Essays, Books and Reports

Wrongs, Rights and Remedies: An Australian Charter?

In this essay Professor Spencer Zifcak and Alison King, argue that it is now imperative that Australia legislates comprehensively to protect human rights. The authors point out that Australia’s legal protections against human rights violations are patchy and incomplete. The Australian Constitution says almost nothing about human rights, anti-discrimination laws provide only a scant and limited shield, and the common law can be overridden at any time by an ordinary Act of Parliament. The essay describes many areas in which human rights have recently been infringed.
Free Download

Democracy Under Siege

In this essay Professor David Yencken and Dr Nicola Henry argue that there has been an increasing erosion of democratic practices in Australia over the last decade. Australia has also notably failed to keep pace with best practice in other established democracies. The essay lists the undertakings and initiatives of the Rudd Government to remedy these problems and identifies what further action is needed.
Free Download

Together At Last?

Economists & Environmentalists

In this essay, economist Dr Richard Denniss argues that economics has the tools available to help solve problems such as climate change but the economics required is different from that currently being practised. What is lacking, he says, is not the economic know-how but the political will.
Free Download

See also the short essay “Australia’s economy” under Fact and Issue Sheets.

The next essay is being written by Professor Paul Smyth on the subject of Social Inclusion.

A Big Fix

Radical Solutions for Australia’s Environmental Crisis (new extended and revised edition)

In A Big Fix, eminent scientist and environmentalist Ian Lowe argues that the warnings from scientists are urgent and unequivocal. We are using resources future generations will need, damaging environmental systems and compromising social stability by increasing the gap between rich and poor. In short, we are consuming the future. We need a radical re-thinking of the way we currently live. Lowe proposes far-reaching solutions. He advocates a fundamental change to our values and social institutions and offers a vision of a healthier society. This is an extended and revised edition of the very successful first edition.

Cost: AUD$16.95 each + AUD$4.50 postage and handling
Order A Big Fix

To firmer ground:

restoring hope in Australia

To firmer ground: restoring hope in Australia, written by John Langmore, is a broad review of the state of Australia society.

The book’s main themes are: the different and often conflicting goals of income maximisation and human wellbeing; the most appropriate responses to Australia’s environmental crises; human security and the guarantee of a decent life for all; an economy that invests in the future and serves society; Australia’s role in advancing global security and justice; and the revitalising of Australian democracy and multiculturalism. The book concludes with a series of recommendations to set Australia on a more thoughtful, balanced and purposeful path.

Cost: special Collaboration introductory discount AUD$25 inc. postage
Order To firmer ground

How Ethical is Australia?

An examination of Australia's record as a Global Citizen.
Peter Singer & Tom Gregg.

How Ethical is Australia? assesses how well Australia is performing as a global citizen. It examines five areas of policy with a global impact – foreign aid, the United Nations, overseas trade, the environment and refugees. Australia’s record in four of these areas, the authors say, is not one ‘of which any nation would be proud’.

How Ethical is Australia? argues that Australia should do more than pursue narrow short term interests. Government policy should be informed by an enlightened realism that marries national self interest with purposeful action to reduce poverty and protect the global environment. Such enlightened realism is not only essential for the achievement of a better world but is also in Australia’s long term interest.

Cost: AUD$6.00 each inc. postage
Order How Ethical is Australia?

  Download PDF - Size: 1.1 Mb

Into the Future: The Neglect of the Long term in Australian Politics

Ian Marsh and David Yencken

Into the Future is a review of Australia’s current approach to long term analysis and planning. It provides a detailed analysis of recent changes in the Australian political landscape including the decline of party allegiances, the growth of interest groups and changing attitudes about politics and politicians. Into the Future argues that there are inadequacies in research and technical analysis, in public engagement and consultation and in the way that issues are drawn into the formal political system. The net result is a political structure at odds with our real situation and our real needs.

Into the Future cites many examples of actions being taken in other countries to enhance their strategic capacity and proposes a range of different solutions for Australia.

Cost: AUD$6.00 each inc. postage
Order In to The Future

  Download PDF - Size: 1.0 Mb

Success in Aboriginal Organisations

At the conclusion of the two year research project “Successful Strategies in Aboriginal Organisations” three reports were produced. They were:
• Organising for Success: Policy Report which examined the policy implications of the research and concluded with six sets of recommendations for policy makers;
• Maps to Success, a practical handbook for Indigenous Organisations: and
• Indigenous Partnerships in Protected Area Management which examined three case studies on joint management of lands of conservation value.

For further information about the publications and to purchase hard copies or to download these reports see Research and Order, books and reports.

Which Direction?

"Which Direction? A review of monitoring and reporting in Australia is an examination of social, environmental and economic reporting practices. It discusses optimal arrangements for reporting, problems that need attention to avoid pitfalls and the different types of reporting needed for different purposes.

It finds many deficiencies in current reporting practices in Australia. The report concludes with a set of recommendations covering national and regional reporting, public sector reporting, corporate reporting and not-for-profit reporting.

"Without question it is amongst the best summaries I have read, one that attempts to survey the entire field within a defensible set of categories. I know that my staff has found it enormously valuable."

Dr Ian McPhail. Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability, Victorian Government

  Download PDF - Size: 1.9 Mb

A Just and Sustainable Australia

by David Yencken and Libby Porter with contributions from the participating organisations.

A Just and Sustainable Australia is a 100 page report describing key social, cultural and environmental issues facing Australia and the actions that should be taken to deal with them.

  Download PDF - Size: 1.09 Mb