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

New Research

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

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.

Mapping social cohesion 2009: the Scanlon Foundation surveys

01 February 2010This report, the second round of a major longitudinal survey on social cohesion in Australia, provides insights into community attitudes to immigration, multiculturalism and social cohesion, based on findings from national and local surveys.
Social inclusion in Australia: How Australia is faring

Social inclusion in Australia: How Australia is faring

22 January 2010While most Australians live well, there are some groups who are doing it very tough, according to this report. Approximately 5% of Australians aged 15 years and over experience three or more types of disadvantage.
Australian Government assistance to refugees: fact v fiction

Australian Government assistance to refugees: fact v fiction

15 January 2010This background note describes the current situation with regard to refugee entitlements to social security and other assistance in order to clarify this issue for senators and members.
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Citizenship

Public policy

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.

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

Charter of rights as urgent as ever

23 February 2010A human rights act should remain a priority for the federal government, argues Susan Ryan

The case for Liberal women

08 February 2010 If the Liberal Party did more to assist the entry of more talented women, it might assist in the rebuilding of the party, writes Marian Sawer in this book review for the Australian Review of Public Affairs

Labours in the ministry of truth

01 February 2010Can Labor change a culture of secrecy, asks Mike Steketee in The Australian
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Audio

The protection of human rights in Australia - a way forward

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27 November 2009In this lecture Ms Kostakidis discusses the themes that emerged from the 40,000 responses that were received during the consultation into the adequacy of the protection of human rights in Australia.

Is our rate of immigration too high?

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22 September 2009Australia is a proudly multicultural society, but are we at a point where we need to slow down our rate of immigration?

Government

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.

Operating wind farms by Commonwealth Electoral Division

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

Video

World Wide Views on global warming Australia

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16 November 2009The Australian World Wide Views on Global Warming Event, where 105 people from all walks of life came from all over the country to put their views forwards on the issues facing climate change negotiators at UN talks.

How political idealism threatens our civilisation

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13 November 2009Professor Kenneth Minogue, Emeritus Professor of Political Science, London School of Economics speaks about the way in which Enlightenment thinkers characterised the world as an imperfect society needing reform by political ideolgy.

Democracy

Websites

Australian Youth Forum

12 November 2009The AYF is run by the Australian Government as a communication channel between the Government, young people (aged 15 – 24) and the organisations that work with, for and on behalf of young people.

Project Respect

18 June 2009Project Respect is a non-profit community-based organisation that aims to empower and support women in the sex industry including women trafficked to Australia.

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Health could prove terminal for the states
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Perspectives on migrants 2010
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The debt truck crunches its gears
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Report on government services 2010
5
Health reform: the opening shot

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

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.

Policy Guides

Privacy regulation across Australia

An annually updated guide to privacy legislation from Privacy Victoria.

28-09-09

Topics

APO