Labour Force Challenges in the Building and Construction Industry: Skills Infrastructure and Migrant Workers. The project examines the sustainability of present labour supply arrangements in the building and construction industry in the context of restructuring and reorientation of the major construction companies and the intensification of pyramid sub-contracting arrangements. This will highlight the challenges engendered by the changing pattern of training and skill accreditation, sourcing an ....Labour Force Challenges in the Building and Construction Industry: Skills Infrastructure and Migrant Workers. The project examines the sustainability of present labour supply arrangements in the building and construction industry in the context of restructuring and reorientation of the major construction companies and the intensification of pyramid sub-contracting arrangements. This will highlight the challenges engendered by the changing pattern of training and skill accreditation, sourcing and recruitment arrangements, and industry resort to immigrant and short-term and clandestine migrant workers. The analysis of labour supply arrangements will inform a better assessment of the capacity of the industry to improve construction standards and promote technological advances, and thereby contribute to charting a new strategic vision.Read moreRead less
Interdependence, transnational institutions and the governance of international taxation in the 21st Century. The global financial crisis is placing national tax systems under unprecedented competitive pressures. In such an environment the need for international tax cooperation has never been greater. Using comparative analysis this project will seek to establish which transnational institutions and governance systems best support international tax cooperation. By doing so it will enhance both t ....Interdependence, transnational institutions and the governance of international taxation in the 21st Century. The global financial crisis is placing national tax systems under unprecedented competitive pressures. In such an environment the need for international tax cooperation has never been greater. Using comparative analysis this project will seek to establish which transnational institutions and governance systems best support international tax cooperation. By doing so it will enhance both the ability of state and non-state actors to develop and refine strategies for participating in such systems and the prospects for achieving cooperation in this critical aspect of world affairs.Read moreRead less
State-owned enterprises and the government in China: who drives? China's large state-owned enterprises (SOEs) are investing extensively overseas, and particularly in Australia. This project examines how and to what extent the Chinese government exercises political control over these SOEs. It seeks to determine whether they are ultimately controlled by the Communist Party or semi-independent market privateers.
Measuring the triple bottom line: an investigation of social, environmental and economic outcomes in the South Australian electricity market. The project will investigate the social, economic and environmental performance of the South Australian electricity market. It will track the impact of the implementation of full retail contestability in the SA electricity market. It will provide a suite of measurement tools for consumer groups to analyse market outcomes.
Political party financing and democratic consolidation in Indonesia. As Australia's vast neighbour to the north, Indonesia, is of critical importance to Australian national interests. Particularly essential in this regard is the stability of Indonesia's young democracy, which is increasingly threatened by the widespread perception that party politics are contaminated by corrupt, greedy and self-centred politicians. This sentiment is largely fuelled by complaints about questionable fundraising pr ....Political party financing and democratic consolidation in Indonesia. As Australia's vast neighbour to the north, Indonesia, is of critical importance to Australian national interests. Particularly essential in this regard is the stability of Indonesia's young democracy, which is increasingly threatened by the widespread perception that party politics are contaminated by corrupt, greedy and self-centred politicians. This sentiment is largely fuelled by complaints about questionable fundraising practices of political parties. Accordingly, this study will be of great interest to Australian policy-makers, aid officials and businesses that wish to address the deficiencies in Indonesia's political system through political and economic cooperation programs.Read moreRead less
Democratic Leadership: How democracy shapes, constrains and empowers its leaders. A more profound understanding of the authority conferred, and limits imposed, by democracies on their leaders allows us to recognize what is, and is not, possible in democratic politics. It encourages a more subtle appreciation of the onerous demands of leadership, negotiating the extremes of idealism and cynical pragmatism that so often undermine confidence in politics and politicians. It gives greater insight int ....Democratic Leadership: How democracy shapes, constrains and empowers its leaders. A more profound understanding of the authority conferred, and limits imposed, by democracies on their leaders allows us to recognize what is, and is not, possible in democratic politics. It encourages a more subtle appreciation of the onerous demands of leadership, negotiating the extremes of idealism and cynical pragmatism that so often undermine confidence in politics and politicians. It gives greater insight into how democratic institutions and practices can be sustained and improved upon, both domestically, and internationally. Australia's commitment to democratisation in the region makes even more pressing the question of the type of leadership necessary in transitional states.Read moreRead less
