Protecting while they prosper? Organisational responses to whistleblowing. This project aims to examine the adequacy of organisational responses to whistleblowing (employee reporting of wrongdoing). So far, research into public-interest whistleblowing has revealed much about the incidence, significance and experience of whistleblowers. This project now extends the research to the other side of the issue — the organisations. By comparing employee and managerial experience in multiple public and p ....Protecting while they prosper? Organisational responses to whistleblowing. This project aims to examine the adequacy of organisational responses to whistleblowing (employee reporting of wrongdoing). So far, research into public-interest whistleblowing has revealed much about the incidence, significance and experience of whistleblowers. This project now extends the research to the other side of the issue — the organisations. By comparing employee and managerial experience in multiple public and private sector organisations in Australia and New Zealand, the project intends to identify the factors that influence good and bad responses across a range of institutions; provide a clearer basis for reform of policies, procedures and law; and set benchmarks for comparative research worldwide.Read moreRead less
Fear and licensing in Australia: Investigating the social licence to operate of an emerging coal seam gas industry. Australia’s nascent coal seam gas (CSG) industry is the site of substantial social tension. For some the industry can transform and safeguard national energy sources and fuel booming Asian exports. For others it damages both the environment and communities. This tension is vividly expressed by local protests and regulatory bans. Communities, mining companies and government invoke a ....Fear and licensing in Australia: Investigating the social licence to operate of an emerging coal seam gas industry. Australia’s nascent coal seam gas (CSG) industry is the site of substantial social tension. For some the industry can transform and safeguard national energy sources and fuel booming Asian exports. For others it damages both the environment and communities. This tension is vividly expressed by local protests and regulatory bans. Communities, mining companies and government invoke a 'social licence to operate' as fundamental to industry viability. This landmark project explores the concept of a social licence to operate in Australia's CSG industry to tease apart the dynamic risks, opportunities and tensions at work between corporations, rural and regional Australian communities and government, and offers policy and practice recommendations. Read moreRead less
The high conflict post-divorce shared-time family. Since the 2006 family law reforms encouraging shared-time parenting after separation, Australia has seen a marked increase in shared-time parenting where parents are in high conflict, and even where there are safety concerns. This project will examine how the children fare under shared-time parenting where their parents remain in conflict.
Corporate Governance in the Public Sector: An Evaluation of its Tensions, Gaps and Potential. This project aims to enhance corporate governance in Commonwealth public sector bodies (assets worth $125 billion), leading to better management of public resources and more effective public administration. It is a major theoretical and empirical analysis of corporate governance's impact on public administration from governance, management, and legal perspectives, drawing on private sector and internati ....Corporate Governance in the Public Sector: An Evaluation of its Tensions, Gaps and Potential. This project aims to enhance corporate governance in Commonwealth public sector bodies (assets worth $125 billion), leading to better management of public resources and more effective public administration. It is a major theoretical and empirical analysis of corporate governance's impact on public administration from governance, management, and legal perspectives, drawing on private sector and international comparisons. It will develop an integrated cross-government framework for corporate governance and customized guidance according to organisational type. The major outcome will be to advance knowledge of the multi-disciplinary basis of corporate governance in its applications within government, communicated through scholarly, governmental, and web-based resources.Read moreRead less
Resourcing Public Law Enforcement Agencies in the 21st Century; Coercion, Sale and Gift. This project will analyse three basic means of enhancing the resources of public law enforcement agencies: circumstances wherein police command cooperation from private institutions; those where police buy and sell services; and those where police are the beneficiaries of private sponsorship. The potentials and limits of these three forms of exchange will be studied in each Australian State and Territory, in ....Resourcing Public Law Enforcement Agencies in the 21st Century; Coercion, Sale and Gift. This project will analyse three basic means of enhancing the resources of public law enforcement agencies: circumstances wherein police command cooperation from private institutions; those where police buy and sell services; and those where police are the beneficiaries of private sponsorship. The potentials and limits of these three forms of exchange will be studied in each Australian State and Territory, in light of global developments. The project will aim to assist governments in coping with the growing demand for police services in a climate of enduring fiscal restraint. Products will include books, articles, workshops and a major conference.Read moreRead less
