澳大利亞2015-16年度報告TAI Annual Report 2015-16(2015-2016)

改進(jìn)就是改變;完美就是經(jīng)常改變。如果我們接受溫斯頓?丘吉爾(Winston Churchill)的話(huà)，那么2015-16年已經(jīng)讓我們接近完美。這是一個(gè)重大變革的時(shí)期。首先，在2015年年中，我們的執行董事從Richard Denniss無(wú)縫切換到Ben Oquist。我曾在多個(gè)不同行業(yè)的許多組織中工作，這些組織都經(jīng)歷過(guò)重大的人事變動(dòng)，我可以誠實(shí)地說(shuō)，這是我所見(jiàn)過(guò)的最平穩、最快樂(lè )、最有效的一次人事變動(dòng)。當然，理查德沒(méi)有離開(kāi)澳大利亞經(jīng)濟研究所，但仍然是我們的首席經(jīng)濟學(xué)家。因此，他繼續研究、寫(xiě)作和談?wù)摪拇罄麃喌倪M(jìn)步思想和政策。事實(shí)上，理查德已經(jīng)變得更加多產(chǎn)，而澳大利亞只能從中受益。此外，本奧奎斯特將其無(wú)與倫比的戰略頭腦和政治智慧帶入執行董事的角色。無(wú)論是通過(guò)經(jīng)濟手段，還是通過(guò)媒體報道，還是通過(guò)較少的數量，還是通過(guò)政治效果，本都把這個(gè)機構帶到了一個(gè)新的高度。2016年年中發(fā)生了進(jìn)一步的重大變化。林哈特菲爾德-多茲在擔任主席5年后辭職，以擔任政府高級職位。雖然我們?yōu)榱值穆殬I(yè)發(fā)展感到高興，但她的領(lǐng)導能力將被我們深深懷念。林是我所服務(wù)過(guò)的研究所唯一的主席，我必須說(shuō)，她謙遜而堅強的領(lǐng)導才能支撐了研究所今天的力量。我們會(huì )想念她的。作為取代林的新主席，我帶著(zhù)既興奮又恐懼的心情開(kāi)始了我的任期。我為自己擔任的這個(gè)充滿(mǎn)活力、目標明確、和諧高效的組織感到興奮。意識到自己承擔了多么重要的任務(wù)，我感到惶恐不安。對我的孩子們，對所有的后代，甚至對我們現在的人口來(lái)說(shuō)，我們必須解決不平等問(wèn)題，我們必須應對氣候變化，我們必須打破新自由主義對經(jīng)濟話(huà)語(yǔ)的束縛，我們必須聽(tīng)到進(jìn)步的聲音，我們必須有效地發(fā)出這些聲音。作為美國領(lǐng)先的進(jìn)步智庫，我們肩負著(zhù)令人敬畏的責任。似乎是為了證明丘吉爾是對的，在這些重大變革中，過(guò)去的一年取得了一些非凡的成功。在2016年的聯(lián)邦選舉中，養老金公平和負扣稅是關(guān)鍵問(wèn)題，這兩個(gè)“不可觸及”的問(wèn)題已經(jīng)通過(guò)研究所多年的工作被提上了國家議程。煤炭行業(yè)繼續失去社會(huì )執照，因為該協(xié)會(huì )繼續強調其大規模的政府補貼和有問(wèn)題的經(jīng)濟。一年前看似瘋狂的全球暫停開(kāi)采煤礦的想法，如今已得到認真討論，并在理查德?丹尼斯(Richard Denniss)的開(kāi)創(chuàng )性工作之后，被幾個(gè)主要煤炭生產(chǎn)國采納。在聯(lián)邦選舉之后，可再生能源再次受到攻擊，原因是ARENA的資金削減計劃和南澳大利亞風(fēng)暴。研究所再次展示了它的敏捷性和響應能力，在適當的時(shí)候將高質(zhì)量的研究引入爭論，以達到最大的效果。同樣，在選舉后，當削減Newstart似乎是毫無(wú)疑問(wèn)的時(shí)候，該機構及時(shí)采取行動(dòng)，防止削減最貧困的澳大利亞人的收入。2016年11月，我們繼續向“完美”邁進(jìn)，學(xué)院將遷往Manuka，成為一個(gè)容納進(jìn)步組織的新空間的主要租戶(hù)。通過(guò)這一進(jìn)一步的改變，在一個(gè)物理空間中加入志同道合的人，我們可以加強合作，擴大聲音，提高整個(gè)進(jìn)步運動(dòng)的效率。能成為這樣一個(gè)組織的一員，我感到非常自豪。我要感謝我們的董事會(huì )，特別是那些完成他們的任期在這個(gè)AGM -斯賓塞齊福薩克，山姆哈迪，當然還有林哈特菲爾德-多茲。對于那些加入董事會(huì )的人，歡迎——你有很大的空間。也感謝研究委員會(huì )。它們在確保我們的研究保持高質(zhì)量和相關(guān)性方面起著(zhù)至關(guān)重要的作用。我們很榮幸在委員會(huì )中有這樣一群高素質(zhì)的人，我們研究的有效性證明了他們所做的工作。最后，我們所做的任何工作都離不開(kāi)資金。對于過(guò)去一年里支持我們工作的人:非常感謝。如果你已經(jīng)成為一個(gè)固定的捐助者，加倍感謝。你們對一個(gè)更好、更公平、更進(jìn)步的澳大利亞的信念讓我們繼續前進(jìn)。無(wú)論你付出的多還是少，在這個(gè)項目中你都是我們寶貴的合作伙伴。

To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often. If we accept Winston Churchill’s words, then 2015-16 has  brought us close to perfection. It has been a period of major  change.  Firstly, in mid 2015 we had a seamless change of Executive  Director from Richard Denniss to Ben Oquist. Having worked  in numerous organisations across several diverse industries  that have had major personnel transitions I can honestly say  that this was the smoothest, happiest and most effective I  have ever witnessed. Of course, Richard did not leave The  Australia Institute but remains our Chief Economist. As such,  he continues to research, write and speak about progressive  ideas and policies for Australia. In fact, Richard has become  even more prolific and Australia can only be the beneficiary  of this. Furthermore, Ben Oquist has brought to the Executive  Director role his peerless strategic mind and political wisdom.  