New Research

Investing in our future

03 February 2012In 2008 the Australian Government began a five-year national rollout of the Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters (HIPPY) that would see it delivered in 50 communities across Australia by 2012.

Recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in the Constitution

30 January 2012Current multiparty support has created a historic opportunity to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first peoples of Australia, to affirm their full and equal citizenship, and to remove the last vestiges of racial discrimination from the Constitution.

Recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Constitution

19 January 2012This paper argues that current multiparty support has created a historic opportunity to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first peoples of Australia, and recommends changes to the Constitution.

Access and Equity Inquiry into the responsiveness of Australian Government services to Australia’s culturally and linguistically diverse population

18 December 2011The focus of the Inquiry is on the Australian Government departments and agencies and responses are now being sought to this discussion paper.

Equality and Australian democracy

24 October 2011This paper explores how the struggle between the political rights of property and the political rights of the people shaped the design of Australian political institutions and how this legacy continues to affect Australian democracy.

Why a growing Australia is nothing to fear

28 September 2011This report outlines the benefits and realities of Australia's growing population.

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Citizenship

Government

Australian Government ICT expenditure, 2008-09 – 2009-10

03 February 2012This report presents data about Information and Communication Technology (ICT) use and expenditure in 2008-09 and 2009-10 by Australian Government agencies.

The use and abuse of economic modelling in Australia

01 February 2012Economic modelling can and often does make a useful contribution to policy debates, but the fact that it sometimes can should not be confused with the conclusion that it always will.

Commentary

Recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples: the "what" and "how"

05 February 2012In Inside Story, Paul Kildea looks at what’s being proposed for Australian constitutional reform, and how we might get there

Time to lift the blinders off disability and immigration

27 October 2011Immigration is a uniquely prejudicial site of public policy, in which the goal of exclusion is exercised and institutionalised writes Brandon Ah Tong from Vision Australia.

Heritage, memory and identity - global issues?

20 October 2011Can heritage be globalised like information or commerce? Martine Hawkes reviews a collection of essays from around the world on heritage, memory and identity.

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Topic Guides

Wicked problems: do they exist and does it matter?

  • Public Policy Institute - Australian Catholic University

12 December 2011Recently, all kinds of problems and issues are being called wicked, not in the sense of evil, but complex, difficult to understand and resistant to solving.

Social innovation

  • Nicola Brackertz
  • Australian Policy Online

05 December 2011Social innovation has recently been gaining attention as a way to address social and economic problems that are overlooked or not effectively addressed by existing systems.

Climate change science 'top ten' sources to build your personal knowledge

  • Stefanie Pillora
  • Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government

07 November 2011Acknowledging the importance of drawing from credible sources, this guide provides advice on ten reliable and easily accessible sources of research written for non-specialist readers.

Audio

Who counts? A history of the census

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04 August 2011Next week Australia holds its census, and so Rear Vision traces the recent history of this ancient institution, to make sense of who counts, and who does the counting.

Government to crack down on employers of illegal workers

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25 July 2011 The Federal Government wants to introduce $10,000 fines to penalise employers who take on illegal workers.

Elections

Banning political donations from third party interest groups: a summary of constitutional issues

27 January 2012This paper canvasses opinions and issues arising from the proposed ban on political donations from third party interest groups in the Election Funding, Expenditure and Disclosures Amendment Bill 2011, currently before the NSW Parliament, with particular reference to the implied freedom of political communication under the Commonwealth Constitution.

Proposed changes relating to caps on electoral expenditure by political parties: a summary of constitutional issues

27 January 2012This short paper discusses the constitutional issues associated with the proposed amendments in the Election Funding, Expenditure and Disclosures Amendment Bill 2011 relating to caps on electoral expenditure.

Video

Museums and collections: are they telling our stories?

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04 November 2010At this Melbourne Conversations event, Australian and international guests consider the capacity and success of museums and collections to tell the stories of a modern and diverse society.

What Australia thinks about foreign policy

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17 May 2010When we think of foreign policy we tend to envisage diplomats meeting behind closed doors. But public opinion has long played an important part in shaping it.

Political parties

Websites

Census of Population and Housing

04 August 2011This is the official website for matters concerning the 9 August 2011 Census of Population and Housing in Australia.

Australian Social Policy Association (ASPA)

18 July 2011Established to promote debate and to increase understanding of social policy in Australia, the ASPA enables productive collaborations between those working and researching in social policy locally, across the Asia-Pacific region and internationally.

Rethink Australia

30 April 2010Rethink Australia is a national project involving public education, consultation and deliberative programs to capture the ideas and viewpoints of all Australians on how to improve the rules that govern our nation.

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Books

Speechwriting for government in Australia

Speechwriting for government in Australia

  • James Groves
  • James Groves & Associates
"...an indispensible book...excellent practical guide to the art of effective oral communication" from the Foreword by Malcolm Hazell CVO AM, former Official Secretary to the Governor-General
Indifferent Inclusion Aboriginal people and the Australian Nation

Indifferent Inclusion Aboriginal people and the Australian Nation

  • Russell McGregor
  • Aboriginal Studies Press
Russell McGregor is one of the foremost scholars in the field of Aboriginal history. The very title of the book breaks new ground because of the questions implicit in its approach…his perspective is genuinely fresh and insightful. Historian Mark McKenna

Noticeboard

Rethinking the Rules Governing Australia
16 March 2010

Australian citizens are being asked to provide input into a nation-wide discussion about how to improve the rules governing our country.

Australian Fabians young writers competition
24 November 2009

The Young Writers Competition is open to 18-28 year old Australians who have progressive and practical solutions to the big issues facing Australia today and can communicate that idea in a 700–1000 word opinion piece.

Government 2.0 Taskforce
24 June 2009

The Government 2.0 Taskforce is being formed against a backdrop of increased interest by governments worldwide in the potential uses of public sector information and online engagement.

Topic Guides

Wicked problems: do they exist and does it matter?

  • Public Policy Institute - Australian Catholic University

12 December 2011Recently, all kinds of problems and issues are being called wicked, not in the sense of evil, but complex, difficult to understand and resistant to solving.

Topics

APO