Citizen participation in policymaking and service design has been debated or attempted, but too infrequently realised. The theory and practice of public administration is increasingly concerned with placing the citizen at the centre of policymakers’ considerations, not just as target, but also as agent. The aim is to develop policies and design services that respond...

On 2 March 2011 the Parliament established the Joint Select Committee on the Christmas Island Tragedy to inquire into the incident on 15 December 2010 in which a suspected irregular entry vessel (SIEV) foundered on rocks at Rocky Point on Christmas Island (CI).

Australia's federal system of government has served it well, but improvements are in order. On 17 June 2010 the Senate established a Select Committee on the Reform of the Australian Federation. On 29 September 2010, the committee was re-established by the Senate, to: (a) inquire into and report by the last sitting day of May...

The independent Review Committee, chaired by the Hon Peter Heerey QC takes the view that the basic structure of the legislation should remain, while making recommendations about the framework for human embryo research. The 33 recommendations that were produced relate largely to updating and clarifying the legislation, or keeping existing requirements. Background In April 2002...

Following consultations and analysis of the responses to the discussion paper, an exposure draft of the 2011 Strategic Roadmap for Australian Research Infrastructure has been developed and released for further consultation. During 2011, a Strategic Roadmap for Australian Research Infrastructure will be developed to inform future decisions on where Australia should make strategic infrastructure investments...