This paper examines the governance failures which have led to this failure of planning in Melbourne’s growth areas. It shows that none of the objectives of the Victorian government’s Precinct Structure Planning Guidelines are being met and demonstrates how the design of residential areas and...

This report provides a detailed overview of the federal government’s approach to climate change since the election of the Liberal-National Coalition in 2013. The Climate Council's assessment of the government’s climate performance over the past eight years finds there’s been a complete and catastrophic failure...

Researchers have a responsibility to link their work to the issues facing the world – to provide general insight, but also to help policy-makers evaluate how best to solve them, Jacquelyn Zhang writes.

Lack of consistency and coordination has long been noted as a failing of UK government policies, but it has previously been difficult to assess the extent of the policy discontinuity. In this paper, the authors present evidence from text analysis of a startling lack of...

Large fossil fuel projects, such as coal mines and gas fields, are some of Australia’s largest individual greenhouse gas emitters. The researchers working on this project found that one in three fossil fuel projects are emitting more than estimated during the approval phase.

The aim of this project was to coax more evidence-based policy decisions by all tiers of government in Australia by reviewing and rating 20 high profile government decisions against the Wiltshire business case criteria.

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...

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...

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...

This interim report identifies issues that have emerged from the COVID-19 Hotel Quarantine Board of Inquiry to date, and makes recommendations for a quarantine program in Victoria, as the state begins to consider re-opening to international arrivals.

This paper summarises the findings of a recent academic article published by the authors.

This paper argues that Australian governments would be better at policy reform if they prioritised their agenda better. The report suggests that governments should look for the reforms that will make more of a difference while minimising the political cost. This means assessing both the...

This briefing note examines the long-term impact of the COVID early superannuation release scheme on retirement incomes and age pension entitlements.

The urban water sector in Australia is facing major challenges over the coming decades. This paper examines the policy and implementation frameworks currently governing the urban water sector to identify where there may be impediments to the adoption of Integrated Water Cycle Management (IWCM).

The ‘zombie subdivision’ is a phenomenon identified by the Lincoln Institute as ‘once- promising projects’ now ‘distressed’, with the fulfilment of plans or visions for the site effectively stalled. Services such as water, electricity, and roads are often absent in these areas, leaving them partially-...

To celebrate five years of Policy Forum, their special InFocus section is hearing back from the authors of some of the most popular articles on some crucial policy questions. In this article, Patrick Cooney reflects on what has and hasn’t changed since 2014, and on...

Adequately designed and implemented public policies have the power to transform economies and improve the quality of life of citizens, writes Sandra Naranjo Bautista.

There is an increasing awareness that policies do not succeed or fail on their own merits. This article unpicks the key factors behind policy failure, explores different approaches to policy support, and identifies some key messages for policy practitioners.