2018-12-10}}</ref>

In 2003, the Australian Government paid $50,000 to the Institute of Public Affairs to review the accountability of NGOs.<ref name="millar">Millar, Royce & Schneiders, Ben. Sydney Morning Herald, 25 August 2013.   [http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/federal-election-2013/free-radicals-20130824-2sik1.html Free radicals]</ref>

==Political links==
The IPA Victoria was founded during World War II by businessmen in response to the feared growing power of the Labor Party and international socialism, with founder C. D. Kemp putting the case to the Victorian Chamber of Manufactures sub-committee as such:<ref name=":21">{{Cite thesis|last=Michael|first=Bertram|date=1989|title=A history of the Institute of Public Affairs|url=https://minerva-access.unimelb.edu.au/handle/11343/38363|pages=5| type=MA| publisher= [[University of Melbourne]]}}</ref>

{{Block quote|text=The freedom of Australian business is today gravely threatened by forces whose unswerving and rigid purpose is the entire nationalisation of industry and the establishment of socialism as the permanent form of Australian society; this would mean the elimination of private capital and shareholding, profit, freedom of private enterprise and the transfer of the control of industry to civil servants and union leaders. These forces are centred politically in the Labor Party and industrially in the Trade Unions; they are supported by an extremely powerful and growing section of public opinion.|sign=[[Charles Denton Kemp]]|source=}}

The IPA Victoria was founded as an apolitical organisation, and rejected the IPA NSW's strategy of "direct short term political action to defeat the Labor Party with an emphasis on propaganda". However, the IPA Victoria acted as a finance committee for non-Labor parties in its first year, and the IPA Treasurer at the time reportedly said that much of the IPA Victoria's funding was conditional on it being spent to "fight socialism at the coming election" (the [[1943 Australian federal election]]).<ref name=":6">{{Cite thesis|last=Michael|first=Bertram|date=1989|title=A history of the Institute of Public Affairs|url=https://minerva-access.unimelb.edu.au/handle/11343/38363| type=MA| publisher= [[University of Melbourne]]|pages=23–27, 60–63, 87–88, 133}}</ref> Its Publicity and Research Bureau wrote political broadcasters, provided speakers' notes to all endorsed [[United Australia Party]] and [[United Country Party (Australia)|United Country Party]] candidates and producing advertisements.<ref name=":6" />

The IPA Victoria's direct involvement in federal politics was reappraised after the 1943 election, and the organisation handed over responsibility for fundraising to the extra-parliamentary wing of the [[United Australia Party]]. The IPA Victoria remained involved in non-Labor politics, including financing by-election candidates and participating in the foundation of the [[Liberal Party of Australia]].<ref name=":6" />

The IPA Victoria was less involved in the [[1949 Australian federal election|1949 federal election]] than the 1943 election, but the ''IPA Review'' did publish articles arguing against socialism and with tactical advice for the Liberal Party.<ref name=":6" />

During Charles Kemp's time as director, the IPA Victoria focused its political engagement on the non-Labor parties, and did not "seriously attempt" to influence Labor politicians.<ref>{{Cite thesis|last=Michael|first=Bertram|date=1989|title=A history of the Institute of Public Affairs|url=https://minerva-access.unimelb.edu.au/handle/11343/38363 |type=MA| publisher= [[University of Melbourne]]|pages=42–43}}</ref> Academic and public servant [[Finlay Crisp]] described it as a "satellite" of the Liberal Party during this time, and the ''IPA Review'' had a policy of not approaching Labor figures for submissions and of muting criticism of the Liberal Government.<ref name=":6" />

In 1978, the IPA and the [[Australian Council of Trade Unions]] prepared a booklet on partnership in industry, but the ACTU baulked at the association and its name was not on the final publication.<ref name=":9">{{Cite news|url=https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2016/08/27/former-ipa-head-radicals-hijacked-think-tank/14722200003666|title=Former IPA head: radicals 'hijacked' think tank|last=Seccombe|first=Mike|date=2016-08-27|work=The Saturday Paper|access-date=2018-07-12}}</ref> By the 1980s, the IPA had changed its policy and made space in the ''IPA Review'' for Labor politicians and "others not of the free enterprise persuasion".<ref name=":6" />

