Restoring integrity to Australian governance requires more than just substantive law reform, such as tightening laws that regulate lobbying and campaign finance and increasing the powers of specialised integrity institutions. It also requires the powers of the cornerstone institution of Australia’s integrity system – Parliament...

This document forms the Australian government's response the Independent Review of the EPBC Act, conducted by Graeme Samuel in 2021. It sets out the government’s commitment to reform Australia’s environmental laws to better protect, restore and manage Australia's unique environment.

Regulatory stewardship is a responsibility of both regulatory policy and operational functions. It involves adopting a whole-of-system, lifecycle view of the quality of regulation and its implementation, and taking a proactive and collaborative approach to the monitoring and care of the regulatory systems.

The objective of this audit was to assess the effectiveness of the Department of Home Affairs’ administration and regulation of critical infrastructure protection policy.

This inquiry reports finds that Victorian integrity agencies have generally performed well in achieving educative outcomes through their inquiries, investigations and reports. They have also engaged conscientiously with the public sector and the public, through public information campaigns and often high‑quality education and prevention. resources...

This project is funded by the Victorian government's Recycling Victoria Innovation Fund as part of the Circular Economy Business Innovation Centre (CEBIC), and aims to support Victoria’s circular economy policy and action plan. This progress report describes the development of prototype Theories of Change (ToC)...

Presenting findings from a broad scoping of the international academic literature on regulatory failure, this literature review is structured according to four broad perspectives on regulation: public interest theory, public choice theory, private interest theory and institutional theory.

This report recognises the interdependence of climate, ecosystems and biodiversity, and human societies and integrates knowledge more strongly across the natural, ecological, social and economic sciences than earlier IPCC assessments. The summary for policy-makers presents key findings of the Working Group II (WGII) contribution to...

Since 2019, the Secretaries Board has provided critical leadership and oversight to lift ambition for regulatory reform across the Australian Public Service (APS). Each Secretary reports on their regulatory reform agenda to Secretaries Board every six months, including key achievements and initiatives within their portfolios.

This position statement outlines the South Australian EPA’s approach to its role in climate change adaptation including a clear and robust regulatory framework to help businesses become more resilient, prepare for more frequent extreme weather events and reduce waste to enable the advantages of a...

The Australian government has released this media policy statement, which outlines a range of measures to progress reforms to the media sector. The statement represents the government’s response to the reform green paper process that was initiated in late 2020.

This policy document sets out how the United Kingdom is capitalising on the benefits of 'Brexit' and how the government will use its new freedoms to transform the UK into the best regulated economy in the world.

This response to the South Australian Productivity Commission's inquiry into modern regulation is focused on those areas recommended as in need of greatest improvement, notably the regulatory policy development process, and post implementation reviews, as well as doing business through digital initiatives, and in supporting...

This report provides a comprehensive overview of how participants have coped during the COVID-19 pandemic and how they have sought out resources during periods of disruption, isolation and quarantine. The findings offer insights that may enhance service provision and systems design decisions to better support...

Trust between citizens and their governments is crucial for the legitimacy and functioning of democracies. This paper discusses the main determinants of people’s trust in public institutions and their measurement, in times of crisis as well as for a long-term, strong, inclusive and green recovery.

This article interrogates both the more extreme claims of the anti-regulation advocates and the alleged successes of anti-red tape initiatives, identifying a critical clash of values over the role of the state and the appropriate relationship between government, business and the community.

With an overall aim by the Victorian government to have the most efficient regulatory system in Australia, this SOE framework is designed to facilitate a dialogue between Ministers, departments and regulators to identify the government’s priorities and emerging risks and to establish a process for...

The National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation (NHFIC) was established in 2018 as a corporate Commonwealth entity mandated to support housing outcomes in Australia. This review finds that the NHFIC Act has been a singularly significant and successful intervention by the Commonwealth, in an area...

Regulation of political lobbying is a significant corruption challenge for governments, according to this article, but if done successfully can enhance political equality and improve fairness of government policy-making by increasing transparency in the disclosure of lobbying activities.

Since the advent of European settlement, Australia has been a net recipient of foreign investment. Foreign investment is crucial to grow the Australian economy, but it does not necessarily follow that all foreign investment is equally productive. The committee urges the Australian government to accept...

The document sets out the Australian Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment's approach to delivering better practice regulation, and a framework to support an improved regulatory capability and culture for the organisation. It will help to strengthen the department’s regulatory functions and achieve regulatory...

This draft report provides the South Australian Productivity Commission’s (Commission) initial findings and draft recommendations aimed at modernising South Australia’s (SA) regulatory framework. The task is to identify regulatory reforms to better support investment, reverse negative productivity trends and foster economic growth while protecting public...

This report is based on five Australian National Audit Office reports, each of which examines the operations of a particular regulator, into areas as diverse as higher education, environmental protection, the lobbying code of conduct, the national energy market, and electoral funding disclosures.

This report responds to the US Biden-Harris Administration's order 13985, outlining a whole-of-Government mandate to advance equity through a comprehensive approach to Government practices, including: management; policymaking (including through regulation and guidance); procurement, contracting, and budgeting; delivery of benefits and services; and data collection, reporting...

This report argues that Australia’s foreign influence laws should be amended to adopt a 'tiered' model, under which conduct originating in certain 'designated countries' would be subject to greater regulation than activity from other sources.