This report argues that rather than outsourcing ever more public services, governments should introduce social impact bond models within the public sector. Executive summary In one of his first major steps as Prime Minister, Tony Abbott has delivered on his promise to establish a Commission of Audit into the Commonwealth public sector. The exercise is...

This paper recounts the story of the 2013 media reforms - their introduction, the hurried investigations which attempted to explore their intentions and possible outcomes, and their eventual demise. Introduction As a result of an investigation into the British media following allegations of corruption, the Australian Government announced in September 2011 that it would instigate...

This paper seeks to provide a guide to better understand: what is expertise, how to determine who are the relevant experts where it comes to the technical aspects of public policy debates, and how to go about choosing between competing expert claims.

At the request of the Prime Minister, this report has been designed to explore in greater detail the issues that were brought to light in an earlier discussion paper, Towards better use of evidence in policy formation (2011). This paper extends that discussion and makes some specific suggestions as to how to improve the use...

This report describes New Zealand’s approach to managing the risks of genetic modification forty years on from its invention. It documents how government, Crown research institutes, industry and society responded to a new policy issue and makes recommendations as to the way forward.