The Institute has maintained close ideological and political affinities with the Liberal Party into the 21st century. IPA Executive Director John Roskam worked on the Liberal Party's election campaign during the [[2001 Australian federal election|2001 federal election]]<ref name="Roskam2005">{{cite news|last1=Roskam|first1=John| url=http://www.afr.com/p/opinion/item_HsDaIHAl3CvCEyLJ1GJIkO|title=Sermons from the left|work=Financial Review|date=15 July 2005}}</ref> and has run for Liberal Party preselection.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Party-faces-choice-new-blood-or-not/2005/06/17/1118869094822.html | title=Party faces choice new blood or not | newspaper=The Age | date=17 June 2005 | location=Melbourne | first=Jason | last=Koutsoukis}}</ref> Tony Abbott delivered the 57th C D Kemp lecture in 2001 on the Coalition Government's [[Work for the Dole]] program<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/04/23/1050777301768.html|title=Is this the end of the liberal party?|website=www.theage.com.au|date=24 April 2003|access-date=2018-07-12}}</ref> and Prime Minister [[John Howard]] delivered the 60th C D Kemp lecture in 2004, titled ''Iraq: The Importance of Seeing it Through''.<ref>John Howard, 19 May 2004, [https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20040520140000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/10052/20040521-0000/www.pm.gov.au/news/speeches/speech878.html ''Address to the Institute of Public Affairs'']{{cbignore|bot=medic}}.</ref> Howard has also said that its policies are influenced by the IPA, which "contributes very strongly to the intellectual debate on issues and that in turn has an impact on what attitude the Liberal Party takes".<ref name=smh2013/>

==Research focus==
Following the [[2013 Australian federal election|2013 federal election]] of the Abbott Coalition Government, the IPA released a list of 75 policy initiatives (later adding another 25) to "transform Australia" which encapsulated the present direction of the IPA.<ref name=":11">{{Cite web|url=https://www.crikey.com.au/2013/09/06/institute-of-liberal-party-policy-what-the-ipa-will-get-from-abbott/|title=Institute of Liberal Party policy? What the IPA will get from Abbott|date=2013-09-06|website=Crikey|access-date=2017-05-14}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.crikey.com.au/2013/09/18/ipa-adds-to-its-wishlist-and-almost-half-are-on-abbotts-cards/|title=IPA adds to its wishlist, and almost half are on Abbott's cards|date=2013-09-18|website=Crikey|access-date=2017-05-14}}</ref>

=== Economics ===
The IPA Victoria's ideological position was initially "an amalgam of Keynesianism control and Hayekian regulation", with IPA President Eric Lampe in 1961 saying that the IPA considered government responsibility for full employment, social security, the speed of development, living standards and financial stability "all very necessary".<ref name=":7">{{Cite journal|last=Michael|first=Bertram|date=1989|title=A history of the Institute of Public Affairs|url=https://minerva-access.unimelb.edu.au/handle/11343/38363|pages=152–155}}</ref>

This changed during the late 1970s and 1980s,<ref name=":9" /> when the IPA adopted an [[Economic rationalism|economic rationalist]] or neo-liberal position, with the IPA saying in 1988 that:<ref name=":7" />

{{Block quote|text=the material condition of all sections of the community is most effectively enhanced by encouraging economic growth through a private enterprise, market-oriented economic system, involving vigorous private enterprise and minimal government interference|sign=|source=}}

Recent economic positions of the IPA include:
* lower [[tax]]ation;<ref name=":8">{{Cite news|url=https://ipa.org.au/publications-ipa/ipa-review-articles/be-like-gough-75-radical-ideas-to-transform-australia|title=Be Like Gough: 75 Radical Ideas To Transform Australia|date=2012-08-05|work=IPA - The Voice For Freedom|access-date=2018-07-12}}</ref>
* abolish the [[minimum wage]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/institute-of-public-affairs-calls-for-the-abolition-of-the-minimum-wage-20140406-366ve.html|title=Institute of Public Affairs calls for the abolition of the minimum wage|last=Schneiders|first=Ben|date=2014-04-06|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=2018-07-12}}</ref>
* [[deregulation]] of the [[Australian economy]];<ref name=":8" />
* [[privatization|privatisation]] of government bodies like [[Australia Post]], [[Medibank]], the [[SBS (Australian TV channel)|SBS]], the [[Australian Institute of Sport]], the [[National Broadband Network]], [[CSIRO]]<ref name=":8" /> and the [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC]];<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/comment/ignore-the-hysteria-its-time-we-privatised-the-tone-deaf-leftleaning-abc-20140130-31o39.html|title=Ignore the hysteria: it's time we privatised the tone deaf, left-leaning ABC|date=30 January 2014|newspaper=[[The Age]]}}</ref>
* reduced government spending;<ref name=":8" />
* greater [[Transparency (humanities)|transparency]] in government;{{Citation needed|date=July 2018}}
* the elimination of existing programs of welfare targeted at [[Indigenous Australians]], with the aim of encouraging transition to work, self-reliance and high incomes;{{Citation needed|date=July 2018}}
* maintain or increase the current level of immigration;{{Citation needed|date=July 2018}}
* the reduction of Australian Public Service benefits and allowances.<ref>{{cite news | newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]] |date=18 December 2015 | url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/public-service/australian-public-service-allowances-attacked-institute-of-public-affairs-report-20151218-glqmgg.html | title=Australian public service allowances attacked: Institute of Public Affairs report}}</ref>

