Real constitutional reform after Fitzgerald: Still waiting for Godot

The Fitzgerald Inquiry, although initially focused upon matters such as maladministration and corruption, placed significant emphasis on the reform of Queensland’s political and public administration system as a whole. It is therefore in relation to its practical impact within the context of that system that the Fitzgerald Report ought to be assesses. However, despite widespread support for the report’s recommendations, recent events in Queensland concerning such matters as corruption, maladministration, lobbying, cronyism and secrecy suggest that the report has failed to deliver on its most basic objectives. This article argues that although the Fitzgerald Report drew attention to and sought to address systemic problems of various kinds, it has largely failed in its intentions because the changes that it proposed could not be sustained in the context of Queensland’s existing constitutional framework and particular system of Westminster democracy, especially its high level of executive domination operating in the context of a unicameral parliament. The fact that so many of the Fitzgerald reforms were left to be sorted out by post-commission agencies working in such an environment means real reform has failed to flourish. Consequently, the Fitzgerald Report has met the same fate as so many other public inquiries into corruption in Australia, resulting in only minimal change to the way government is actually conducted. While as a result of the Fitzgerald Inquiry there has been widespread institutional restructuring in Queensland, the way of doing business in that state has hardly changed at all

The 2004 federal election: impacts for regions

The Howard Government’s re-election for a fourth term has important implications for regional Australia. Importantly, fourth terms are as rare in Australia as they are in other western democracies. At a national level only the Menzies Coalition Government in 1958 and the Hawke Labor Government in 1990 achieved such success. Moreover, it is not just winning a fourth term that makes the 2004 election potentially important, but also that the Howard Government has for first time since the Fraser Coalition Government (1975-83) secured full control of the Senate. Such political hegemony over both Houses of Parliament is also rare internationally. Overall, this means there will considerable policy continuity. By the time the next election is due in 2007, Australia will have experienced nearly twelve years of Coalition government—possibly even under one leader if John Howard stays as Prime Minister. Control of the Senate also means the Howard Government will not have to compromise with Independents and minority parties. Some of these senators like Brian Harradine, the Tasmanian Independent, or the Green Party, had clear regional, as well as national, policy goals. For instance, national forest agreements had both regional origins and national policy dimensions. Further, with such political ascendancy, the fourth Howard Government has the potential to be what some regard as the ‘real’ Howard Government, confident, unrestrained and ideologically charged. Just how far this will take Howard Government down previous blocked policy avenues and affect regions remains to be seen

Data on Australian public inquires

Updated data on Australian public inquires have been included in the forthcoming book “Royal commission and public inquiries, their use and abuse and proposals for reform” [working title]. The updated lists include: - details of numbers, uses and trends of public inquiries. - what inquiries have been appointed, when were they appointed; when did they report - who chaired them, how long they went for and Government responses to the inquiry report. The data are sourced from a number of primary sources including government statements, media reports and inquiry reports themselves with the purpose of being advisory, investigative tools for executive government. The data build on the foundation provided by earlier works (listed below) and includes extensively updated information on public inquiries since they were originally published. - Checklist of Royal Commissions, Select Committees of Parliament and Boards of Inquiry. Part IA. Commonwealth of Australia, 1950-1960 / by D.H. Borchardt - Australian federal government inquiries : 1 January to 31 July 1987 / compiled by Frances Cushin

Public management 1996: once more unto the breach

Reviewing public administration in Australia was once akin to watching glaciers - you knew there was movement and something was happening beneath the surface, but detection required patient observation over a long period of time. This is no longer the case. Since the 1980s, administrative change, too easily labelled 'reform' by its proponents and apologists, has become the order of the day. Governments, state and federal, of all political persuasions are involved. Even local government, once the backwater of public administration, has been touched. Instigating administrative change is something that 'good' governments (and public sector managers) are supposed to do

Overcoming the ‘White Elephant’ Syndrome in Big and Iconic Projects in the Public and Private Sectors

This chapter analyses ‘big,’ ‘iconic’ or ‘mega’ projects and their impact on effective project management and also on the effective allocation of funds for priority infrastructure. It is argued that part of the problem of Australia’s perceived present infrastructure shortfall is not just the lack of spending on infrastructure as many suggest. Rather, it is as much about the misallocation of spending on ‘big’ and so called ‘iconic’ or prestige projects that too often become expensive ‘white elephants’ requiring considerable post-completion maintenance and support and further lasting valuable resources that could be used elsewhere. Such projects, because of their status, size, and complexity too often disrupt effective project management practices in their original scoping, assessment and implementation and fail to have clear purposes or functions

Australian integrity agencies in critical perspective

This article reviews developments in the Australian integrity system made during the last three decades. It evaluates current organisational arrangements across national and state jurisdictions and examines the drivers and challenges involved with further expansion of integrity systems. The article argues that, while a more comprehensive system of integrity may be warranted, there have been improvements and that there are limits to further expansion of integrity frameworks given Australia's particular system of government

Euthanasia – tackling a wicked policy problem

This article highlights the range of real policy development, process and value issues that need to be addressed before further policy change can be considered in this area. Scott Prasser is the Executive Director, Public Policy Institute at the Australian Catholic University and professor of public policy