Public Confidence in Australian Democracy    (published: 12/2008)

posted: 17/12/2008

Author(s): Scott Brenton (Australian National University) Category: - Audit paper; Public opinion download Scott Brenton uses data from the 2007 Australian Survey of Social Attitudes and the 2007 Australian Election Study to examine public perceptions of democracy. He finds that respondents were satisfied and proud of a general conception of Australian democracy but that indications of citizen engagement are not strong and the performance of government, politicians and other public officials.

The Youth Electoral Study (YES)    (published: 12/2005)

posted: 1/12/2005

Author(s): Kathy Edwards (University of Sydney), Murray Print (University of Sydney), Lawrence Saha (Australian National University) Category: - Breaking news/external links; Electoral; Public opinion download Kathy Edwards, Lawrence Saha and Murray Print introduce the YES Project, which examines the attitudes of young Australians towards politics, democracy and voting. This report for the Democratic Audit of Australia discusses features of the democratic process that discourages young Australians from participating, as well as the ways that they do participate.

Beyond Australia’s First Bill of Rights: engendering public debate     (published: 7/2005)

posted: 1/07/2005

Author(s): Katharine Gelber (University of New South Wales) Category: Rights; - Audit paper; Public opinion      (pages: 9)   download So far in Australia only the ACT has a Bill of Rights. Katharine Gelber looks at current gaps in rights protection and at how to win support for rights-based legislation. She draws on recent surveys of civic knowledge and social attitudes to argue there is already a pool of public support for the ideals associated with rights protection.

Public confidence in Australian democracy    (published: 5/2005)

posted: 1/05/2005

Author(s): Scott Brenton (Australian National University) Category: Public opinion; - Audit paper; NGOs/participation download Scott Brenton examines data from the 2003 Australian Survey of Social Attitudes and the 2004 Australian Electoral Study, in considering whether there is declining confidence in Australia's democratic institutions. The paper examines issues of democracy, government, politicians, parliaments, the legal system and public servants.

Extracts from a forthcoming book on citizenship in Britain    (published: 4/2004)	posted: 1/06/2004
Author(s): Pat Seyd (University of Sheffield) Category: NGOs/participation; Public opinion download Professor Pat Seyd, member of the International Advisory Committee of the Democratic Audit of Australia, has released major new findings that show citizens are not as disengaged as has been assumed in much of the recent literature on western democracies. See also this version.

Contact between Australian MPs and their constituents     (published: 6/2004)

posted: 1/06/2004

Author(s): Pipa Norris (Harvard University) Category: Public opinion; Electoral; - Audit paper download Pippa Norris of Harvard University and a Member of the Democratic Audit of Australia's International Advisory Committee, asks: 'Are Australian MPs in touch with constituents?' One of the most important features of representative democracy is the strength of the linkages between citizens and elected representatives. It is commonly thought that the electoral system, particularly the ballot structure used when citizens cast a vote, plays an important role in this process.

Regulating election polls    (published: 8/2003)

posted: 29/08/2003

Author(s): Olof Petersson (Democratic Audit of Sweden) Category: Electoral; - Audit paper; Public opinion download Professor Petersson writes that the fear of undue influence on voters is the reason why many democracies have discussed and quite a few have decided to regulate the publication of election polls. Yet such action raises several difficult questions. Do polls really influence voting behaviour? Is a total or partial ban on election polls compatible with basic democratic principles such as the freedom of the press? And could a national embargo on the publication of polls really be effective in a world of Internet and global media?

Compulsory Voting    (published: 6/2003)

posted: 4/06/2003

Author(s): Lisa Hill (University of Adelaide) Category: Electoral; - Audit paper; Public opinion download Australia's system of compulsory voting enjoys high levels of community acceptance but has its critics. This paper argues that compulsory voting serves the value of equality of political opportunity as well as maintaining high voter turnout. It ensures that voting is not confined to the more prosperous members of society and preserves political community as well as acting as a buffer against social isolation.

Audit news: Citizens not disengaged    (published: 4/2003)	posted: 1/04/2003
Author(s): Pat Seyd (University of Sheffield) Category: - Breaking news/external links; NGOs/participation; Public opinion download Professor Pat Seyd, member of the International Advisory Committee of the Democratic Audit of Australia, finds that citizens are not as disengaged as has been assumed. See also this version.

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