=== Tobacco ===
In the 1990s, the IPA was funded by the tobacco industry to conduct research that "attacked the science behind [[passive smoking]]".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/politics/federal/free-radicals-20130824-2sik1.html|title=Free radicals|last=Schneiders|first=Royce Millar, Ben|date=2013-08-24|website=Canberra Times|access-date=2018-12-17}}</ref> The research included a study from 1996 by [[John Luik]] that found that the impact of passive smoking on non-smokers was "trivial",<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ipa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/archive/1211162660_document_review1998_vol.50no.2.pdf|title=IPA Review Volume 50|website=ipa.org.au|page=5|access-date=2018-12-17}}</ref> and that "bogus" or "corrupt" passive smoking "threatens the central democratic values of autonomy, respect and diversity".<ref name=":20">{{Cite web|url=http://www.ipa.org.au/library/.svn/text-base/Luik1996_Smokescreen.pdf.svn-base|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927152315/http://www.ipa.org.au/library/.svn/text-base/Luik1996_Smokescreen.pdf.svn-base|url-status=dead|archive-date=2011-09-27|title=Smokescreen: 'Passive Smoking' and Public Policy|last=Luik|first=John|date=July 2018|website=Institute of Public Affairs|access-date=17 December 2018}}</ref>
In 2010, the IPA argued against the [[Gillard Government]]'s plans to introduce [[plain tobacco packaging]], criticising it on the grounds that plain packaging may not affect the consumption of those products<ref>Chris Berg, IPA Research Fellow, The Age, 17 April 2001, [http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/plain-packs-pointless-when-smoke-gets-in-our-eyes-20110416-1dirt.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110418015613/http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/plain-packs-pointless-when-smoke-gets-in-our-eyes-20110416-1dirt.html |date=18 April 2011 }}.</ref> and that plain packaging may infringe intellectual property rights in tobacco trademarks and logos. If so, it would represent a breach of the constitutional requirement that [[Section 51(xxxi) of the Constitution of Australia|acquisition be on just terms]].

Policy director [[Tim Wilson (Australian politician)|Tim Wilson]] predicted that the government could be liable for $3 billion in compensation, a claim that was criticised at the time by [[Media Watch (TV program)|Media Watch]] in part because media covering Wilson's claims did not mention that the IPA receives donations from the tobacco industry.<ref>{{Citation|title=Smoking Out The Spin|date=2010-05-10|url=https://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/episodes/smoking-out-the-spin/9974570|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|access-date=2018-12-17}}</ref> The High Court ultimately ruled that no compensation was required, in ''[[British American Tobacco Australasia Limited and Ors v. The Commonwealth of Australia]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hcourt.gov.au/cases/case-s389/2011| title=Case S389/2011 |website=[[High Court of Australia]]|access-date=2018-12-17}}</ref>

=== Climate change ===
The IPA accepts climate change is real but rejects the [[scientific consensus on climate change|scientific consensus on the topic]], i.e. that it is currently being mainly caused by human activities (in particular the burning of fossil fuels, leading to a build-up of [[greenhouse gases]] such as [[carbon dioxide]]), arguing that there is insufficient scientific evidence. It advocates that research in climate science should be more wide-ranging than overwhelmingly focused on attempting to prove that carbon dioxide is a dangerous climate-changing pollutant based on the inferences of [[hypothetical]] climate models. The IPA has financed several Australians who are [[contrarian]]s or active in alternative climate change research.<ref name=doubt>{{cite news | url=http://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/the-benefit-of-the-doubt-20100507-ujof.html | title=The benefit of the doubt | newspaper=[[Sydney Morning Herald]] | date=8 May 2010}}</ref><ref name="DryzekNorgaard2011">{{cite book|author1=John S. Dryzek|author2=Richard B. Norgaard|author3=David Schlosberg|title=The Oxford Handbook of Climate Change and Society|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RsYr_iQUs6QC&pg=PA155|date=18 August 2011|publisher=OUP Oxford|isbn=978-0-19-956660-0|page=155}}</ref>

