The Commonwealth Ombudsman—Time for independence?    (published: 1/2005)

posted: 14/01/2005

Author(s): John T D Wood (International ombudsman consultant and former Deputy Commonwealth Ombudsman.) Category: Public service/statutory bodies; Accountability; - Audit paper      (pages: 6)   download John T D Wood, an international ombudsman consultant, and former Deputy Commonwealth Ombudsman, looks at the role of the Commonwealth Ombudsman’s Office, one of the largest in the world in terms of the volume of complaints heard. While it has greatly enhanced the accountability of government to individual citizens, he notes however, that its effectiveness has been curbed through resource cutbacks and conflicts of interest in funding arrangements (PDF).

What price integrity? Funding Australia’s integrity systems    (published: 2/2005)

posted: 1/02/2005

Author(s): A.J. Brown (Griffith University), Brian Head (Griffith University) Category: Public service/statutory bodies; Accountability; - Audit paper download A. J. Brown and Brian Head compare the level of resources different Australian governments give to anti-corruption watchdog agencies. On the combined measures of staffing and budget (as percentages of total public sector), Queensland agencies are best resourced, followed by NSW and Western Australia. Victoria, a perennial straggler since 1990, has now overtaken the Commonwealth.

Parliamentary terms    (published: 2/2005)

posted: 7/02/2005

Author(s): Norm Kelly (Australian National University), Marian Sawer (Australian National University) Category: Parliament; Electoral; - Audit paper      (pages: 4)   download Marian Sawer and Norm Kelly consider the length of terms in Australian parliaments. Traditionally terms have been for three years, but in recent decades terms have been extended to four years in most parliaments. There has also been a trend to stipulating a fixed term or election date.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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