Justice Pritchard’s Jim Carlton Lecture – Prerogative Pardons and the Rule of Law
In light of President Trump’s pardons of friends, associates and political allies, and President Biden’s pardon of his son, Hunter Biden, it has been observed that in a Presidential system there can occasionally, or indeed frequently, be an overreach of executive...
Party Loyalty – Conflict and the Public Interest
'The Pledge' by Barry Jones At the first election to the Commonwealth Parliament in 1901, 15 Members of the House of Representatives and 8 Senators were chosen with the support of Labour organisations in each state. There was then no national party structure....
In their interests!
Democratic government is founded on the idea that decisions of government should reflect the will of those people eligible to vote and to vote, you must be a citizen of Australia and a resident in the electorate in which you are voting. It is people not corporations,...
Elections and disinformation
Join us to hear AGM speaker, AEC Commissioner Tom Rogers - 6:45 pm 1st October 2024 at the Woodward Centre, Law Building, 10th floor 106/185 Pelham Street, Carlton. Book HERE for dinner and speaker . Book HERE for Zoom registration Tom Rogers has been the AEC...
Look into political ads
Published in The Age 10 Aug Detoxing donations to candidates and parties is a necessary but not sufficient reform to campaign finance (Comment, August 9). It is the extraordinary spending on political advertising using traditional and social media that drives...
The 2025 Federal Election
Our message to candidates and voters is this: members of parliament should always act in the interests of their constituents and the nation Parliament must hold Government to account reform is urgently needed in accessing information, campaign financing, lobbying, and...
Failure to act when corruption or lack of integrity is found or suspected
A major cause of public disillusionment with governments, public servants and big business is the number of instances of reprehensible behaviour or misuse of office for which the perpetrators do not appear to have been appropriately sanctioned or punished. Our...
ART proposes balanced electoral campaign reforms
While it is good that the Government has finally made public its proposed changes to the current campaign finance system, the ART, a longstanding advocate for improving public accountability in Australia, is concerned the changes will not achieve fair and balanced...
Race Mathews biography
Race Mathews is an outstanding member of the labour movement. His remarkable roles are set out in this fresh biography, to be published on 1st October. He established ART - literally around his dining table - one of his many achievements. He fostered...
Vic government reverses bid to abolish Public Records Advisory Council
On Thursday 2nd May, the Victorian Legislative Council passed an amendment to the Estate Agents, Residential Tenancies and Other Acts Amendment (Funding) Bill 2024, which had previously included wording that abolished the Public Records Advisory Council. This vote...