Marian Sawer describes how the Democratic Audit of Australia has separated out the values of political equality, popular control of government, civil liberties/human rights and deliberative democracy in order to highlight the threat posed by populist majoritarianism. Attacks on the 'non-elected' intermediary institutions essential to accountability and rights protection in representative democracy undermine popular control...

Proposed changes to electoral laws are based on faulty arguments, writes Marian Sawer.

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.

With the changeover of senators on 1 July 2005, Marian Sawer looks at democratic issues posed by government control of both houses of the Australian Parliament, particularly in relation to legislative review and executive scrutiny.

Ever since above-the-line voting was introduced for the Australian Senate in 1984 there has been concern over what happens with preferences under this system. Marian Sawer examines the problems of this voting system and looks at options for reform.