In 2008, the institute facilitated a donation of {{AUD|350,000}} by G. Bryant Macfie, a climate change denier, to the [[University of Queensland]] for environmental research. The money was given to fund three environmental doctoral projects, with the IPA suggesting two of the three agreed topics.<ref>{{cite news | newspaper=The Australian | date=7 May 2008 | url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23657735-11949,00.html | title=Dispute over climate sceptic uni grant | access-date=21 May 2008 | archive-date=10 May 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080510145559/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23657735-11949,00.html | url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2010, the IPA published a compilation of essays by prominent climate change deniers titled ''Climate Change: The Facts'' and edited by [[John Roskam]] and Alan Moran.<ref>{{cite book|editor1-first = John|editor1-last = Roskam|editor-link1 = John Roskam|editor2-first = Alan J.|editor2-last = Moran|title = Climate Change: The Facts|year = 2010|publisher = Institute of Public Affairs|isbn = 9780909536718}}</ref> An expanded version with 22 essays was published in 2015 through [[Stockade Books]]<ref>{{cite book|title = Climate Change: The Facts|editor-last = Moran|editor-first = Alan|asin = B00S5L5Y0W|year = 2015|publisher = [[Stockade Books]]|type = Kindle}}</ref> and a follow-up edited by [[Jennifer Marohasy]] was published in 2017.<ref>{{cite book|title = Climate Change: The Facts 2017|editor-last = Marohasy|editor-first = Jennifer|editor-link = Jennifer Marohasy|asin = B074PRC25D|year = 2017|publisher = Institute of Public Affairs|type = Kindle}}</ref> In 2019 the IPA published an essay by Clive James, Chapter 22 of the 2017 publication, on its website, which was critical of what it called "[[climate change alarmism]] in the upmarket [[mass media]]".<ref name=james2019/>

In 2013, it was reported that several large [[multinational companies]], including [[ExxonMobil]], [[Shell Australia|Shell]] and mining companies, had ceased their membership and financial contributions to the IPA, owing to its vehement campaign against climate change action.<ref name=smh2013>{{cite news|title=Big donors dump IPA on climate scepticism|url=http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/federal-election-2013/big-donors-dump-ipa-on-climate-scepticism-20130824-2sigt.html|access-date=12 August 2014|work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|date=25 August 2013| first1=Ben |last1=Schneiders| first2=Royce|last2= Millar}}</ref>

