Page Research Centre
The Page Research Centre (PRC) is a conservative policy think tank "proudly affiliated with the National Party of Australia." [1] It is a company limited by guarantee and was established in 2002 to takeover the responsibilities of the Sir Earle Page Memorial Trust.
The Page Research Centre is used by the National Party to funnel donor funds to the party, since the donations to the Centre are tax-deductible. The PRC is one of only seven organisations mentioned by name in the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 as tax-deductible gift recipients [2].
Contents
Donations to the National Party
In 2004/5, the Centre donated $14,714 to the National Party. [3]
Government Funding
The Page Research Centre receives regular funding from the Federal Government, the latest being a grant of $50,000 in 2004/5 from the Department of Finance for "the general expenditure of the centre to enable it to host a series of lectures, a conference, publish a policy journal, and continue research programmes." [4] The Government has given the same amount to the Centre in other years as well [5].
The Sydney Morning Herald (Dec 11 2016) reported that, since 2012, the Finance Department has given partisan think-tanks almost $3,2 million in public money in the past five years. Both the Chifley Research Centre (ALP) and the Menzies Research Center (Coalition) have received over a million each through its Grants-in-Aid program to "advance public policy debate". Smaller grants went to the Green Institute (Green Party) and the Page Research Centre (Nationals).
Corporate Funding
A number of corporations fund the Centre, including Telstra, Westpac and Optus. [6] [7]
Weblinks to other Organisations
The PRC website links to a number of mostly conservative think tanks including: The Centre for Independent Studies, The Lavoisier Group, The Institute of Public Affairs, Menzies Research Centre, The Science & Environmental Policy Project (USA), Still waiting for Greenhouse (Lukewarm view from Tasmania), The Cato Institute (USA), The Fraser Institute (Canada), The HR Nicholls Society, The Benelong Society.
Staff
- Dr Troy Whitford, Executive Director
- Ms Prue Regan, Research Fellow
Directors
- Garry Nehl AM, Chairman
- Helen Dickie
- Bruce Lloyd
- Graeme Lavis
