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.
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.
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.
October 2024
NACC needs urgent reform
The National Anti-Corruption Commission is at the crossroads.
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.
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
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
Net more white collar crooks by giving whistleblowers a slice of the criminal pie
Employees who expose rip-offs like price gouging, tax evasion, wage theft, collusion or insider trading would be rewarded with a slice of the millions of dollars they help recover under reforms proposed by the Australia Institute.
Australia can make speeding fines fair with proportional model: Report
Making traffic fines proportional to drivers’ incomes, as is done in Finland, is a fairer system according to a new report from The Australia Institute, supported by Uniting Vic Tas and Financial Counselling Victoria.
NACC Paladin finding raises more questions than answers
A report by the National Anti-Corruption Commission into payments to a former Department of Home Affairs official by a company with a lucrative contract with Home Affairs raises more questions than answers. Bill Browne, Director of the Australia Institute’s Democracy and Accountability Program, says the report is disappointing when it comes to transparency and public
SA Government secrecy over proposed changes to electoral laws a bad sign for trust in politics
The South Australian Government has refused to disclose submissions to its consultation into proposed changes to electoral law.
Big Super is still investing in nuclear weapons
A new report has found that despite claiming not to invest in ‘controversial weapons’ 13 of the top 14 Australian super funds are still investing in nuclear weapons companies, in some cases even in an option described as ‘responsible’, new research from The Australia Institute and Quit Nukes has found. Key results At least $3.4
September 2024
ACCC Suing Supermarkets as Price Gouging Drives Inflation, Rate Hikes
The ACCC launching legal action against Coles and Woolworths today for misleading consumers reinforces the findings of Australia Institute and Centre for Future Work research, that showed inflation is higher because of big businesses price gouging. Key Points: The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has launched legal action against Coles and Woolworths for misleading
August 2024
SA Government’s Proposed Donations Bill a Threat to Political Competition
The Malinauskas Labor Government’s proposed donations changes are a threat to political competition in South Australia and should be rejected or significantly redrafted, the Australia Institute has said.
Majority of Australians oppose increasing public funding for political parties and candidates, but alternatives exist
A majority of voters oppose the public funding of political parties and candidates, and increases to this funding, to run election campaigns and cover administrative costs, according to new research from the Australia Institute.
July 2024
Victorian Electoral Recommendations a Mixed Bag for Democracy
Electoral recommendations from a Victorian parliamentary committee should spur action on truth in political advertising laws, but others need further consultation.
Rex Patrick Loses FOI Delays Legal Battle, Pledges to Continue
Former senator and transparency advocate Rex Patrick has lost his appeal to the Full Federal Court challenging the Australian Information Commissioner’s multi-year delays in handling FOI reviews. Some of Patrick’s outstanding FOI reviews have been awaiting decision for almost four years. In a longstanding legal battle, Patrick sought to draw a line in the sand
Rise of minor parties and independents upends old predictive models; demands power sharing rethink
Australia was never exclusively a “two-party system”, a reality that is getting harder to ignore as minor party and independent representation grows, according to new research from the Australia Institute. While power sharing has always been a feature of Australian parliaments, the declining major party vote demands a more mature and nuanced analysis of electoral
SA ICAC: Commissioner Resignation Must Trigger Rethink on Integrity Backslide
The resignation of the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption, the Honourable Ann Vanstone KC, should trigger a rethink of the debilitating and troublesome changes to the ICAC that were rushed through the South Australian Parliament in 2021.
June 2024
Open Letter Calls for Parliament to Protect Democracy, Close Major Gaps in Electoral Laws
Leading civil society organisations have signed an open letter, coordinated by the Australia Institute and published today in The Canberra Times, calling on the Parliament of Australia to safeguard Australia’s democracy by addressing major gaps in the nation’s electoral laws.
Momentous budget and planning decisions must be based on current environmental data
Leading environment and policy groups are calling on the Tasmanian Government to make the decade-long-delayed State of the Environment Report public before several key financial and planning decisions are made by the government and the parliament later this year.
Majority support for Assange’s release and return home
A majority of Australians (57%) want the Biden Administration to drop the prosecution of Julian Assange and allow him to return home to Australia, according to new Australia Institute research.
SA’s political donation ban ambitious, but must safeguard diversity of voices
The Malinauskas Government’s electoral amendment bill could represent a potential paradigm shift in South Australian politics, but risks adverse outcomes unless carefully tested in a parliamentary inquiry.
NACC’s decision puts responsibility for Robodebt response back on government
The decision by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to not investigate potentially corrupt conduct by public servants administering Robodebt highlights the gaps in Australia’s accountability and anti-corruption regime.
Majority of Australians back digital free-to-air sports coverage
Australia Institute research has found a majority (56%) of Australians want free-to-air sports coverage to be available on the internet.
Privatised Profits, Services Failure: Consumers Worse Off After Three Decades of Competition Policy
New analysis from the Australia Institute shows that the privatisation, deregulation, and outsourcing of public services has failed to provide economic or social returns to Australians.
May 2024
“Perverse Incentive” NSW Government Continues Native Forest Logging to Keep Carbon Credits Plan Alive
An investigative video report by the Australia Institute has found taxpayer subsidised native forest logging is destroying hundreds of hectares of the future Great Koala National Park each week, despite the NSW Government’s election commitment to put the land aside for protection.
Assange Verdict Sees Punishment-By-Process Continue
The UK High Court decision to grant Julian Assange’s request to appeal against his extradition to the United States provides a welcome, but temporary stay and hope for the campaign to free him, while continuing his punishment-by-process at the hands of Australia’s closest ally.
Reform Agenda Launches ahead of Tasmanian Parliament’s Return
New research from the Australia Institute has identified 16 key reforms that are required to strengthen and safeguard democracy in Tasmania, which now lags behind many mainland jurisdictions in accountability and transparency.
April 2024
Incumbent NSW MPs enjoy $2 million in incumbency advantages, on top of head-start from the state’s political finance laws
Research from the Australia Institute demonstrates that the NSW electoral system’s donation caps, spending caps and public funding benefit established parties and incumbent MPs at the expense of new parties and independent candidates.
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