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.

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.

Health; Community services; Housing and homelessness

30 January 2012This report  provides an overview of the health sector, presenting both contextual information and high level performance information.

Australian Research Council amendment bill 2011

30 January 2012This digest examines the Australian Research Council Amendment Bill 2011.

2011 independent review of the intelligence community

25 January 2012This is the first comprehensive review of the Australian intelligence community since the 2004 inquiry conducted by Mr Philip Flood AO.

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Citizenship

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.

Government

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

Margaret Thatcher, between myth and politics

24 January 2012The Iron Lady's portrayal of Britain’s most divisive modern prime minister fits a broader mood of reappraisal of her years in power, says David Hayes in Inside Story

We need to talk about COAG

19 January 2012The process has been hampered by a breakdown in trust between the Commonwealth and the states, writes Paul Kildea in Inside Story

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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

NT local government voting system 'perverse'

Listen to audio
21 July 2011 The Northern Territory has been advised to change its system for electing local governments before elections are held in March next year.

Gillard government puts a price on carbon

Listen to audio
11 July 2011This edition of the National Interest coincided with the release of the detail of the federal government's plan to put a price on carbon.

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

Paul Keating master storyteller

Listen to audio
15 November 2011On this special Sunday evening presentation, Paul Keating joined Robert Manne for a conversational marathon, coinciding with the publication of his post-prime ministerial speeches.

Seeking a leader Like Keating

Listen to audio
10 November 2011In his Monthly essay, Lessons in Leadership, George Megalogenis writes about the malaise in contemporary Australian politics, and how a leader like former Prime Minister Paul Keating might approach the task of reform today.

Political parties

Websites

Text Queensland

07 October 2011Featuring books, journals, theses and newspapers as well as government sources, this site will be useful for anyone interested in Queensland, from school and university students to researchers, family and local historians.

Foundations of Governance in the Australian Public Service

03 October 2011Foundations of Governance has been created to assist agency heads in the Australian Public Service. It includes links to relevant policies, legislation and agency websites.

Hansard

20 July 2011Hansard is the name given to transcripts of parliamentary proceedings. This digital version has publications dating back to May 1901.

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The development of Australia's federal critical infrastructure policy, 1978 – 2010
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Early childhood, education and training; justice; emergency management
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Coal seam gas royalties in Australian States and Territories

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