Xi Jinping, a politically daring Chinese leader, is certain to win a second five-year term at the 19th Party Congress. However, his harsh line against his opponents, and his timidity on the economy, may come back to haunt him in his second term.

In a speech to the Melbourne Press Club on 15 September 2017, veteran political journalist, Laurie Oakes, said Australian politics is floundering because contemporary politicians lack the wit and bravery of great former leaders such as Paul Keating.

This report examines the adequacy of the Australian government’s legislative, institutional and policy framework in addressing all facets of institutional, organisational, political, electoral, and individual corruption and misconduct.

This discussion paper suggests that the Australian mining industry is dominated by foreign corporate interests that are spending hundreds of millions of dollars influencing our political process.

This paper argues that given the growing instability of Australia’s strategic environment, it is urgent that our political class fulfil their responsibility to openly debate what principles this country stands for, how we will act and what costs we will pay to protect other states and ourselves.