A question of integrity

Are anti-corruption commissions, and their role in rooting out political wrong-doing, set to come under new attack in Australia?

How will Gladys be remembered?

Gladys Berejiklian will be remembered as premier of NSW for her resilience, level-headedness, crisis management skills, and administrative competence — and, of course, the ICAC investigation that toppled her.

Revitalising Australian democracy

Today’s “International Day of Democracy” and Joe Biden’s forthcoming Summit for Democracy should prompt a greater focus on renewing Australia’s democratic system.

Public servants shy from blowing the whistle

A researcher from The University of Western Australia has found government employees are most likely to stay silent despite witnessing workplace corruption in the Australian Public Service.

When is a National Cabinet not a National Cabinet?

When is a cabinet not a cabinet? When it is really an intergovernmental body that is pretending to be a cabinet so it can avoid transparency?

The good, the bad and the ugly

While there are many lists of Australia’s greatest sportsmen, there are fewer attempts to rank our Prime Ministers in terms of their effectiveness in office.

Can politicians win back Australia’s trust?

A lack of transparency and policy missteps have undermined public trust in some of our political leaders during the latest surge in COVID outbreaks, according to a UNSW Sydney constitutional law expert.

A closer look at foreign policy research

The best research think tanks produce is often work no one will fund. If it breaks new ground it’s often difficult to convince potential funders of its merit.

Morrison’s ‘new deal’ for a post-COVID normal

The Prime Minister has borrowed language from Franklin Roosevelt to describe his pathway out of the pandemic but his ‘New Deal’ may leave some people behind.

Crisis? What crisis?

James Callaghan was an underrated British prime minister, and in a new biography, Hickson and Miles present a compelling psychological portrait of a fervent political operator who rose from humble circumstances to the highest office in the land.

Adventures in the grey zone

Australian policy should understand and address the drivers of competition in the “grey zone” of hostile activities undertaken by foreign states around the world.

Gender politics – Navigating political leadership in Australia

A new collection of essays examines the difficulties faced by female politicians in this country.