Menzies Research Centre

Menzies Research Centre
Named afterRobert Menzies
Formation1994 (1994)
TypeThink tank
PurposePublic policy
Location
  • Australia
Chair
Paul Espie AO
Executive director
David Hughes
AffiliationsLiberal Party
Websitewww.menziesrc.org

The Menzies Research Centre (MRC) is the think tank of the Liberal Party of Australia.[1] Founded in 1994 and named after Sir Robert Menzies, founder of the Liberal Party and Australia's longest-serving prime minister, the Centre conducts public policy research, publishes books, and hosts events.[2]

It is led by Executive Director David Hughes.[3]

History

The Menzies Research Centre was founded in 1994, during the centenary year of Robert Menzies' birth. Andrew Robb, who later served as Federal Minister for Trade and Investment, was a founding director and has remained on the board since its establishment.[4][5]

Funding

The Centre receives partial funding from the federal government through the Finance Department's Grants-in-Aid program, which supports think tanks affiliated with political parties.[6] The Chifley Research Centre (Labor), the Page Research Centre (Nationals), and the Green Institute (Greens) receive funding through the same program.[7] The MRC is one of only seven organisations named in the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 as a tax-deductible gift recipient.[7]

Activities

The Centre hosts public events including the annual John Howard Lecture[8][9], publishes books and monographs on policy and Liberal history, and conducts research on economic,[10] regulatory,[11] energy,[12] and migration policy. [13]

Justice and Integrity Program

The Centre runs a Justice and Integrity Program focused on litigation funding reform and judicial accountability.[14] The MRC made a submission to the 2020 Parliamentary Joint Committee Inquiry into Litigation Funding, advocating for litigation funders to be required to hold an Australian Financial Services Licence.[15] James Mathias, then Chief of Staff at the MRC and later Executive Director of the H. R. Nicholls Society, appeared before the inquiry on behalf of the Centre, where the submission's methodology was challenged. Herbert Smith Freehills clarified that data attributed to the firm had been taken from an informal overview rather than an empirical analysis.[16]

The Centre also submitted to the Australian Law Reform Commission's Inquiry into Judicial Impartiality in 2021. The ALRC declined to publish the submission, stating on external legal advice that it contained defamatory material.[17] Then Executive Director Nick Cater rejected the ALRC's assessment, stating the MRC 'emphatically reject the assertion' and described the decision as censorship.[18] The Commission's final report recommended that Commonwealth courts develop policies on statistical analysis of judicial decision-making, a position the MRC had advocated for.[19][20]

Robert Menzies Institute

In 2021, the Centre partnered with the University of Melbourne to establish the Robert Menzies Institute, a prime ministerial library and museum housed in the university's Old Quad.[21]The federal government provided $7 million in funding for the project. The institute's establishment was met with protests from students and academics who raised concerns about the Liberal Party's influence on campus and questioned whether the arrangement preserved academic freedom.[22][23]

Centre for Youth Policy

In 2023, the Centre established the Centre for Youth Policy, led by Freya Leach. The program focuses on developing policy for young Australians and promoting Liberal values to a younger generation.[24]

Governance

The Centre has been led by a series of executive directors including its first, Michael L'Estrange (1995–1997)[25], Hon Dr Marlene Goldsmith (1998-2000), John Roskam (2001–2002)[26], Jason Briant (2003-05)[27], Julian Leeser (2006–2012)[28], Professor Don Markwell(2012–13), Nick Cater (2014–2023), and David Hughes (March 2023–present).[3]

The Centre's board has included a number of prominent figures in Liberal politics and Australian business. Malcolm Turnbull served as chair from 2002 to 2004 and was the Centre's largest individual donor before entering parliament as the Member for Wentworth in 2004.[7] Former Liberal Party Federal Director Brian Loughnane has been a director since 2018 and became chair in December 2023.[29] Other notable directors have included former Senator Nick Minchin, former South Australian Premier John Olsen, and former Federal Trade Minister Andrew Robb.[5][29]

