Edited by the Institute for Social Research, Swinburne University of Technology

New Research

Minority governments in Australia 1989-2009: accords, charters and agreements

08 March 2010Over the past two decades there have been at least ten examples of this political phenomenon in the Australian states and territories. This paper looks at those instances in which a minority government has been based on an agreement, charter or accord between major parties on one side and minor parties and/or Independents on the other.

Towards a more democratic political funding regime in New South Wales

08 March 2010This report includes a blueprint for reform, covering: a more robust disclosure scheme; election spending limits; contribution limits (with an exemption for membership fees); stricter regulation of fund-raisers; a Party and Candidate Support Fund; and enhanced accountability of government advertising.
Challenges in dealing with politically exposed persons

Challenges in dealing with politically exposed persons

26 February 2010This paper outlines some of the key challenges and policy implications related to dealing with prominent people and risks when entering into financial transactions and business relationships with them.

Politics is a messyanic business

08 February 2010The practice of western democratic politics relies heavily on competing faiths, on card-carrying followers, and yearns cyclically for a messiah to lead its true believers.

Bias at the ballot box?

07 January 2010Using data from all elections to the Australian House of Representatives between 1903 and 2004, this paper examines the relationship between candidates’ gender and their share of the vote.
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Citizenship

Perspectives on migrants 2010

Perspectives on migrants 2010

05 March 2010Issues and debates relating to migrants, ethnicity and migration programs are common place within the Australian political and media landscape.

Inquiry into the implications of the Parliamentary Electorates and Elections Amendment (Automatic Enrolment) Act 2009 (NSW) for the conduct of Commonwealth elections

01 March 2010This report recommends that the Commonwealth adopts a system of automatic enrolment of voters similar to the proposed New South Wales system.

A stronger, fairer Australia

19 February 2010Launched on 28 January 2010, A Stronger, Fairer Australia sets out the Australian Government’s vision and strategy for social inclusion, now and into the future.

Public policy

National compact between the Australian Government and the third sector - consultation report

24 February 2010This report summarises the feedback from consultation with stakeholders including a broad range of Sector organisations, state and territory governments, peak bodies, academics and individuals.

National partnership agreement to deliver a seamless national economy: report on performance 2008-09

24 February 2010The report presents the council‘s assessment of progress against 2008–09 milestones as at 30 September 2009.

Commentary

The debt truck crunches its gears

10 March 2010The Coalition’s focus on debt could easily backfire, argues Peter Brent in Inside Story

Risky referendums

09 March 2010Referendums promised by Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott are fraught with political risk, writes Norman Abjorensen in Inside Story

Scapegoating ministers

02 March 2010We are often quick to blame government ministers, but in rushing to criticise we often let ourselves off the hook too easily, writes John Warhurst in Eureka Street
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Audio

Wild Rivers Act debate

Listen to audio
14 January 2010 Two sides of the debate over the Queensland Government's Wild Rivers Act were aired on Radio National's Breakfast program on 13 and 14 January 2009.

Political parties through the crystal ball

Listen to audio
07 December 2009Future Tense looks into the crystal ball to see how our party system is likely to change over the next decade or so - a series of perspectives on the future of our political system.

Government

Operating wind farms by Commonwealth Electoral Division

05 March 2010This paper lists all wind farms currently operating in Australia.

Video

Journalists and politicians: adversaries or bedfellows

Listen to audio
17 August 2009In response to John Howard's recent lecture about the media and politics, some of Australia's leading political journalists and commentators come together to give their perspective on this relationship.

Democracy

Websites

OpenAustralia

13 November 2009A non-partisan website run by a group of volunteers which aims to make it easy for people to keep tabs on their representatives in Parliament.

Political Science Resources

30 October 2009A gateway to most significant resources relevant to the study of politics and government managed and edited by Richard Kimber.

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The debt truck crunches its gears
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Books

Outrageous! Moral panics in Australia

Outrageous! Moral panics in Australia

  • Edited by Scott Poynting and George Morgan
  • ACYS Publishing
In this detailed examination of case studies, a distinguished group of experts demystifies the social processes of moral panic in Australia.
Malcolm Fraser: the political memoirs

Malcolm Fraser: the political memoirs

  • Malcolm Fraser and Margaret Simons
Malcolm Fraser is one of the most interesting and possibly most misunderstood of Australia's Prime Ministers. In this part memoir and part authorised biography, Fraser at the age of 79 years talks about his time in public life. From the Vietnam War to the Dismissal and his years as Prime Minister, through to his concern in recent times for breaches in the Rule of Law and harsh treatment of refugees, Fraser emerges as an enduring liberal, constantly reinterpreting core values to meet the needs of changing times.

Noticeboard

Policy Guides

Privacy regulation across Australia

An annually updated guide to privacy legislation from Privacy Victoria.

28-09-09

Topics

APO