This discussion paper describes the evolution of key democratic reforms in Tasmania, principles for a healthy democracy, and details 16 reforms that Tasmanian parliamentarians – Liberal, Labor, Independent and minor party – could pursue in the 51st Tasmanian Parliament.

Trust in the institutions of public life has taken a beating after years of scandal in UK politics. As Ipsos polling commissioned specially for this report shows, there is a sense among the public that people in power do not feel bound by the same rules as them.

Operation Watts was the first joint investigation conducted by IBAC and the Victorian Ombudsman. It scrutinised how branch stacking in the Victorian branch of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) resulted in the alleged misuse of public funds for party political purposes, and subversion of parliamentary standards and processes. This report sets out the steps taken...

This article critically analyses the legal accountability mechanisms for grants funding through public finance legislation, ‘soft law’ such as grants, guidelines and ministerial standards, and the availability of legal redress. It also examines political accountability mechanisms, including the operation of parliamentary committees, the Auditor-General and the Ombudsman.

Operation Daintree was an investigation by the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) highlighting how improper influence compromised the procurement process for a $1.2 million contract awarded to a union-established training group, and compromised the management of the contract.