New international think-tank for Melbourne
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30 April 2008
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Victoria’s reputation as the ideas capital of Australia has been reinforced with a new international public policy institute to be established in Melbourne.
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Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Victorian Premier John Brumby announced the new Australian Institute for Public Policy, leveraging off Victoria’s strong reputation in public policy.
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“The new Australian Institute for Public Policy will be a hub of knowledge and ideas; it will be a truly independent think tank that will tackle the big issues, not just in Victoria, not just in Australia, but globally,” Mr Brumby said.
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“It is an investment in our present and our future and will create opportunities for Australia’s best and brightest minds to stimulate informed debate about local, national and global issues.
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“It will make a major contribution to public debates for many years to come.”
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The Institute is a partnership between the Victorian Government, the Commonwealth Government and one of Australia’s leading universities, the University of Melbourne. Ms Gillard said the Commonwealth and the Victorian Government will each contribute a foundation grant of $15 million toward the establishment of the new Institute.
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“The new Institute will be non-aligned, academically rigorous and draw on a broad network of contributors to encourage public debate on the major challenges and opportunities facing Australia,” Ms Gillard said.
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“Its political non-alignment, intellectual rigor and commitment to making a real impact will position the Institute among the few public policy institutes that command international respect.”
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Corporate contributions have been sought from several major companies. It is expected that the new institute will build up an endowment in excess of $50 million to provide a permanent, independent source of funds. The University of Melbourne will provide premises and in-kind support to the Institute.
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The Institute will be established as a company limited by guarantee. The Commonwealth and Victorian governments and the University of Melbourne will be founding members. Other members will be admitted by a mechanism that guarantees the Institute’s objectivity and non-alignment in the long term.
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A global search for an inaugural chief executive will commence within weeks.
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