Informal voting at the 2007 election – Preliminary notes

posted: 31/01/2008

Author(s): Peter Brent (Australian National University) Category: Electoral; Parliament; Rights download In this commentary piece, the Audit’s Peter Brent notes the decrease in informal voting (from 5.18% to 3.95%) at the 2007 federal election. However, the level of accidental informal voting still appears to be significant, and Brent identifies the relationships with different voting systems at the state level, as well as the level of non-English speaking voters.

2007 federal election - provisional voting rejection rates	posted: 20/12/2007
Author(s): Peter Brent (Australian National University) Category: Electoral; Incumbency benefits; Rights download The rejection rate for voters who applied for a provisional vote in the federal election was far higher than normal, rising from about 50 per cent to about 86 per cent. The Audit’s Peter Brent comments.

Constitutionalising the franchise and the status quo: The High Court on prisoner voting rights    (published: 10/2007)	posted: 19/10/2007
Author(s): Graeme Orr (University of Queensland) Category: - Audit paper; Electoral; Rights download In the wake of the High Court’s decision on prisoner enfranchisement, Graeme Orr (University of Queensland) describes the issue of prisoner disenfranchisement as a continuing ‘political football’ in this new paper for the Audit.

Queensland burning: local government amalgamation & democratic practice in Queensland    (published: 9/2007)

posted: 20/09/2007

Author(s): Scott Prasser (University of the Sunshine Coast) Category: - Audit paper; Rights; Accountability download Scott Prasser (University of the Sunshine Coast) reviews the recent furore over forced amalgamation of local government in Queensland. Whilst there is agreement that some rationalisation of local government is needed, the process by which it has been conducted has been characterised by democratic deficit.

The Haneef Case    (published: 7/2007)

posted: 22/07/2007

Author(s): James Jupp (Australian National University) Category: Accountability; Rights; Media download Following attempted terrorist attacks in the UK, a Gold Coast doctor has been charged with giving material assistance to a terrorist organisation—namely his mobile phone SIM card. Dr Haneef passed the card on to a second cousin 12 months ago when he was leaving the UK. Despite being granted bail by a magistrate.

How well does Australian democracy serve sexual and gender minorities?    (published: 7/2007)

posted: 21/07/2007

Author(s): Sarah Maddison (University of New South Wales), Emma Partridge (University of Technology, Sydney) Category: - Audit paper; Focussed Audits; Rights download Sarah Maddison and Emma Partridge consider the status of sexual and gender minorities in Australia. They find that, whilst there has been considerable progress in the human rights of sexual and gender minorities in recent decades, it highlights the extent to which significant inequalities persist, particularly in respect of relationship recognition.

Australian industrial laws and freedom of political expression    (published: 11/2006)

posted: 17/11/2006

Author(s): Tom Roberts (Construction, Forestry, Mining & Energy Union & Energy Union) Category: - Audit paper; Rights download In a new paper for the Audit, Tom Roberts of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union, discusses the implications of changes to industrial relations law for freedom of expression in the construction sector. Virtually all forms of industrial action are deemed unlawful in the sector and could result in deductions in pay, fines, and damages claims: the Australian Building and Construction Commissioner has been established to monitor and enforce this. This constitutes a direct attack on the right to peaceful political protest.

China and Australia: Mutual assistance on criminal matters    (published: 11/2006)

posted: 6/11/2006

Author(s): Vic Adams (Civil Liberties Australia) Category: - Audit paper; Rights download Australia and China negotiated a treaty on mutual assistance in criminal matters in 2006. Vic Adams considers the treaty and its possible implications in the light of China’s record on the death penalty. The treaty lack safeguards to ensure Australia in not implicated in executions and could be in breach of a number of other treaties to which Australia is a signatory, aimed at ending the death penalty.

Strike up the ban: Censorship and the war on terror    (published: 8/2006)	posted: 30/08/2006
Author(s): Norman Abjorensen (Australian National University) Category: Accountability; - Audit paper; Rights download Reflecting on the recent decision to ban two Islamist books, Norm Abjorensen is critical of how censorship has been used in the war on terror to pursue political rather than security goals.

Australian human rights record in international perspective    (published: 8/2006)

posted: 9/08/2006

Author(s): Hilary Charlesworth (Australian National University) Category: - Audit paper; Rights; NGOs/participation download Hilary Charlesworth (ANU) reviews Australia’s record in implementing its international human rights obligations. Under the Coalition Government, Australia’s relationship with the UN human rights treaty bodies has deteriorated. Australia has adopted a combative stance, emphasising domestic sovereignty and rejecting criticism of human rights performance.

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