The treasurer, Peter Costello, has called for Australia to create the most ‘female-friendly environment in the world’. Marian Sawer finds, however, that Australia has just slid to its lowest place ever in the league table of women’s representation in national parliaments and a major factor has been the Liberal Party’s failure to preselect women.

Theorists have also suggested that the natural environment will be a likely beneficiary of deliberative democarcy, given the inherent rationality in supporting interests that will lead to the long-term survival of the planet. Ivan Zwart addresses the question of general environmental interests through two case studies in Australian local government and argues there are at...

Queensland was the first Australian jurisdiction to introduce legislation to protect whistleblowers. David Solomon reviews the operation of the law and argues that more protection is needed.

This report discusses various models of community consultation and documents why there is currently such enthusiasm for community consultation at the local and state level in Victoria. The report also includes new research about practical approaches in Victoria to reaching people who may be disengaged, disinterested or facing barriers to public participation.

The distinguishing feature of the Westminster form of responsible government is the virtually iron clad nexus between the elected executive and the parliament. Unlike other forms of responsible government, all ministers must be drawn from the membership of the Westminster parliament. Richard Herr considers some of the problems associated with small parliaments, exemplified by the...