The ethics surrounding corporate and foreign donations to the foundations of politicians are murky, but it’s hard to deny the givers are angling for influence.
A row between a Conservative peer and Labour leader Ed Miliband is once again throwing up some inconsistent thinking about tax avoidance. Stanley Fink, the former treasurer of the Conservative party, and…
“Who do you trust?” has become a common mantra in Australian politics. Our political leaders should do much more to stop the answer being “no one”.
AAP Image/Julian Smith
A fundamental lack of trust is at the heart of Australian politicians’ extremely poor reputation. It is the main reason why people’s opinions about their elected representatives have mutated from healthy…
It’s set to be a big few months for the High Court of Australia. What are the key cases to watch?
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In coming months, the High Court – the highest court in Australia and the final arbiter on the meaning of the Constitution – will decide several high-profile cases. These decisions, which may result in…
Individuals can give thousands of dollars to political parties in NSW, but corporations can’t.
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Since 2010, New South Wales has had the most regulated political finance system in Australian history. This includes caps on expenditure in the six month period before an election and low annual limits…
Most Australians want to see a transparent, fair political system, but they’re not getting one.
Flickr/Michael Dawes
Whether you’re a cynic or an idealist, most of us believe there should be rules restraining big money in politics. But after a decade of stop-start debate on the issue, a Commonwealth parliamentary report…
There should be more regulation of third parties to help preserve Australian democracy. AAP/Alan Porritt.
MEDIA & DEMOCRACY: In the latest instalment of The Conversation’s week-long series on how the media influences the way our representatives develop policy, Marian Sawer examines the need to regulate…