Resources for members of parliament: More Australian anomalies?    (published: 3/2007)

posted: 29/03/2007

Author(s): June Verrier (Australian National University) Category: - Audit paper; Accountability; Parliament download The Audit’s June Verrier argues that the decision to grant MPs an extra staff member is a boost to the incumbency benefits enjoyed by sitting members. Parliament will function better if resources are diverted from support for incumbents' campaigns towards areas of benefit to the parliament as a whole, such as parliamentary research services.

Democratic Values: Political equality?    (published: 5/2007)

posted: 25/05/2007

Author(s): Marian Sawer (Australian National University) Category: - Audit paper; Accountability; Incumbency benefits download The pursuit of political equality is one of the four underpinning values of the Democratic Audit of Australia. In this new paper, Audit leader Marian Sawer reviews the state of Australian democracy in relation to this core principle. Restrictions on voting, a lack of transparency surrounding political finance, and the use of public money for party political ends are some of the areas in which Australia currently fails to measure up.

Gender goes missing from NSW politics    (published: 5/2007)

posted: 25/05/2007

Author(s): Tony Smith () Category: - Audit paper; Parliament; Parties/Independents download In a new Audit paper, Tony Smith analyses the representation of women in the New South Wales parliament following the election on 24 March 2007. He argues that the Coalition’s failure to make greater inroads into the Labor government’s majority can, in part, be attributed to their failure to promote women candidates in winnable seats and to their weakness on gender issues.

A shrinking Australian electoral roll?    (published: 6/2007)

posted: 20/06/2007

Author(s): Peter Brent (Australian National University), Simon Jackman (Stanford University) Category: - Audit paper; Electoral; Public service/statutory bodies download In a new paper for the Audit, Peter Brent and Simon Jackman review the slowing rate of increase of the Australian electoral roll. They find that the Australian Electoral Commission has become more proficient at expunging than at enrolling or re-enrolling voters.

Devolution and the May 2007 local election results in the UK    (published: 6/2007)	posted: 20/06/2007
Author(s): James Jupp (Australian National University) Category: - Audit paper; Electoral download Elections for the Scottish Parliament and the Welsh Assembly, and for local government in most of England and in Scotland, were held on 3 May 2007. In a new Audit paper, James Jupp (ANU) reviews the background and results.

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.

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.

Parliamentary administration compared    (published: 7/2007)

posted: 22/07/2007

Author(s): June Verrier (Australian National University) Category: - Audit paper; Accountability; Parliament download June Verrier, currently a visiting fellow at the Audit has an interesting paper on parliamentary administration in the Australasian Parliamentary Review. Comparing experience in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the UK, she argues that, contrary to much opinion, improved corporate governance will not, of itself, increase parliament’s independence or effectiveness. An underpinning commitment is necessary to the kind of administrative and budgetary arrangements needed for independence, the best-practice model being a cross-party parliamentary commission. The Australasian Parliamentary Review is not yet available online, but the article is reproduced with permission.

The role of ministerial advisors    (published: 7/2007)

posted: 22/07/2007

Author(s): Norman Abjorensen (Australian National University) Category: Accountability; - Audit paper; Public service/statutory bodies download As one of his first moves, the new British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, has released a Green Paper, The Governance of Britain, to launch discussion of a wide range of constitutional reform. The Green Paper is available here. Norman Abjorensen discusses the proposals relating to ministerial advisors.

The Governance of Britain    (published: 7/2007)	posted: 22/07/2007
Author(s): Philip Larkin (Australian National University) Category: Constitution/federalism; - Audit paper download As one of his first moves, the new British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, has released a Green Paper, The Governance of Britain, to launch discussion of a wide range of constitutional reform. The Green Paper is available here. Phil Larkin provides an overview of the Green paper.

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