Centre for Independent Studies

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 hosted debates and published papers outlining each side of the arguments for and against the 2023 Australian Indigenous Voice referendum.

Sexual harassment controversy

In August 2025, the Sydney Morning Herald revealed that former Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) marketing and research analyst Emilie Dye had filed a complaint with the Fair Work Commission alleging that former executive director Tom Switzer had "rubbed her leg," told her she had a "great arse," described himself as "a very sexual guy" during a night out in March 2025, and proposed a threesome with another young female colleague.

Dye also alleged that CIS engaged in retaliatory conduct after she refused to sign a non-disclosure agreement, including launching an internal investigation into her own workplace behaviour. Switzer denied all allegations, claiming CCTV footage from the venue would clear him. However, a subsequent report revealed that Dye was never informed of the footage's existence, despite CIS staff and Switzer viewing it shortly after the incident.

Newly appointed executive director Michael Stutchbury initially resisted calls to dismiss Switzer, stating that CIS would await the outcome of the Fair Work Commission mediation process. Following mounting media scrutiny, criticism of CIS's handling of the complaint, and the withdrawal of the housing advocacy group Sydney YIMBY from a planned CIS event with NSW Premier Chris Minns, Stutchbury and the CIS board accepted Switzer's resignation on 2 September 2025.

On September 5, 2025, the Fair Work Commission case was resolved.

Funding

The Centre for Independent Studies states that it is funded by donations, memberships, and event revenue and "does not accept government funding".

However, in 2020 the Sydney Morning Herald revealed that the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) had been paying $20,000 a year to the CIS and the Sydney Institute since the early 2000s to support public policy research and events. RBA governor Philip Lowe said the bank provided funding to independent, not-for-profit institutions contributing to policy debates relevant to its mandate, but critics argued the arrangement undermined the CIS's claim of avoiding government funding.

Staff

Tom Switzer was executive director of CIS from 2018 to 2025, succeeding founder Greg Lindsay who had held the position for forty-two years. On September 1 2025 Switzer stepped down as a senior fellow after he was accused of sexually harassing a staff member. In 2019, Nicholas Moore was appointed chairman of the CIS board, succeeding Peter Mason.

Notable individuals in the research staff include Steven Schwartz.

References

References

1. "History – The Centre for Independent Studies".
2. (2022). "PréCIS – Annual Review".
3. (8 August 2017). "Tom Switzer – The Centre for Independent Studies".
4. (12 August 2003). "Think tank secrets". Fairfax Media.
5. (1 June 2020). "Alarm mixed with glee as world is glued to US protest coverage". Axel Springer SE.
6. Prasser, Scott. (28 May 2021). "What would Menzies think of today's Liberal Party?". [[The Canberra Times]].
7. Cowan, Simon. (2 July 2022). "Can Labor and Anthony Albanese move past the blame game and govern Australia?". The Canberra Times.
8. Switzer, Tom. (11 April 2023). "Australia's Labor Dark Ages will end in a Liberal victory". The Spectator Australia.
9. (10 October 2022). "Kevin Rudd: The Avoidable War".
10. (9 April 2022). "The one night stand federal budget".
11. (18 December 2021). "Someone has to pay for Australia's financial largesse".
12. (3 July 2021). "Beware governments bearing projections".
13. (10 May 2013). "Why I work for a classical liberal think tank".
14. (2023-09-12). "Meet the Shadowy Global Network Vilifying Climate Protesters".
15. Atlas Network, 12 June 2017, [https://www.atlasnetwork.org/news/article/greg-lindsay-of-australias-the-centre-for-independent-studies-passing-the-t Greg Lindsay of Australia's The Center for Independent Studies Passing the Torch]
16. (30 September 2023). "Silencing the Voice: the Fossil-fuelled Atlas Network's Campaign against Constitutional Recognition of Indigenous Australia". Cosmopolitan Civil Societies.
17. Pincott, Karla. (2023-01-17). "Guaranteeing a Grassroots Megaphone: A centre-right approach to hearing Indigenous voices".
18. McGowan, Michael. (2 September 2025). "Tom Switzer quits CIS after sexual harassment claim". The Sydney Morning Herald.
19. Karp, Paul. (2 September 2025). "Switzer resigns from CIS after harassment complaint". Australian Financial Review.
20. McGowan, Michael. (25 August 2025). "'Card up my sleeve': Think tank withheld CCTV from alleged sexual harassment victim". The Sydney Morning Herald.
21. McGowan, Michael. (2025-09-09). "Think tank apologises for ‘significant distress’ after sexual harassment complaint".
22. "Support CIS". Archived from the original on 16 September 2010.
23. Wright, Shane (31 December 2020). "RBA paying $20,000 a year to Sydney Institute, Centre for Independent Studies". ''Sydney Morning Herald''. Retrieved 4 December 2024.
24. McGowan, Michael. (2 September 2025). "Tom Switzer quits CIS after sexual harassment claim". [[The Age]].
25. . ["Board of Directors"](https://www.cis.org.au/about/board-of-directors/).
26. "Research Scholars".