Centre for Independent Studies

The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) is an Australian think tank founded in 1976 by Greg Lindsay. The CIS specialises in public policy research and publishes material in areas such as economics, education, culture and foreign policy. Although there are no explicit ties between the CIS and the centre-right Liberal Party, the CIS is politically aligned with the Liberal Party, praising Liberal Party founder Robert Menzies, hosting various Liberal Party politicians and holding very critical views of the Labor Party. However, it has also hosted Labor prime ministers and politicians, and often also criticises the Liberal Party's policies.

Philosophy
The CIS describes itself as a "classical liberal think tank."

CIS is affiliated with the United States-based Atlas Network, which advocates free market economic policies across the world.

Activities
In 2023, the CIS partnered with other think tanks including the Institute of Public Affairs and LibertyWorks, conservative lobby group Advance and fossil fuel companies to coordinate the No campaign during the 2023 Australian Indigenous Voice referendum.

Funding
The CIS does not publish its funding.

The CIS is funded by donations, membership subscriptions, and book and event sales from individuals, companies and charitable trusts. It does not accept government funding.

Staff
Tom Switzer has been executive director of CIS since 2018, succeeding founder Greg Lindsay who had held the position for forty-two years. In 2019, Nicholas Moore was appointed chairman of the CIS board, succeeding Peter Mason.

Notable individuals in the research staff include Gary Banks, Salvatore Babones, Nyunggai Warren Mundine and Steven Schwartz.