equality
of government
human rights
public debate
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About the audit
Since 2002 a team at the Australian National University has been engaged in auditing the strengths and weaknesses of Australian democracy.
Aims
The Audits have three main aims:
(1) To make a major methodological contribution to the assessment of democracy—particularly through the study of federalism and through incorporating disagreements about ‘democracy’ into the research design;
(2) To provide benchmark data for international comparisons and comparisons over time.
(3) To promote public debate over democratic issues by publishing discussion papers and disseminating Audit findings through the media.| Approach The Audit recognises that democracy is a complex notion, and so applies a detailed set of questions which has already been field-tested in overseas countries. The framework was pioneered in the United Kingdom and then further developed under the auspices of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) in Stockholm. IDEA further tested the framework in eight countries including New Zealand. IDEA is currently updating its Audit framework to take account of the experience of further national Audits, including the Democratic Audit of Australia. As noted, our Audit has expanded the framework to include institutions of federalism and also to draw more explicit attention to conflict between democratic values. The values used by the Democratic Audit of Australia as the basis of assessment are:
The Audit adopts a comparative approach across Australia's nine jurisdictions and uses three main international comparators:
Funding |
 |
People
In January the Democratic Audit of Australia moved to the School of Social Sciences from the Research School of Social Sciences at the Australian National University.
The Audit is led by Professor Marian Sawer. For some of Marian's recent
books go to this
link.
The other Chief Investigator is Professor Barry Hindess who prepared the
Audit Report on Corruption and Democracy in Australia. More
details
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The Audit Project Manager is Dr Philip Larkin, who joined the Audit from
the UK House of Commons committee secretariat in 2005.
Peter Brent is an Audit Team member and Webmaster. Peter is doing doctoral
research on the history of electoral administration funded by a Linkage
grant with the Electoral Council of Australia (LPO453987 ). His thesis
findings are disseminated through his
website.
Another important member of the Audit Team is Norm Kelly, a former Democrats
member of the WA Legislative Council. He is doing a PhD analysing changes
in electoral law over the past 20 years and is also an Affiliate of the
Centre for Democratic Institutions.
Dr Norman Abjorensen is the latest recruit to the Audit and is working
on the State of Democracy Report. A former journalist, Norman completed
a PhD on leadership in the Liberal Party in 2004 and now teaches part-time
at the ANU.
Dr June Verrier, former Head of the Parliamentary Research Service, has
joined the Democratic Audit as a Visiting Fellow until the end of 2007.
She is undertaking a comparative study of how administrative and funding
arrangements can promote the independence of parliament from executive
government.
International Advisory Committee
Professor David Beetham, Director, Centre for Democratisation Studies, University of Leeds
Dr Helena Catt, Electoral Commissioner, New Zealand
Professor Arend Lijphart, Department of Political Science, University of California, San Diego
Professor Pippa Norris, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
Professor Olof Petersson, Co-ordinator, SNS Democratic Audits of Sweden
Professor Stein Ringen, Green College, University of Oxford
Professor Hege Skjeie, Department of Political Science, Oslo University
Professor Stuart Weir, Director, UK Democratic Audit, University of Essex
Academic Advisory Committee
Professor Larissa Behrendt, Director, Jumbunna Indigenous House of Learning, University of Technology, Sydney
Professor Hilary Charlesworth, Faculty of Law, The Australian National University
Professor Murray Goot, Department of Politics and International Relations, Macquarie University
Professor Colin Hughes, School of Political Science and International Studies, University of Queensland
Professor Dean Jaensch, School of Political & International Studies, Flinders University
Professor Graham Maddox, School of Social Science, University of New England
Professor Geoff Stokes, School of Social & International Studies, Deakin University
Professor Elaine Thompson, School of Politics and International Relations, University of New South Wales
Professor John Wanna, ANZSOG, Research School of Social Sciences, The Australian National University
Professor George Williams, Director, Gilbert & Tobin Centre of Public Law, University of New South Wales