Open Government – missing the target by a country mile    (published: 5/2005)

posted: 5/05/2005

Author(s): Rick Snell (University of Tasmani) Category: Accountability; Rights; - Audit paper download The cost of Freedom of Information requests continues to be a focus of discussion following Denis O’Brien’s paper in March. Now, Rick Snell (University of Tasmania) discusses the ACT government’s actions in this area – both as an initiator and recipient of FOI requests, and its belief that responding to FOI requests is not part of a government’s normal work.

Getting elected as an Independent: Electoral laws and party favouritism    (published: 5/2005)

posted: 5/05/2005

Author(s): Jennifer Curtin (Monash University) Category: Electoral; Parties/Independents; - Audit paper download Although Australia has a high number of independent parliamentarians compared to other democracies, there isn’t necessarily a level playing field when competing with party members and candidates. Jennifer Curtin (Monash University) highlights various ways in which Independents and independent candidates are disadvantaged through Australia’s various electoral systems and parliamentary processes.

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.

Canadian elections - How democratic?    (published: 6/2005)

posted: 1/05/2005

Author(s): Marian Sawer (Australian National University) Category: Electoral; - Audit paper download Professor Marian Sawer, Political Science Program, The Australian National University (PDF) Marian Sawer of the Democratic Audit team argues that since above-the-line voting was introduced for the Australian Senate in 1984 there has been concern over what happens with preferences under this system.

Report no. 5: Representing the disadvantaged in Australian politics: The role of advocacy organisations    (published: 5/2005)

posted: 1/05/2005

Author(s): Bronwyn Dalton (University of Technology, Sydney), Mark Lyons (University of Technology, Sydney) Category: Focussed Audits; Rights; NGOs/participation download The Audit's fifth focused Audit report has been produced by Bronwen Dalton and Mark Lyons, from the Centre for Australian Community Organisations and Management at the University of Technology, Sydney. In recent years, there has been debate and criticism over the influence that NGOs may have on public policy decisions. This report assesses the roles of NGOs, looking both at their external impacts through public participation and involvement in policy processes, and also at NGOs’ internal structures that provide varying degrees of democratic participation for their members. Representatives of a selected number of NGOs were interviewed for the report.

Political donation changes favour the rich and increase the risk of corruption    (published: 1/2005)	posted: 1/05/2005
Author(s): Joo-Cheong Tham (La Trobe University) Category: Political Finance/Govt Advertising; Incumbency benefits; - Audit paper download The major Australian parties rely heavily on corporate donations to finance their election campaigns. Tham argues that this threatens Australian democracy in various ways and proposes criteria to use in developing options for reform.

Democracy in the European Union    (published: 4/2005)	posted: 1/04/2005
Author(s): Richard Bellamy (University of Essex) Category: Rights; - Audit paper; Accountability download The creation of the European Parliament raises question in relation to democracies that transcend national boundaries. In this discussion paper, Professor Richard Bellamy looks at the rights-based v public interest dichotomy as it applies to the legitimacy of the European Union.

Freedom of Information law in need of an overhaul    (published: 3/2005)

posted: 1/03/2005

Author(s): Dennis O'Brien (Partner at Law Firm Minter Ellison) Category: Rights; Accountability; - Audit paper download Last month, the Audit referred to the recent AAT decision to uphold the ‘conclusive certificate’ issued by the Federal Treasurer to block access to Tax Office reports on the effects of bracket creep. This month, Dennis O’Brien, a partner at Minter Ellison, has written a paper - Freedom of Information Law in Need of Overhaul. An abbreviated version of the paper also appears in this month’s Public Sector Informant. Mr O’Brien argues that Australia’s FOI laws need to be reviewed and updated, including the removal of the conclusive certificate provision for internal working documents, adoption of FOI best practice, and a review of the fees and charges that can be used to impede access to information.

History of electoral provisions for local government in South Australia    (published: 3/2005)

posted: 1/03/2005

Author(s): Jade Bruss (State Electoral Office, South Australia) Category: Electoral; Parliament; - Audit paper download Did you know that: Proportional representation was first used in 1840 for the Municipal Corporation of Adelaide election (the first municipality established in Australia); South Australia was the first colony to give women the vote in local government elections – in 1861; The first woman elected to local government in Australia was Susan Grace Berry, elected to Brighton Council in South Australia in 1919 (five years after women were allowed to stand as candidates); You can find out more about the history of local government in South Australia from this comprehensive account and chronology of legislative change by Jade Bruss, formerly of the South Australian State Electoral Office.

Western Australia’s state election: democracy in action?    (published: 2/2005)

posted: 21/02/2005

Author(s): Peter van Onselen (Edith Cowan University) Category: Electoral; - Audit paper download In the lead-up to Western Australia's state election on 26 February, Edith Cowan University lecturer Peter van Onselen comments on issues relating to the level of democracy present in the state's electoral process. Issues addressed include malapportionment, prisoner voting, public funding and media coverage.

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