Bill Browne
Bill Browne is Director of the Democracy & Accountability Program. His diverse areas of interest include the use of opinion polling, forecasting to predict policy outcomes, truth in political advertising reforms, digital technology and the role of the states and the Senate in Australian democracy.
Scamps presses Albanese over claims of staff offer to Coalition
Independent MP Sophie Scamps has questioned Prime Minister Anthony Albanese about reports that he offered his Liberal–National Coalition rivals extra staff in exchange for their support for the Labor Government’s crackdown on freedom of information rights. To her credit, then Opposition Leader Sussan Ley turned him down on this offer.
If the Liberals are wiped away, what will remain in South Australia?
The latest voter polling gives the Malinauskas Labor Government a commanding lead one month out from the 21 March state election in South Australia. South Australia does not need a strong Opposition party, but it does need a strong Parliament. As sensational as a Liberal lower house wipe out would be, it is in the upper house where a Labor landslide would have the most immediate effect.
In one month, South Australian voters will deliver an electoral reality check
Looking for a break from federal politics? The South Australian election will take place on 21 March this year, and will be a proving ground for national political trends like the rise of One Nation and experiments with political donation laws.
One Nation’s rise gives progressive voters unexpected power in “safe” Coalition seats
The rise of One Nation creates a surprising opportunity for progressive voters. There are now “safe” Liberal and National seats where One Nation could do very well.
How to make a submission to a parliamentary inquiry
Making a submission to a parliamentary inquiry is much more straightforward that you may think and is a great way to participate in our democracy. Here is a handy guide of what you need to know to make a public submission and tips on how you can make your submission more effective.
High Court to hear that the deck is stacked against independents and minor parties
A new High Court case is set to challenge the constitutionality of Australia’s political donation laws. It is the third such case currently on foot, and if successful it could help level the playing field for independents and minor parties.
Why Australia needs more politicians (yes, you read that correctly)
Although politicians are not popular, there are good reasons to want more of them. The Australian population has grown by 11 million since the last increase in the number of politicians, leaving local members stretched thin.
The Wrap: Australia doesn’t need 'a strong Opposition', but it does need a strong Parliament
Too often, commentators measure the strength of Parliament by the strength of the Opposition. If the Liberals and Nationals are united, numerous and a real electoral threat, then they will keep a Labor Government accountable, and vice versa when the Coalition governs. This is outdated. The Opposition is not numerous, nor does it look very electable.
Albo’s Odyssey (and the politics of having your hands tied)
When politicians claim to be constrained, it is too often an excuse to escape responsibility for an unconscionable decision.
Anthony Albanese was wise to split hate speech/gun control bill
The Albanese Government has made the right call in splitting its hate speech/gun control mega-bill.
Would half of Australians prefer a One Nation MP to a Labor one?
Last week, polling company DemosAU released sensational opinion polling showing One Nation tied with the Liberal–National Coalition on “first-preference votes” and tied with Labor on “two-party preferred”.
Students are only fake learning because universities are fake teaching
Artificial Intelligence is improving exponentially. There is a real threat that it could upend employment, security, art and even what it means to be human.
Labor’s $100k dash to New York has already been vindicated
In early December, the papers raged at politicians’ use of travel entitlements. The media has a short memory.
Five lessons for the world from Australia’s battle with tech giants
Big technology companies, including Facebook, Google and Elon Musk’s X, have proven difficult for national governments to control. The Internet has been treated as a “Wild West” beyond government authority.
Barnaby Joyce's defection highlights how much the Coalition costs the Liberal Party
It raises an uncomfortable question: are the Liberals being taken for a ride?
Upper Houses have saved Governments, and with Tasmanian AFL stadium vote they might do it again
Sometimes, the best thing that can happen to a government is to lose a vote in Parliament. Doing so allows a government say, hand-on-heart, that it did everything that it could to fulfill its promises, while sparing that government from the disastrous consequences of its promises.
Five ways to strengthen democracy in Victoria
We're one year out from the Victorian state election - policies to strengthen the state's democracy could define next year’s election.
Revealed: The taxpayer funding behind Australia’s political parties
The Australian Electoral Commission publishes how much public funding was paid after each federal election. For the last election, that amounted to $91 million for political parties and $3 million for independents. Because of its larger vote share, Labor received more funding ($37 million) than the Liberal–National Coalition ($33 million).
Parliament sits for less than half the year – what do politicians do the rest of the time?
The Government has announced 18 sitting weeks for 2026 - should they be sitting more and what does the rest of the year look like?
If the Opposition is not the alternative government, what is the point of it?
With Victoria on its third Oppostion Leader in a year, and speculation about pressure on the Federal and NSW Liberals, we're left wondering: what makes an Opposition Government?
How Australian democracy has changed since 1975, in six charts
50 years on from the Dismissal, how has Australian democracy changed? Here are six ways that Australian politics looks very different to when Gough Whitlam was PM in November 1975.
Serving on a citizens’ jury taught me the value of politicians
Politics cannot be fixed by removing the politicians. Instead, Australians could ask more of the politicians they do elect and participate fully in civic life – protesting, joining political parties or community groups, running for office themselves and lobbying local members.
Government’s thin excuse for FOI changes gives win to eSafety Commission foes
The faltering case for FOI restrictions is part of a broader pattern. The Albanese Government lacks confidence to develop and prosecute a reform agenda.
Internet piracy pales in comparison to 'workplace piracy' of those who do not join their union
Why are we morally outraged by the relatively rare video and music pirate, but not the many workplace pirates who score a free ride off their co-workers’ hundreds of dollars of union dues?
What is cash-for-access and how do lobbyists use it to gain influence?
Secret dinners between politicians and lobbyists are back in the news, but how do they happen and why is it such a problem?
While SA Liberals learn from other states, Queensland’s Liberal–Nationals block their ears
Other states are learning from Queensland, but the state’s Liberal–National Government is rejecting policy lessons from other parts of the country.
3 million reasons why it’s harder than ever to beat a sitting MP or Senator
Australian elections are less competitive due to the huge financial perks enjoyed by incumbents, according to new research.
In politics, you can be so sharp you cut yourself
Look at how state governments have fiddled with the preferential voting system, only to suffer from the changes they introduced.
