This study aims to open debate about the role of the tech giants – notably Google, Facebook, Apple and others – in democracy and civic life, as distinct from their impact on privacy and security, or their economic and financial status.

The Institute for Governance and Policy Studies (IGPS) has commissioned this survey to generate a snapshot of the current state of play and, more importantly, to kickstart a much needed conversation. Our findings suggest that there are serious concerns with levels of public trust in the country. Not only is trust in our government, politicians...

This discussion paper considers customer engagement as a means to an end, namely, one that seeks to reduce, if not eliminate the role of regulatory agencies. For other authors, customer-engagement processes offer the promise of a genuine entrenchment of citizen interests in the regulated process.

This report is based on a collaborative project between RMIT and the Environment Protection Authority Victoria. It draws on qualitative research conducted in two environmental ‘hotspots’ in Melbourne - Clayton South and the Brooklyn Region - by a team of researchers at RMIT University. A key aim of the project was to deepen our understanding...

Which participatory practices are most efficacious in capturing local knowledge and incorporating it into plans? This study provides a better understanding of the elements affecting the ability of public participatory practices to enable incorporation of residents’ preferences, ideas, opinions, desires, and needs into plans.