Whether it be measured financially, through media coverage  or less quantitatively, via political effectiveness, Ben has taken  the Institute to new heights. In mid 2016 a further significant change took place. Lin  Hatfield-Dodds stepped down as chair after 5 years in the  role in order to take up a senior government position. While  we were happy for Lin’s career advancement, her leadership  will be sorely missed. Lin has been the only chair of the  Institute I have served under and I must say her example of  humble but strong leadership underpins the strength of the  Institute today. She will be missed. As the new chair replacing Lin, I start my tenure with a mix  of excitement and trepidation. Excitement at the energetic,  purposeful, harmonious and highly effective organization I  find myself chairing. Trepidation in realizing what a vital task I  have taken on. For my children, for all future generations and  indeed, for our current population, it is just so vital that we  address inequality, that we tackle climate change, that the  neo-liberal stranglehold on economic discourse is broken,  that progressive voices are heard and are effective. As the  leading progressive think tank in the country we carry an  awesome responsibility.  As if to prove Churchill right, in the midst of these major  changes, the past year has seen some extraordinary  successes. At the 2016 federal election superannuation  fairness and negative gearing were key issues, both  “untouchable” issues having been put on the national  agenda through years of work by the Institute. The coal  industry continues to lose its social license as the Institute  has continued to highlight its massive government subsidies  and questionable economics. The idea of a global coal  mine moratorium, seemingly crazy a year ago, is now  seriously discussed and has been adopted by several  major coal producing countries following Richard Denniss’s  groundbreaking work.  Post the Federal Election renewable energy was again under  attack, via proposed funding cuts to ARENA and following  the South Australian storms. Again, the Institute displayed its  agility and responsiveness to bring quality research into the  debate at the right time to maximum effect. Similarly, also  post election, when a cut to Newstart seemed unquestioned,  the Institute rose to the occasion and prevented a cut to the  incomes of the poorest Australians. In November 2016 our march towards “perfection” continues  when the Institute moves to Manuka as the lead tenant in a  new space to house progressive organisations. Through this  further change, to join like-minded others in a physical space  we can enhance collaboration, amplify voices and increase  effectiveness across the whole progressive movement. I am very proud to be part of such an organization. I would  like to thank our board, especially those finishing their terms  at this AGM – Spencer Zifcak, Sam Hardy and of course Lin  Hatfield-Dodds. For those joining the board, welcome – you  have big shoes to fill. Thanks also to the Research Committee. They play a vital role  in ensuring our research remains top quality and relevant.  We are privileged to have a group of such high caliber people  on the committee and the effectiveness of our research is  testament to the job they have done. Finally, none of the work we do can take place without  financial resources. To those who have supported our work  over the past year: a huge thank you. If you have become a  regular donor, double thanks. Your belief in a better, fairer,  more progressive Australia, keeps us going. Whether you give  a lot or a little, you are valued partners with us in this project.