In 2017, Marohasy and IPA colleague John Abbot published a paper on climate change in the journal ''[[GeoResJ]]'',<ref>{{cite journal|title = The application of machine learning for evaluating anthropogenic versus natural climate change|journal = [[GeoResJ]]|volume = 14|year = 2017|pages = 36–46|doi = 10.1016/j.grj.2017.08.001|first1 = John|last1 = Abbot|first2 = Jennifer|last2 = Marohasy|author-link2 = Jennifer Marohasy}}</ref> also discussing the work on the IPA website,<ref name = IPAsummary>{{cite web|url = https://ipa.org.au/publications-ipa/freedomwatch/recent-warming-natural|title = Most of the Recent Warming Could be Natural|first = Jennifer|last = Marohasy|author-link = Jennifer Marohasy|date = 24 August 2017|access-date = 26 August 2017|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170826065814/https://ipa.org.au/publications-ipa/freedomwatch/recent-warming-natural|url-status = live|archive-date = 26 August 2017|publisher = Institute of Public Affairs}}</ref> in ''[[The Spectator Australia]]'',<ref>{{cite news|title = Big data finds the Medieval Warm Period – no denial here|first = Jennifer|last = Marohasy|author-link = Jennifer Marohasy|newspaper = [[The Spectator Australia]]|archive-url = https://archive.today/20170822160043/https://www.spectator.com.au/2017/08/big-data-finds-the-medieval-warm-period-no-denial-here/|url-status = live|url = https://www.spectator.com.au/2017/08/big-data-finds-the-medieval-warm-period-no-denial-here/|date = 21 August 2017|archive-date = 22 August 2017|access-date = 26 August 2017}}</ref> and in Marohasy's blog.<ref>{{cite web|title = Most of the Recent Warming Could be Natural|first = Jennifer|last = Marohasy|author-link = Jennifer Marohasy|date = 21 August 2017|access-date = 26 August 2017|archive-date = 23 August 2017|url-status = live|website = jennifermarohasy.com|archive-url = https://archive.today/20170823132608/http://jennifermarohasy.com/2017/08/recent-warming-natural/|url = http://jennifermarohasy.com/2017/08/recent-warming-natural/}}</ref> The research concludes that much of recent warming could be attributable to natural variations, and that the "world was about as warm in 1980 as it was during the Middle Ages".<ref name = IPAsummary /> This conclusion was heavily criticised by climate scientists who pointed to methodological flaws in the research and declared it unworthy of publication.<ref name = Guardian>{{cite news|title = Why the IPA's claim global warming is natural is junk science|first = Graham|last = Readfearn|newspaper = [[The Guardian Australia]]|date = 26 August 2017|access-date = 26 August 2017|url = https://www.theguardian.com/environment/planet-oz/2017/aug/26/institute-of-public-affairs-paper-claim-global-warming-natural-junk-science|archive-date = 26 August 2017|url-status = live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170826041733/https://www.theguardian.com/environment/planet-oz/2017/aug/26/institute-of-public-affairs-paper-claim-global-warming-natural-junk-science}}</ref> [[Gavin Schmidt]], the director of [[NASA]]'s [[Goddard Institute for Space Studies]], has pointed out that some data were shifted in time by approximately 35 years, leading to the omission of warming that has occurred since 1965.<ref>{{cite tweet|first = Zeke|last = Hausfather|user = hausfath|number = 900105322169118720|date = 22 August 2017|access-date = 26 August 2017|title = This new tree ring proxy reconstruction that Breitbart is claiming shows "global warming almost entirely natural" is missing something...|archive-date = 26 August 2017|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170826070529/https:/twitter.com/hausfath/status/900105322169118720|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite tweet|author-link = Gavin Schmidt|first = Gavin|last = Schmidt|user = ClimateOfGavin|number = 900341454232371200|title = There's more to it! Their time axis is off by ~35 years and magnitude is too large by ~10%. So their '20th C' is actually 1845-1965.|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170826071756/https:/twitter.com/ClimateOfGavin/status/900341454232371200|date = 23 August 2017|access-date = 26 August 2017|archive-date = 26 August 2017|url-status = live}}</ref> Schmidt described the research as "worthless" and an example of "what happens when people have their conclusions fixed before they start the work".<ref name = Guardian />

==Notable people==
The following individuals are or were associated with the Institute of Public Affairs.
[[File:Senator Kemp.jpg|thumb|Rod Kemp, Chairman of the Institute of Public Affairs]]

=== Senior office bearers ===
When the IPA Victoria was founded in 1943, it had a chairman (Sir [[George Coles (entrepreneur)|George Coles]]); a chairman of the executive committee was chosen in 1944 (G. H. Grimwade) and a director ([[Charles Denton Kemp]]) in 1948. The executive committee was also referred to as the Industrial Committee or the Executive & Editorial Committee, and the role of chairman was subsequently renamed to president. From July 1983, the roles of president and chairman of the executive committee were combined.<ref name=":5">{{Cite journal|last=Michael|first=Bertram|date=1989|title=A history of the Institute of Public Affairs|url=https://minerva-access.unimelb.edu.au/handle/11343/38363|pages=199–200}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable" |+ Sortable table
|-
! scope="col" | Name
! scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Date appointed
! scope="col" | Date ended
! scope="col" | Term in office
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Comments
! scope="col" | Ref
|-
|data-sort-value=Kemp, Rod|[[Rod Kemp]] || (Executive) Director;
Chairman
| align="center" |1982 (director);
2008 (Chairman)
| align="center" |1989 (director);
''incumbent'' (chairman)
||{{age in years|1982|1989}} years (director);