Communication Across Difference in a Democracy: Australian Muslims and the Mainstream. The relationship between Islam and democracy is of central importance to Australia. In light of the possibility of radical Islamist recruitment within such communities, it is vital to establish the place of these communities in relation to other groups in the context of a liberal democratic society. The debate on the compatibility of Islamic and western values has been very prominent. Our focus on the attitude ....Communication Across Difference in a Democracy: Australian Muslims and the Mainstream. The relationship between Islam and democracy is of central importance to Australia. In light of the possibility of radical Islamist recruitment within such communities, it is vital to establish the place of these communities in relation to other groups in the context of a liberal democratic society. The debate on the compatibility of Islamic and western values has been very prominent. Our focus on the attitudes of Australian Muslims and how they perceive themselves in relation to western values (and how the mainstream perceives Muslims) has implications for policy and social learning across Islamic and non-Islamic communities, and so more productive social and political relationships.Read moreRead less
Democrats at War: Democratic Leadership in an International Context. A more profound appreciation of what democracies can reasonably expect from their leaders in times of conflict will have significant benefits in both domestic and international arenas. In giving us greater clarity regarding what is, and is not, possible in democratic politics, especially in times of international instability, the study will provide insight into how democratic institutions and practices can be sustained and enha ....Democrats at War: Democratic Leadership in an International Context. A more profound appreciation of what democracies can reasonably expect from their leaders in times of conflict will have significant benefits in both domestic and international arenas. In giving us greater clarity regarding what is, and is not, possible in democratic politics, especially in times of international instability, the study will provide insight into how democratic institutions and practices can be sustained and enhanced. Australia's interest in regional stability, and its consequent encouragement of greater democratisation in the Pacific area, will find support in research that helps leaders in transitional states better understand and adapt to their vital role.Read moreRead less
Electronic Voting and Electoral Inclusion: Implications for South Australia. South Australia is unique in having a highly concentrated urban population, a large Aboriginal population living in remote regions, and non-compulsory voting enrolment. The voting inclusion of all South Australians therefore presents a number of challenges. The project explores the potential of electronic voting to improve voting access among residents of isolated and remote regions of South Australia. Levels and cau ....Electronic Voting and Electoral Inclusion: Implications for South Australia. South Australia is unique in having a highly concentrated urban population, a large Aboriginal population living in remote regions, and non-compulsory voting enrolment. The voting inclusion of all South Australians therefore presents a number of challenges. The project explores the potential of electronic voting to improve voting access among residents of isolated and remote regions of South Australia. Levels and causes of non-voting will be established using qualitative and quantitative research methods. Results will be assessed against a comprehensive literature analysis of the use of eVoting world-wide. Finally, recommendations for future directions will be made.Read moreRead less
E-Democracy in Theory and Practice. Democratic experiments using the internet are increasingly prevalent in Australia and internationally, promising to make far-reaching changes to the way we understand and implement democracy. It is important that such experiments be undertaken with full appreciation of the nature of the transformations they seek to effect in our democratic institutions and practices. The twofold nature of this project, combining the theoretical and the practical, allow a more ....E-Democracy in Theory and Practice. Democratic experiments using the internet are increasingly prevalent in Australia and internationally, promising to make far-reaching changes to the way we understand and implement democracy. It is important that such experiments be undertaken with full appreciation of the nature of the transformations they seek to effect in our democratic institutions and practices. The twofold nature of this project, combining the theoretical and the practical, allow a more thoughtful and comparative assessment of the nature of e-democracy, and will provide practical guidance regarding the efficacy of its various applications.Read moreRead less