Ken Coghill asks: outrageous behaviour leading to "sin-binning", accusatory statements masquerading as questions, replies that do not answer, attacks on political opponents claiming to be answers to questions: is it any wonder Question Time is questioned as an accountability mechanism? Democracy requires that Question Time be restored to its fundamental role in the scrutiny of...

The research examined and reviewed demand subsidy models for private renters in Australia compared to New Zealand, Canada and the US.

Professor Graham Maddox writes that in the very moment of its invention, federalism was pitted against democracy. How can a system which in Australia is acknowledged on all sides to be a peculiar impediment to traditional Labor, and indeed to progressive Liberal, politics, be said to be conducive to democracy? Any objective audit of democracy...

Dr John Uhr argues that review at its most basic means legislative review, including reviews which take the policy initiative and set appropriate legal standards for government. It draws lessons from ACT Government arrangements and those of the Senate. The paper concludes with a warning about misapplying concepts of review.

The recent Victorian state budget received rave reviews from the social sector on the day it was brought down last month. But how good was it? asks David Hayward in his post-budget analysis for the Victorian Council of Social Service.