{{age in years|2008}} years (chairman)
| Former Australian Government minister, [[Australian Senate|Australian Senator]] representing [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]] for the [[Liberal Party of Australia|Liberal Party]]. Kemp's father, Charles Kemp, was a co-founder of the IPA. ||<ref name=":5" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://ipa.org.au/people/rod-kemp |title=Rod Kemp |publisher=Institute of Public Affairs |access-date=7 June 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Senator Rod Kemp |author-link=Rod Kemp |title=Senate debates, First speech |date=14 September 1990 |url=http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/senators/homepages/first_speech/sfs-WW4.htm |publisher=Parliament of Australia }}</ref>
|-
|data-sort-value=Nahan, Mike|[[Mike Nahan]] || Executive director ||align=center|1995   || align=center|2005   || align=right|{{age in years|1995|2005}} years  || Western Australia [[Liberal Party of Australia|Liberal Party]] Leader and Leader of the Opposition until June 2019.<ref>{{cite web|title=People: Mike Nahan|url=https://ipa.org.au/people/mike-nahan|publisher=Institute of Public Affairs|access-date=22 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.communitynews.com.au/canning-times/news/mike-nahan-to-retire-from-politics-in-2021/ |title = Mike Nahan to retire from politics in 2021 {{!}} Community News| date=3 December 2019 }}</ref>
|-
|data-sort-value=Roskam, John|[[John Roskam]] || Executive director ||align=center|2004  ||align=center|''incumbent''  ||align=right|{{age in years|2004}} years  || Former executive director of the [[Menzies Research Centre]]; former chief of staff for Liberal Minister [[David Kemp (politician)|David Kemp]]||<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ipa.org.au/people/john-roskam |title=John Roskam |publisher=Institute of Public Affairs }}</ref>
|-
|data-sort-value=Hyde, John|[[John Hyde (Australian federal politician)|John Hyde]] || Executive director;
Emeritus fellow
| align="center" |1991 (executive director); 1998 (emeritus fellow) ||align=center|1995 (executive director); ''incumbent'' (emeritus fellow)  ||align=right|{{age in years|1991|1995}} years (executive director); {{age in years|1998}} years (emeritus fellow) || Economist; former Liberal member for [[Division of Moore|Moore]]||<ref name=people>{{cite web |url=http://ipa.org.au/people/ |title=People |publisher=Institute of Public Affairs }}</ref>
|-
|data-sort-value=Kemp, Charles|[[Charles Denton Kemp]] || (Executive) director || align="center" |1948 ||align=center|1976  ||align=right|{{age in years|1948|1976}} years || Economist and commentator; founder of the IPA; was also Acting Director between July 1979 and August 1982 when the position of director was vacant ||<ref name=":5" />
|-
|data-sort-value=Warren, HN|H.N. Warren || (Executive) director ||align=center|1977   ||align=center|1978  ||align=right|{{age in years|1977|1978}} years || Also served as Secretary of the IPA's Editorial Committee ||<ref name=":5" />
|-
|data-sort-value=Neave, RG|Roger Neave || (Executive) director ||align=center|1978-02 || align="center" |1979 ||align=right|{{age in years|1978|1979}} years || Scriptwriter; [[Rootes Group]] executive; deputy director of the IPA between 1976 and his appointment as director ||<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":9" />
|-
|data-sort-value=West, Katherine|Katherine West || Unofficial (executive) director ||align=center|1979-12 || align="center" |1980-02 || align="right" |{{age in years|1979|1980}} years ||  ||<ref name=":5" />
|-
|data-sort-value=Hampel, George| G.P. Hampel || (Executive) director ||align=center|1981-01 || align="center" |1981-11 || align="right" |{{age in years|1981|1981}} years ||  ||<ref name=":5" />
|}