The Contractualisation of Government: Public Accountability and Performance. Contracting has changed the delivery of government services and infrastructure in Australia. This project examines how such 'contractualisation' has affected accountability at the federal level and how current practices may be improved. Four key research questions are addressed. First, what changes, if any, in public accountability were expected from contractualisation? Second, through an analysis of case studies, ho ....The Contractualisation of Government: Public Accountability and Performance. Contracting has changed the delivery of government services and infrastructure in Australia. This project examines how such 'contractualisation' has affected accountability at the federal level and how current practices may be improved. Four key research questions are addressed. First, what changes, if any, in public accountability were expected from contractualisation? Second, through an analysis of case studies, how have public accountability practices altered in reality? Third, how might public accountability be strengthened whilst maintaining the benefits of contractualism? Fourth, what kind of performance information would assist Auditors General to strengthen their role in supporting public accountability and good governance?Read moreRead less
Auditing the Victorian Charter: Australian and international perspectives on applied human rights. This project is a detailed legal, government and policy case study of the most important human rights initiative in recent Australian history. It will provide research and new knowledge in key areas of human rights: the operation of human rights Bills, links between human rights and social disadvantage, education and community attitudes, and strategic government implementation. The project will d ....Auditing the Victorian Charter: Australian and international perspectives on applied human rights. This project is a detailed legal, government and policy case study of the most important human rights initiative in recent Australian history. It will provide research and new knowledge in key areas of human rights: the operation of human rights Bills, links between human rights and social disadvantage, education and community attitudes, and strategic government implementation. The project will develop a new policy tool (a national Audit) to monitor, plan and strengthen human rights in government and the community, and contribute to better social wellbeing and stronger democracy in Australia.Read moreRead less
Changes in payments, family dynamics and wellbeing following major child support reform: a longitudinal investigation of behavourial and attitudinal responses. This study will benefit the nation in three main ways: (a) it will measure the immediate impact of child support reforms on parent-child contact and the payment of child support; (b) it will provide an estimate of the consequences of these reforms for family dynamics (especially conflict, acrimony and the quality of parent-child relations ....Changes in payments, family dynamics and wellbeing following major child support reform: a longitudinal investigation of behavourial and attitudinal responses. This study will benefit the nation in three main ways: (a) it will measure the immediate impact of child support reforms on parent-child contact and the payment of child support; (b) it will provide an estimate of the consequences of these reforms for family dynamics (especially conflict, acrimony and the quality of parent-child relationships) and parents' and children's health and wellbeing; and (c) it will provide new evidence on the interrelationships between post-separation economic, social and psychological wellbeing irrespective of the reforms. Through this partnership between the University and relevant government departments, we are maximising the opportunity for shaping future policies and service delivery.Read moreRead less
A comparative analysis of gambling regulation in Australian states and territories. This project will be the first systematic and comprehensive evaluation of Australian gambling regulation. Research is in response to incidents of regulatory failure, fragmentation and inconsistency in the gambling regulatory frameworks of states/territories and calls by the Productivity Commission for rigorous and independent review. It will develop an evaluative framework to analyse current gambling regulations, ....A comparative analysis of gambling regulation in Australian states and territories. This project will be the first systematic and comprehensive evaluation of Australian gambling regulation. Research is in response to incidents of regulatory failure, fragmentation and inconsistency in the gambling regulatory frameworks of states/territories and calls by the Productivity Commission for rigorous and independent review. It will develop an evaluative framework to analyse current gambling regulations, performances and capacities in the face of challenges such as crime, problem gambling and cross-jurisdictional gambling. Research will allow identification of Australian and international benchmarks for gambling regulations that prevent crime and encourage social responsibility.Read moreRead less
Regulatory Strategies for Improving Health Sector Performance. Australia's health sector is increasingly and controversially regulated, but with little analysis of the different approaches of the proliferating regulatory bodies. This research collaboration between the ANU and health industry partners will contribute to better health outcomes by drawing lessons from international health regulation and from other sectors, by ?mapping? this rapidly expanding terrain, and, through selected case stud ....Regulatory Strategies for Improving Health Sector Performance. Australia's health sector is increasingly and controversially regulated, but with little analysis of the different approaches of the proliferating regulatory bodies. This research collaboration between the ANU and health industry partners will contribute to better health outcomes by drawing lessons from international health regulation and from other sectors, by ?mapping? this rapidly expanding terrain, and, through selected case studies, evaluating regulatory strategies intended to improve the safety and quality of healthcare for patients. The study will examine the mix of ?hard? and 'soft? regulation and propose productive pathways towards future ?responsive regulation? for Australia and internationally. Read moreRead less