This report finds that the present design of Victoria’s upper house, the Legislative Council, reinforces urban domination of Victorian politics while also failing to act as an effective mechanism for scrutiny of government. It provides three recommendations to address the present accountability, democratic and regional representation deficits.

This report argues major reform to the Commonwealth Parliament and Government is needed to enable brave policymaking. Out of 34 potential reform ideas, the report identifies seven key reform areas that will improve government in Australia, including limiting political donations, fixing parliamentary terms and more rigorous processes for appointing and terminating Secretaries of Commonwealth Departments.

The report proposes 37 practical, feasible, impactful and evidence-based reform opportunities to improve trust and confidence in the Federal Parliament. It encourages parliamentarians to use available mechanisms to consider these reform opportunities further and build a consensus about the highest priority reforms.

This paper reviews features of the Australian democratic system with consideration to reshaping that system to better serve a liberal democracy. It argues that reform must focus on how the political system can be improved so that it represents the views and values of ordinary Australians. The paper is intended to generate debate and provides...

The paper identifies 11 major reforms that would improve parliamentary debate, government accountability and openness, and the operation of integrity institutions. Three of the reforms would improve the deliberations of the 48th Parliament of Australia and make other reforms more achievable.