=== Staff, fellows and board members ===

{| class="wikitable sortable" |+ Sortable table
|-
! scope="col" | Name
! scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Date appointed
! scope="col" | Date ended
! scope="col" | Term in office
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Comments
! scope="col" | Ref
|-
|data-sort-value=Albrechtsen, Janet|[[Janet Albrechtsen]] || Director ||   ||    ''incumbent''
||   || Opinion writer for ''[[The Australian]]'' and a former director of the [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] ||<ref>{{cite news|author=Caldwell, Alison|title=ABC critic appointed to board of directors|work=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] |location=Australia |date=24 February 2005|url=http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2005/s1310461.htm|access-date=30 April 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=ABC Friends label Janet Albrechtsen and Neil Brown panel appointments a declaration of war on independence|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-07-03/changes-to-panel-making-abc-board-appointments-alarming/5569186 |work=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] |location=Australia |date=3 July 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Janet Albrechtsen appointed to ABC and SBS board appointments panel|url=http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/janet-albrechtsen-appointed-to-abc-and-sbs-board-appointments-panel-20140702-3b8rs.html |work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=2 July 2014 }}</ref>
|-
|data-sort-value=Abbott, Tony|[[Tony Abbott]] || Distinguished Fellow ||  ||    ''incumbent''
||   || Former prime minister of Australia (28th) and former Federal Member for Warringah ||<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ipa.org.au/author/thehontonyabbott |title=Tony Abbottt |publisher=Institute of Public Affairs |access-date=27 January 2021 }}</ref>
|-
|data-sort-value=Berg, Chris|Chris Berg || Adjunct Fellow ||2004
|    2020
||   || Columnist - Appointed term 2017-2020 ||<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ipa.org.au/people/chris-berg |title=Chris Berg |publisher=Institute of Public Affairs |access-date=7 June 2016 |archive-date=18 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160618164620/http://ipa.org.au/people/chris-berg |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
|data-sort-value=Bolt, James|James Bolt || Digital communications manager ||  ||    ''incumbent''
||   || Son of [[Andrew Bolt]], an Australian conservative political commentator ||<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.crikey.com.au/2015/05/01/tips-and-rumours-1359/ |title=Tips and rumours |work=[[Crikey]] |date=1 May 2015 |access-date=7 June 2016}}</ref>
|-
|data-sort-value=Grant, James|Father James Grant || Adjunct Fellow ||   ||    ''incumbent''
||   || Catholic Priest and founder of Chaplains Without Borders, and Catholics in Business ||<ref name=people/>
|-
|data-sort-value=Lloyd, John|[[John Lloyd (Australian public servant)|John Lloyd]] ||Director of the Work Reform and Productivity Unit (former)
Director of Workplace Relations (current)
|Unknown (Work Reform)

2018 (Workplace Relations)
|2014 (Work Reform)
''incumbent'' (Workplace Relations)
|  || Former [[Australian Public Service Commission]]er; former Australian Building and Construction Commissioner ||<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ipa.org.au/people/john-lloyd |title=John Lloyd |publisher=Institute of Public Affairs |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160225094730/https://ipa.org.au/people/john-lloyd |archive-date=25 February 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Hannan"/>
|-
|data-sort-value=Paterson, James|[[James Paterson (Australian politician)|James Paterson]] ||Deputy Executive Director
|2014
|2016
|  || [[Australian Senate|Australian Senator]] representing [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]] for the [[Liberal Party of Australia|Liberal Party]] ||<ref>{{cite web|title=People: James Paterson|url=https://ipa.org.au/people/james-paterson|publisher=Institute of Public Affairs|access-date=2 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160406073220/http://ipa.org.au/people/james-paterson|archive-date=6 April 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|data-sort-value=Penington, David|[[David Penington]] ||  ||   ||    ||   || Former [[Chancellor (education)|Vice-Chancellor]] of [[University of Melbourne]] ||<ref name=people/>
|-
|data-sort-value=Potts, Jason|[[Jason Potts (economist)|Jason Potts]] || Adjunct Fellow ||   ||    ''incumbent''
||   || Economist ||<ref name=people/>
|-
|data-sort-value=Smith, Tony|[[Tony Smith (Victorian politician)|Tony Smith]] || Research Assistant ||align=center|1989  ||align=center|1990  ||align=right|{{age in years|1989|1990}} years  || Liberal Party Member for [[Division of Casey|Casey]], [[Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives|Speaker of the House of Representatives]] since August 2015 ||<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Parliamentarian?MPID=00APG |title=The Hon Tony Smith MP |publisher=Parliament of Australia |access-date=18 June 2016 }}</ref>
|-
|data-sort-value=Switzer, Tom|[[Tom Switzer]] || Adjunct Fellow ||   ||
||   || Executive Director of the [[Centre for Independent Studies]]; former Senior Adviser to then Liberal Leader [[Brendan Nelson]] (2009) ||<ref name=people/><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/tom-switzer/6032230|title=Tom Switzer|date=2015-01-21|website=Radio National|access-date=2018-07-12}}</ref>
|-
|data-sort-value=Wilson, Tim|[[Tim Wilson (Australian politician)|Tim Wilson]] ||Policy Director
| align="center" |2007 ||align=center|2013  ||align=right|{{age in years|2007|2013}} years  || Former Liberal member for [[Division of Goldstein|Goldstein]]; former [[Australian Human Rights Commission]]er||<ref name=people/>
|-
|[[Morris Williams (politician)|Morris Williams]]
|Research Assistant
|1947
|1972
|{{age in years|1947|1972}} years
|Liberal member for [[Electoral district of Box Hill|Box Hill]] and [[Electoral district of Doncaster|Doncaster]]
|<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Michael|first=Bertram|date=1989|title=A history of the Institute of Public Affairs|url=https://minerva-access.unimelb.edu.au/handle/11343/38363|pages=90}}</ref>
|-
|[[Ian Plimer]]
|Contributor, ''Climate Change: The Facts''
|
|
|
|Geologist, [[climate change denier]]
|<ref name=":18">{{Cite web|url=https://ipa.org.au/ipa-today/rafe-champions-chapterwise-review-of-climate-change-the-facts-2017|title=Rafe Champion's chapterwise review of Climate Change The Facts 2017|date=2018-07-10|website=IPA - The Voice For Freedom|access-date=2018-12-10}}</ref>
|-
|[[Ken Ring (writer)|Ken Ring]]
|Contributor, ''Climate Change: The Facts''
|
|
|
|Writer, "alternative weather" predictor
|<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/planet-oz/2017/aug/26/institute-of-public-affairs-paper-claim-global-warming-natural-junk-science|title=Why the IPA's claim global warming is natural is 'junk science' {{!}} Graham Readfearn|last=Readfearn|first=Graham|date=2017-08-25|work=The Guardian|access-date=2018-12-10|issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref name=":18" />
|-
|}

