Australia’s Federal Political Donations Disclosure Regime is Worse Than Most Realize

At the federal level, only 10- 15% of political donations are transparently declared by our political parties. This was the major finding of my research recently published in Australian Journal of Public Administration.… Continue reading

The dual citizenship saga and the challenges of democratic inclusion in the Australian Federal Parliament

The creation of citizenship registers in Parliament appeared to be the end of the dual citizenship saga. But, the last few weeks, with a new case of dual citizenship in the Federal Parliament,… Continue reading

AJPS Symposium: International approaches to online political participation and connective action

This symposium in the Australian Journal of Political Science highlights how scholars are engaging with cutting edge research questions on the transformative effects of online political participation and new forms of online collective… Continue reading

Up against the limits of the politics of recognition

In 2018 questions of national belonging and cultural identity are shaking our political institutions. The resurgence of nativist nationalism forces us to ask where cultural recognition ends and xenophobic arrogance begins. Are fears… Continue reading

After the same-sex marriage vote, what next? Public opinion and policy responsiveness

We care about public opinion and policy congruency for normative and practical reasons. For reasons of values, if nothing else, some form of policy representation is necessary for democratic government. However, this link… Continue reading

Policy before party: women and political collaboration

In 2006, four women senators from different parties made history when they worked together across party lines to overturn the ministerial veto on medical abortion drug RU486. What led these women to collaborate… Continue reading

Australian Policy Agendas Over Time

Throughout Labor’s final term in office, the casual observer might easily have concluded that most of the government’s attention was taken up by leadership crises. Yet, despite the drama, parliament under Julia Gillard… Continue reading

The logic of policy-motivated parties

Representative democracy is party democracy. Parties helped to create and continue to shape our democratic institutions, dominating the formation of governments and (most) executive offices around the world. The policies they adopt when… Continue reading

A Jacksonian Curse? Defying the Democratic ‘Lock’ on the Electoral College

President Donald Trump’s tenure in the Oval Office has extended past six months, but his surprise electoral victory and the ongoing saga of his presidency ensures the arcane electoral college system remains at… Continue reading

Ongoing problems within the Greens is a warning to all parties

The events of the past fortnight have rocked the Australian Greens in a way they have not been at any point since their entry into the Australian political scene. The dual episodes of… Continue reading