Board Chairs

Name Dates Comments
David S. Clarke AO 1994-1997 Co-founder and Executive Chairman of Macquarie Bank [30][31]
Hon Andrew Robb MP 1998-2004 Founding director of MRC; later Federal Minister for Trade and Investment[29]
Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP 2002-2004 Later Prime Minister of Australia; was MRC's largest individual donor, donating $150,000 in 2001/02[7]
Tom Harley c. 2004-c. 2017 Great-grandson of Alfred Deakin; former BHP Billiton executive; Federal Vice-President of the Liberal Party[32]
Kevin McCann AO c. 2017–c. 2019 Chairman of Macquarie Group[33][34]
Paul Espie AO c. 2018–2023 Founding principal of Pacific Road Capital; Chairman of Empire Energy Group[35][36]
Brian Loughnane 2023-Present Federal Director of the Liberal Party 2003–2016[29]

See also

References

  1. ^ Newling, Nick; Foley, Mick (15 December 2025). "Senior Coalition MPs claim $10,000 expenses at time of Liberal fundraiser". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  2. ^ "Menzies Research Centre".
  3. ^ a b "Menzies Research Centre Appoints New Executive Director". Menzies Research Centre. 17 March 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  4. ^ "About the MRC". Menzies Research Centre. 23 October 1942. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Menzies Research Centre - Public policy ideas with impact for a free society - Our Directors". www.menziesrc.org. Archived from the original on 9 October 2013.
  6. ^ "Current Grant Opportunity View - GO5359: GrantConnect". www.grants.gov.au. Archived from the original on 27 June 2022. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  7. ^ a b c d "Menzies Research Centre - SourceWatch". www.sourcewatch.org. Archived from the original on 18 August 2025. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  8. ^ "Dark night of the soul for the centre-right looks set to continue". ABC News. 24 May 2025. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  9. ^ "John Howard Lecture". Menzies Research Centre. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  10. ^ Louw, Nico (4 August 2025). "Ending bracket creep would make the three-stage tax cuts permanent". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  11. ^ Bennett, Tess (22 February 2026). "Australia risks losing share of $850b AI windfall to slow approvals". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  12. ^ "Stuck at 0.24%". Menzies Research Centre. 27 November 2025. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  13. ^ "No Cookies | Sky News Australia". Sky News. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  14. ^ "Justice and Integrity Program". Menzies Research Centre. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  15. ^ Napier-Raman, Kishor (14 July 2020). "Tips and Murmurs: Where in the world is Peter Dutton?". Crikey. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  16. ^ Bolza, Miklos (13 July 2020). "Herbert Smith Freehills data causes controversy at class action inquiry". Lawyerly. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  17. ^ "Media Statement 18 August 2021". ALRC. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  18. ^ Neilson, Naomi (24 August 2021). "'Flawed', 'defamatory' submission into judicial impartiality sparks media outrage and ABA interference". www.lawyersweekly.com.au. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  19. ^ "Without Fear or Favour: The ALRC's Report on Judicial Impartiality". Australian Public Law. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  20. ^ "Judicial Impartiality Final Report Released". ALRC. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  21. ^ Ferguson, John (30 April 2021). "New institute to honour Robert Menzies". Retrieved 20 March 2026.
  22. ^ Gelber, Katharine (29 July 2021). "Should the University of Melbourne host the Menzies Institute? The answer hinges on academic freedom". The Conversation. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  23. ^ "Menzies Research Centre and the University of Melbourne jointly establish the Robert Menzies Institute". Robert Menzies Institute. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  24. ^ "About the Centre for Youth Policy". Menzies Research Centre. 20 November 2025. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  25. ^ "DIPLOMATIC APPOINTMENT HIGH COMMISSIONER TO THE UNITED KINGDOM". pmtranscripts.dpmc.gov.au. Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  26. ^ "John Roskam | Institute of Public Affairs Australia". www.ipa.org.au. Archived from the original on 31 August 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  27. ^ "NEED TO KNOW". Australian Financial Review. 28 July 2003. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  28. ^ Health, Mercy. "Julian Leeser". www.mercyhealth.com.au. Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  29. ^ a b c d "Directors". Menzies Research Centre. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  30. ^ "Macquarie mourns death of David Clarke, AO | Macquarie Group". www.macquarie.com. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
  31. ^ Cummins, Carolyn (8 April 2011). "Macquarie veteran dies". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
  32. ^ "Tom Harley". Source Watch. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
  33. ^ "LittleSis: Menzies Research Centre". littlesis.org. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
  34. ^ "Actions Are Spreading". Menzies Research Centre. 4 April 2020. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
  35. ^ "The MRC appoints a new Executive Director". Menzies Research Centre. 17 March 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
  36. ^ "Paul Espie". www.businessnews.com.au. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
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