Research entries that mention the IPA
1943
February: NSW branch of IPA founded.
June: SA and QLD branches of IPA founded.
Ideological and strategic differences meant that the organisation never federated.
1 
1943
The Victorian branch of the IPA was founded by Charles Denton Kemp, an economic policy commentator.
2
1943
The establishment of the IPA is seen as a response to the 1943 election win of Labor and the consequent collapse of the United Australia Party.
3
1943
"In 1943 the political opposition to the Labor Party in Australia was in disarray. The catstrophic federal election defeat and the virtual collapse of the United Australia Party meant that some major reorganisation of Australian conservatism was seen as essential by both politicians and business interests. In these peculiar circumstances, the Institute of Public Affiars of Victoria was founded. The Institute was, from the outset, a dual-purpose body. On the one hand, it was intended as a research and publicity organisation on behalf of the recently established and dynamic sectors of secondary and tertiary industry in Australia. On the other, it was to be, at least initially, the business catalyst in the reconstruction of non-Labor political organisation. The disputes between the Institute in New South Wales, which wished to continue primarily as the eminence gris of non-Labor politics, and the Victorian Institute, whose purposes were much more ideological, have been outlined by Lonie and Aimer.The triumph of the Victorian 'line' after the loss of the election in New South Wales in 1943 did, however, ensure that a programe for post-war reconstruction would be the prime contribution of the Institute of Public Affairs."
4
1962
The Victoria branch of the IPA dropped 'Victoria' from their name, angering the NSW branch with whom it was competing for corporate funding.
At this time the Victorian branch of the IPA was deeply involved in the founding of the Liberal Party of Australia and is believed to have had the following aims:
1) to collect funds for non-Labor political interests;
2) to mediate among them;
3) to provide content to the Liberal party election campaigns and the referenda in 1944 and 1966.
5
1975
Both NSW and QLD branches of the IPA are instrumental in establishing Enterprise Australia with the documented aim being:
"...the removal of the present Labor government in Canberra"
It is believed that the establishment of Enterprise Australia was to allow the IPA to appear at arm's length from politics while being politically engaged.
6
1979
'...it is clear that corporations
comprised a high proportion of movement supporters. From the late 1970s until
the late 1980s, corporations (who paid a higher rate) accounted for between one third to one-fifth of subscribers to the IPA.'
7
1982
Rodd Kemp becomes Director of the Victorian branch of the IPA, heralding in a new era of neo-liberalism seen as a modernisation of prior Keynesianism.
8
1985
The IPA expands under Rod Kemp, introducing a States policy unit.
9
1988
The IPA introduces an Educational Policy unit under the direction of Leonie Kramer.
10
1988
'Figures for IPA revenue for 1988 indicate that around $800,000 (81 per cent) of its $978,774 income came from corporate donations.'
11
1988
'In 1988, when its budget was approaching the one million dollar mark, the IPA had only 3,378 individual (non-corporate) subscribers.'
12
1989
The NSW branch of the IPA becomes the Sydney Institute under the direction of Gerard Henderson.
13
1990
John Hyde becomes Dirctor of IPA through the amalgamation with the Australian Institute of Public Policy:
'To wage this struggle most effectively IPA needed a director and we needed access to resources and to influence in the heartland of our intellectual opponents. Since the AIPP's inception we have co-operated closely with the IPA. In short, we are joining forces with old friends.'
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1991
The IPA merges with the Australian Institute of Public Policy. By this point, the AIPP had a revenue of up to $300,000, increased from $105,025 in 1985.
This provided tax exemption to the AIPP funds which had not previously enjoyed exemption. By this time the IPA had partial tax exemption.
15
1992
The Director's report for the IPA revealed that a single subscriber was responsible for 7% of their total revenue with ten subscribers responsible for 32% of their income.
16
1993
'The IPA obtains its funds from more than 4,000 private individuals, corporations and foundations. No one source accounts for more than 6.5 per cent of the total and no one industry sector provides more than 16 per cent.
No donations from political parties or grants from government are accepted.'
17
1995
Mike Nahan takes over as Executive Director of the IPA after the merger with the Australian Institute of Public Policy.
Nahan held this position with the IPA till 2005. Prior to this Nahan had held the position as head of the state policy unit with the IPA.
18
2003
Executive Director of the IPA, Mike Nahan announces that the IPA will make public their donors in the next Annual Report.
(No evidence that this ever occurred has been located)
19
2010
'In 2006, the then Federal Labor frontbencher Kelvin Thomson MP, wrote to members and potential supporters of the IPA, intimidating them because of the IPA's position on climate change (see letter attached). It is because of actions like those of Kelvin Thomson MP the IPA does not disclose its membership list. However, members are welcome to disclose their membership of the IPA.'
20
2013
'The Institute of Public Affairs is funded by the voluntary contributions of our 3256(as of this morning) members and supporters. We are very grateful for their support and we respect their privacy, but they are free to identify themselves if they choose.'
21
2014
Former Executive Director of the IPA, Mike Nahan, becomes WA state Treasurer for the Liberal party until the party's defeat in the 2017 state election.
22
2014
Former Executive Director of the IPA, Mike Nahan becomes WA Treasurer for the Liberal Party in 2014, holding this post till the 2017 electoral defeat by Labor.
23
2017
In late 2017, former IPA Senior Fellow, and a well-known crictic of the charity sector Gary Johns was appointed as the Head of the charities regulator, the ACNC.
Johns has made claims that Indigenous women in receipt of income support are kept as 'cash cows' and should be forced to accept contraception to receive income support.
24
2018
'...Generation Liberty saves its presence for the wider culture wars that play out on campus and in society; adding a student voice to conservative arguments, and working to build social license for the IPA's agenda.'
25
2018
Andrew Shearer becomes deputy head of the Office of National Assessments -to be renamed Office of National Intelligence (ONI).
The ONA/ONI has been given an oversight role over other intelligence agencies with the director-general to be the principal advisor on intelligence to the Prime Minister.
The appointment of Andrew Shearer is considered notable for his position as CD Kemp Fellow at the Institute of Public Affairs.
26
2018
The IPA (through Matthew Freedman) arranged for the US climate warming sceptic beauracrat, Scott Pruitt, to meet with Australian political leaders while on a talking tour.
The tour was cancelled due to an extreme weather event in the USA. Details of IPA involvement came to light after US environment group, the Sierra Club revealed improprieties via FOI.
'Pruitt faces 11 federal investigations in the US, including into his spending on travel and his business relationships with lobbyists. Freedman worked on national security-related issues for Trump's transition team but was removed after using a personal email address to conduct government business.'
27
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The IPA and the CIS are both members of the Atlas Network.
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