New Research

Early childhood, education and training; justice; emergency management

08 February 2012Volume one of the report focuses on early childhood, education and training as well as justice and emergency management sectors.

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.

Fair work amendment (textile, clothing and footwear industry) bill 2011

31 January 2012This digest examines the Fair Work Amendment (Textile, Clothing and Footwear Industry) Bill 2011, currently before the Senate.

The development of Australia's federal critical infrastructure policy, 1978 – 2010

30 January 2012Australia’s strategy for managing national security is set out in a number of complex and interrelated policy documents that span multiple agencies. This paper summarises key parts of the federal critical infrastructure protection policy trajectory in the period 1978 – 2010.

The role of informal community resources in supporting independent housing for young people recovering from mental illness

30 January 2012This project looks at the housing issues facing young independant people with mental illness.

More...

Citizenship

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.

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

The true origins of anti-paternalism

31 January 2012Opposition to government paternalism wasn't always a conservative or libertarian thing, writes Chris Berg in The Drum.

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

More...

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

Waves of influence: Television drama as an instrument of soft power in Asia

Listen to audio
21 November 2011Sociologist Professor Chua Beng Huat explains how serial TV dramas have become a soft power currency traded among China, Korea, Japan and other countries in Asia.

Who counts? A history of the census

Listen to audio
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.

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

Social entrepreneurship - the revolution matures

Listen to audio
09 December 2011The discourse around social entrepreneurship continues at a pace: more international conferences, research interest, journals and university courses are some of the identifiers.

Giving independent policy advice

Listen to audio
29 September 2011In this public lecture at Swinburne University, Gary Banks, Chairman of the Productivity Commission, discusses the Productivity Commission's independence which underpins its operations, integrity and, ultimately, its contribution to better policy outcomes.

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.

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.

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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

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.

Alternative inquiries to Royal Commissions proposed
19 August 2009

The ALRC is calling for greater flexibility, more options for Royal Commissions and other official inquiries.

Ahead of its final report and recommendations, the ALRC is seeking public feedback and is asking a range of new questions on its ‘’Talk to Us” online forum  - about the power of Commissions and Inquiries, the rights of witnesses, and the treatment of sensitive information, among other issues.

The ALRC urges the public to join the forum and take part in this debate.

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