Eight things you need to know about the Government’s plan to change Australian elections
And eight ideas to improve it
Rushed changes to federal political donation laws could hinder, not enhance, democracy
With the Albanese Government announcing it will attempt to rush through major changes to Australian elections, democracy experts at The Australia Institute warn that any changes should increase the competitiveness of elections, and not make the playing field more uneven for new entrants.
Secretive and rushed: Unpacking SA’s new electoral laws
As dramatic changes to South Australian electoral law pass the house of review (Legislative Council), voters could be forgiven for wondering “what just happened?”
A week ago, no one had seen the government’s revised Electoral (Accountability and Integrity) Amendment Bill 2024. Now, it’s set to become law.
Amy Remeikis and the Director of The Australia Institute’s Democracy and Accountability Program, Bill Browne, unpack how we got here … and what should happen next.
Standing up to Trump with Malcolm Turnbull
Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull joins the show to discuss how Australia should approach the second Trump presidency.
A Time for Bravery
Welcome to The Australia Institute, Amy Remeikis
Amy is one of Australia’s most respected political observers.
She proudly swims against the tide of spin which swirls around the Canberra bubble.
This is her first column for The Australia Institute.
New SA political donation laws: An undemocratic process which will not increase trust in politicians
The South Australian Government will today introduce legislation for a partial ban on political donations – replacing them with huge taxpayer-funded handouts to political parties and MPs.
Corporate profits increase inflation | Fact Sheet
The prices of many goods and services have increased dramatically across Australia since 2021. This has resulted in hardship for many households—along with $100 billion in increased profits for major companies. These corporate profits have been a key factor driving inflation.
Fill the sky
With this presidential race now over, Emma Shortis reflects on an extraordinary campaign and the challenges that may lie ahead for Australia.
Four more years
Donald Trump will return to the White House – how should Australia prepare?
Consulting clean-up: Parliament recommends sweeping changes after multiple scandals
A multi-party Parliamentary Committee has concluded that major reform is needed to address glaring problems in the audit, accounting and consulting industry, in a report released on Thursday.
See you on the other side
Will Trump declare victory on election night, regardless of the result?
Will women win Kamala Harris the election?
Emma is on the road at a Harris rally in North Carolina and Bruce Thompson, former advisor to the Obama and Clinton campaigns in the state, joins us to preview the election.
American non-democracy with Yanis Varoufakis
Former Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis joins us to talk about the presidential election, Joe Biden’s foreign policy legacy and the future of America’s role in the world.
The role of the whistleblower in pursuit of climate integrity
Whistleblowers are critical to addressing the climate and biodiversity crises.
October 2024
In the shade
The Democrats have been largely overshadowed by the Trump spectacle in the final weeks of the campaign. Will it hurt Harris’ chances of winning the presidency?
NACC needs urgent reform
The National Anti-Corruption Commission is at the crossroads.
There is no such thing as a safe seat | Fact sheet
A notable trend in Australian politics has been the decline of the share of the vote won by both major parties at federal elections. One effect of this is that there are no longer any safe seats in Australian politics: minor parties and independents win more “safe” seats than they do “marginal” ones. The declining
We can, in fact, have nice things
He lost the Queensland election, but former Premier Steven Miles may have saved the furniture by putting forward popular, progressive policies that voters responded to.
Who’ll run the world
Chas Licciardello joins us to discuss Beyonce’s Texas appearance, Trump’s hate-filled Madison Square Garden dude-fest, and how the campaigns are spending their money.
Federal Labor’s lesson from Qld defeat: bold progressive policies provide a pathway to a second term
There’s a lesson for the federal government from Labor’s narrower than expected defeat in the Queensland election: voters embrace progressive policies that address cost of living pressures.
Is Australia ready for Trump 2.0?
We discuss the race in the key swing state of Michigan and whether Australia is really prepared for a second Trump administration.
Queensland election: A clear message to Federal Labor
Queensland voters have sent a clear message to Federal Labor – Popular progressive policies win over a large number of voters.
Six ideas to fix Australia’s secrecy problem
The Australia Institute’s inaugural 2024 Transparency Summit brought together experts, whistleblowers and those working to ensure the interests of all Australians are represented in our policy-making process. We are sleepwalking towards disaster when we accept the idea that the more secret we are about decision-making, the safer we’ll be. – Richard Denniss, Executive Director of
A lack of transparency and integrity lies near the heart of every political issue facing Australia.Super-powered nukes: Is your superannuation funding weapons of mass destruction?
When you choose your superannuation fund, you’re probably not thinking about weapons of mass destruction. But it might surprise you to learn that if you’re with one of Australia’s largest funds, your money is going into the production of nuclear weapons. Research published last month by Quit Nukes and The Australia Institute found that 13
The steady decline of voters choosing the major parties is reshaping Australian politics
Over the past 40 years the share of votes going to independents and minor parties has risen in both state and federal elections.
Secrecy is not security
Excessive secrecy in government decision-making makes Australia less safe, not more.
Miles government policies popular with Queenslanders: poll
As opinion polls suggest the Miles Labor Government is closing the gap on the Liberal National Opposition ahead of this Saturday’s state election, new research from The Australia Institute reveals most Queenslanders support cost of living, environmental and reproductive rights policies. The research follows existing Australia Institute polling research which finds most Australians support proven
Campaigning in the manosphere
We discuss the impact of Trump’s extreme immigration rhetoric and how the candidates are courting the male vote.
The way we disagree
Press gallery veteran Paul Bongiorno joins us to discuss how conflict in the Middle East is reverberating through Australia and reconciliation one year after the Voice referendum.
Transparency Summit blows the whistle on Australia’s culture of secrecy
Integrity experts, academics and parliamentarians gather in Canberra today for the Australia Institute’s Transparency Summit: Secrecy is not security, held in collaboration with the Human Rights Law Centre, Whistleblower Justice Fund, Alliance for Journalists’ Freedom and Transparency International Australia. The Transparency Summit connects those have been stonewalled – and explain why open government and public access to information is
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