=== Donors, members and associates ===

{| class="wikitable sortable" |+ Sortable table
|-
! scope="col" | Name
! scope="col" | Relationship to IPA
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Comments
! scope="col" | Ref
|-
|data-sort-value=Rinehart, Gina|[[Gina Rinehart]] || Donor;
Lifetime Member
| Chairperson of [[Hancock Prospecting]], prominent climate change denier ||<ref name=people/><ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://amp.smh.com.au/business/companies/gina-rinehart-warns-of-propaganda-in-climate-denial-video-to-students-20211006-p58xry.html|title=Gina Rinehart appears in climate denial video|website=amp.smh.com.au}}</ref>
|-
|data-sort-value=Leyonhjelm, David|[[David Leyonhjelm]] || Member   || Former Australian Senator, representing himself and the [[Liberal Democratic Party (Australia)|Liberal Democratic Party]] ||<ref name="Seccombe, Mike"/>
|-
|data-sort-value=Day, Bob|[[Bob Day]] ||  Member  || Former [[Australian Senate|Australian Senator]] representing [[South Australia]] for the [[Family First Party]] ||<ref name="Seccombe, Mike">{{cite news |work=[[The Saturday Paper]] |author=Seccombe, Mike |author-link=Mike Seccombe |url=https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2014/05/31/abbotts-faceless-men-the-ipa/1401458400 |title=Abbott's faceless men of the IPA |date=31 May 2014 }}</ref>
|-
|data-sort-value=Gosper, Kevan|[[Kevan Gosper]] || Voting Member
| Former Vice President of the [[International Olympic Committee]]; former chair and CEO of [[Royal Dutch Shell]] in Australia ||<ref name=people/>
|-
|}

==Publications==
The ''IPA Review'' is published quarterly.<ref>{{OCLC|725153335}} {{ISSN|1329-8100}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[List of think tanks]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{official website|http://www.ipa.org.au/}}
* [https://www.facebook.com/Inst.ofPublicAffairs Institute of Public Affairs] on [[Facebook]]
* [https://www.youtube.com/user/IPAaustralia Institute of Public Affairs] on [[YouTube]]
* [http://www.ipa.org.au/files/news_783.html IPA in the News: Flaws Remain in Bringing Them Home] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050620025637/http://www.ipa.org.au/files/news_783.html |date=20 June 2005 }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Institute of Public Affairs}}
[[Category:Think tanks based in Australia]]
[[Category:Political advocacy groups in Australia]]
[[Category:Think tanks established in 1943]]
[[Category:Libertarian think tanks]]
[[Category:Libertarianism in Australia]]
[[Category:Organisations based in Melbourne]]
[[Category:Smoking in Australia]]
[[Category:Climate change in Australia]]
[[Category:1943 establishments in Australia]]
[[Category:Climate change denial]]