The United Kingdom’s industrial policy since the 1970s has been characterised by frequent policy reversals and announcements, driven by political cycles. This paper explores the impacts of these deficiencies of the industrial policy-making landscape in the UK and contrasts them with the experiences of other advanced economies.

The central thrust of this article is that modernist state interventions, such as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander policy enterprise, fail because they pay no attention to the knowledge, perspectives and practices embodied in and created by Indigenous people.

Australia’s governance has deteriorated over recent decades. This report shows how weaker governance means that governments are adopting less policy reform – changes to policy that would improve the lives of Australians.

The second wave of COVID-19 cases in Victoria led to a series of strict restrictions in the state and had devastating impacts on peoples’ lives, livelihoods and mental health. This inquiry final report finds that there were serious failings, in terms of provision of pandemic planning across the broader Victorian health sector.

Policies are often built ‘on the run’ as quick reactions to the political issue of the day, designed to capture the interest of the 24-hour news cycle or motivated by short-term political advantage. This report addresses the problem that policymaking in Australia is falling short of best practice.