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Economics
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- Employment & Unemployment
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April 2024
Submission – Review of the 2023 NSW election
NSW political donations laws are opaque; truth in political advertising laws are missing; and donation caps, spending caps and public funding overwhelmingly favour incumbents over new entrants.
Submission: Access to Parliament House by Lobbyists
Lobbying can give vested interests unfair advantages, be unduly secretive and serve to exclude the public from negotiations over policy.
March 2024
Democracy and accountability in the pandemic
The Australia Institute’s Democracy & Accountability Program made a submission to the COVID-19 Response Inquiry. The Australia Institute’s Democracy & Accountability Program carried out significant research into topics that might be of interest to the panel. This submission outlines how these research papers come under each of the Inquiry’s terms of reference.
Inquiry into the ART bills
The Administrative Review Tribunal Bill represents a dramatic improvement on the politicised appointments process that undermined trust in and the operations of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.
February 2024
Submission: Inquiry into the operation of the Freedom of Information Act 1982
FOI is a crucial part of the beneficial information feedback loop between the government and the people.
The 47th Parliament and the Democracy Agenda
In 2022, the Australia Institute released the Democracy Agenda for the 47th Parliament to encourage parliamentarians and the government to consider how to improve integrity and democratic responsiveness.
December 2023
Ensuring equitable access to Voluntary Assisted Dying
The Australia Institute is grateful for the opportunity to make a submission to the review of the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2023. The ACT Government and Minister for Human Rights Tara Cheyne should be commended for introducing this bill.
Not-for-Profit Sector Development Blueprint
The Australia Institute made a submission to the Federal Department of Social Services Community Services Advisory Group’s Not-for-Profit Sector Development Blueprint consultation. The
November 2023
Securing transparency and diversity in political finance
Targeted reforms are needed to introduce transparency and diversity into federal political finance: disclosing political contributions in real time, publishing ministers’ diaries, stopping the very wealthy from dominating election spending, making public funding accessible to new entrants and restricting corporate cash-for-access payments.
Submission: An independent ABC for a strong democracy
Australia’s public broadcasters (the ABC and SBS) should remain independent and free from political interference.
October 2023
Misinformation and the referendum
New research from the Australia Institute shows more than 60 per cent of ‘No’ voters are concerned about the misinformation and disinformation that circulated on social media during the referendum campaign, with more than 80 per cent of that cohort wanting to see truth in political advertising laws in place before the federal election, expected in 2025.
Consultants: Structurally Unsound
The audit, assurance and consulting industry has failed to meet expectations. The industry needs clear standards, better monitoring and strong sanctions for misconduct.
September 2023
The Hidden Political Expenditure of Australian Corporations
Publicly-listed companies in Australia disclose little information about their political expenditure, with few disclosing lobbying spending or payments to trade associations
Submission: 2022 Victorian State Election Inquiry
Truth in political advertising laws are recommended, supported, and overdue in Victoria.
Submission: Money and Power in Victorian Elections
In 2018, the Victorian Parliament made major changes to electoral law in the state, including introducing real-time disclosure of donation, banning foreign donations and limiting anonymous donations.
Submission: Consultants: corrosive and conflicted
The problems attached to over-use of consultants are becoming clearer. The experience in New South Wales accords with the national experience: dependency on consultants hollows out public sector capacity and leads to bad government decisions.
August 2023
Submission: Freedom of Information Inquiry
FOI is a crucial part of the beneficial information feedback loop between the government and the people. However, our FOI system is broken and cultural and legal changes are needed to fix it.
Submission: Prohibited Hate Symbols and Other Measures Bill 2023
A submission made by the Australia Institute to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security on the Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment (Prohibited Hate Symbols and Other Measures) Bill 2023.
Principles for fair political finance reform
Constructive and non-partisan political finance reform could improve trust in politics and reduce the influence of vested interests.
But if political finance reform is done poorly, it could make Australian elections less fair, and conceal rather than expose the undue influence moneyed interests enjoy over our politicians and parties.
Royal Commissions and inquiries prompted by ABC journalism
Public interest journalism from the ABC has placed scrutiny on issues that governments would prefer to ignore, prompting numerous government inquiries and investigations – what Josh Taylor, writing in Crikey, called “The Four Corners effect”.
June 2023
Advantages of Incumbency
Sitting politicians receive millions in public funding that support re-election.
May 2023
Submission: Administrative review body reform
The Australia Institute made a submission to the consultation on Administrative Review Reform.
Neither frank nor fearless
The over-use of consultancies has corroded Australian democracy. It hollows out public sector capacity and leads to bad government decisions.
April 2023
Effect of news media bargaining code on journalism employment
Job advertisement numbers increased 46% compared to the pre-pandemic average after the mandatory bargaining code was introduced.
Submission: Administration of the Voice referendum
The Australia Institute made a submission to the inquiry into the administration of the referendum into an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.
Submission: Criminal Code Amendment (Prohibition of Nazi Symbols) Bill 2023
The Australia Institute made a submission on the Criminal Code Amendment (Prohibition of Nazi Symbols) Bill 2023.
March 2023
Nothing to See Here
FOI decisions cost twice as much as they used to, three in 10 FOI decisions are late and, when reviewed, one in two turns out to be wrong. A review of Australia’s FOI system and culture is urgently needed.
February 2023
Party Platforms on Corporate Democracy & Governance
Few political parties have detailed policies on corporate democracy and governance, despite the major role that corporations play in our economy and political debate.
December 2022
Referendum machinery
The Australia Institute welcomes the modernising of Australia’s referendum machinery ahead of the referendum to enshrine an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice in the Australian Constitution. To limit the impact of misinformation on the referendum debate, we recommend that the Parliament legislate truth in political advertising laws and stronger political contribution disclosures. The existing
November 2022
Submission: Inquiry into supporting democracy in our region
Australia can contribute significantly to democracy, security and prosperity in our region by addressing the region’s most existential threat, climate change, and by better governing our own resource sector.