DOCSLIB.ORG

Annual Report 2010

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Annual Report 2010 Office of the Governor Annual Report 2010 - 2011 To obtain information about the content of this report, please contact: Air Commodore Mark Gower OAM (Retd) Official Secretary Office of the Governor, Queensland GPO Box 434 Brisbane Qld 4001 Telephone: (07) 3858 5700 Facsimile: (07) 3858 5701 Email: [email protected] Information about the activities of the Queensland Governor and the operations of the Office of the Governor is available at the following internet address: www.govhouse.qld.gov.au Internet annual report: www.govhouse.qld.gov.au/news_media/annual_reports.aspx Copyright and ISSN © The State of Queensland (Office of the Governor) 2011. Copyright protects this publication except for purposes permitted by the Copyright Act. Reproduction by whatever means is prohibited without the prior written permission of the accountable officer. ISSN 1837 – 2775 Aim of Report The Office of the Governor Annual Report 2010–2011 is an integral part of the Office of the Governor’s corporate governance framework and describes the achievements, performance, outlook and financial position of the Office for the financial year. The Annual Report is a key accountability document and the principal way in which the Office reports on activities and provides a full and complete picture of its performance to Parliament and the wider community. The Report covers the objectives, activities and performance of the Office during the period 1 July 2010 to 30 June 2011 and includes information and images that illustrate the many activities which the Office undertakes to provide personal, administrative and logistic support to the Governor and manage the Government House Estate. The Office of the Governor advises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people that this Annual Report may contain images of people who are deceased. The Office does not wish to cause distress to any Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members. Feedback Readers are encouraged to comment on this report by completing the enclosed feedback form which can be photocopied and faxed or scanned and emailed as an attachment to the Office of the Governor. The Honourable John Mickel MP Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Parliament House George Street BRISBANE QLD 4000 Dear Mr Speaker I am pleased to present to you the Office of the Governor Annual Report 2010–2011. I certify that this Annual Report: • complies with the prescribed requirements of the Financial Accountability Act 2009 and the Financial and Performance Management Standard 2009; and • reflects the achievements of the Office in providing an effective and accountable agency which supports the Governor of Queensland. Yours sincerely Mark Gower OAM Official Secretary 30 September 2011 iv Office of the Governor, Queensland Annual Report 2010 - 2011 Table of Contents Official Secretary’s Summary. .2 Year in Review. .2 Outlook for 2011-2012 . 3 Office Overview . 5 Corporate Objectives . .5 Corporate Governance . 7 Management Processes . 7 Management Structure . 7 Decision Making and Advisory Structures. .8 Measuring Corporate Governance . 9 Report on Performance . 11 Constitutional and Legal. 11 Ceremonial . 12 Community Engagement . 13 Promoting Queensland . 20 Preserving Government House . 21 Effective Management . .22 Financial Overview . 25 Expenditure 2010–2011 . 25 Consultancies . 25 Public Liability . 25 Waste Management . 25 Environmental Management . 25 2010–2011 Statement of Assurance . 25 Financial Statements . 27 Feedback on the Office of the Governor Annual Report 2010–2011 . 50 Office of the Governor, Queensland Annual Report 2010 - 2011 1 Official Secretary’s Summary Year in Review The Office employs a small, committed and dedicated team of staff that administers and The Office continued coordinates the Governor’s constitutional to provide a range responsibilities, ceremonial activities, and of services to the program of community engagement, and manages Governor, Her the Government House Estate. Staff levels have Excellency Ms Penelope remained constant over the reporting period. Wensley AC, to support her constitutional The year’s Office activities include the following role and to further highlights: her work in assisting • supporting an active program of engagement communities and with major institutions and community individuals in this Mark Gower OAM, organisations, notably those of which the reporting period. This Official Secretary Governor is Patron, involving visits, advocacy, period marked Her official calls and meetings, and the hosting of Excellency’s third functions to celebrate significant anniversaries, year in office as the Queen’s representative in recognise particular achievements, and other Queensland. The Office also supported official activities to support and promote these programs for the Honourable Chief Justice Paul institutions and organisations in serving the de Jersey AC, as Acting Governor and Deputy Queensland community; Governor and the Honourable Justice Margaret McMurdo AC, as Acting Governor, during Her • arranging investiture ceremonies at Excellency’s absences during the year. Government House and in Far North Queensland for residents of Queensland to The Office commits significant effort to organising receive awards within the Australian honours the Governor’s program of visits throughout system; Queensland and a significant feature of the Governor’s travel program in 2010–2011 was • supporting an extensive visits program, directed to visiting communities affected by including through the provision of detailed natural disasters. briefings on locations visited and, in 2011, organising a comprehensive program of travel This period also saw the continued introduction to rain-, flood- and cyclone-affected areas; of many new and revised systems, processes and efficiencies resulting from a series of • providing timely administrative support to organisational reviews designed to modernise the Governor in the management of weekly and improve productivity of the Office. Corporate Executive Council meetings, the signing of governance policies and procedures were bills for assent, the handling of petitions, particularly targeted this year and as a result and the processing of heavy volumes of major upgrades of the Office’s outdated computer correspondence; systems and equipment were introduced. • coordinating an extensive program of visits by The introduction of new technologies will community groups and schools and the hosting enable the Office to function more efficiently in of two public Open Days to mark Australia support of the Governor’s program and enhance Day and Queensland Week, the latter with a communication with Government and the community fair component; Queensland community. 2 Office of the Governor, Queensland Annual Report 2010 - 2011 • successful implementation of an Information Our key focus will be to: and Communications Technology (ICT) • ensure responsive service to the Governor modernisation program to update the Office’s in carrying out the Constitutional and out-dated finance, database and records Ceremonial requirements associated with management systems. These projects, expertly representing the Head of State in Queensland; co-managed by the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, are nearing finalisation; • provide accessibility to the Governor for all Queenslanders through an extensive and • refinement of corporate governance relevant program of regional travel and requirements and review of administrative community engagement; policies, guidelines and work practices to support best practice accountability in the • build opportunities for the Governor to management of public resources; promote Queensland’s attributes to visitors, particularly during a time of disaster • development of a Bushland Management Plan reconstruction, recognising the need to attract in partnership with the Department of Public foreign investment and tourism; Works to guide the preservation, enhancement and management of the bushland zone on the • continue to preserve and conserve the heritage Government House Estate; and horticultural assets of the Government House Estate for future community enjoyment; • restoration of significant artworks on loan and from the Queen’s Royal Collection Trust and from the Government House Collection; • maintain best practice delivery of our Corporate Governance Framework. • compulsory whole-of-Office training program in health, safety, code of conduct, ethics As a small Office, the finalisation of the and performance management to meet our ICT modernisation project will be critical in corporate and social responsibilities; and increasing efficiencies in a time of limited public budget and spending. New systems to support • a full safety management review and the financial management and customer relationship introduction of a revised Safety Management management were finalised and implemented in System, Fire and Evacuation Plan and 2011 while an efficient records management system Emergency Procedures to support staff and is planned for completion during 2011-2012. public safety in accordance with current legislative requirements. The Office will continue to work in conjunction with the Department of Public Works to prioritise Outlook for 2011-2012 the preservation and conservation of Government House and the Estate and to identify an ongoing In the year ahead, the Office will continue to work program of capital works and maintenance. In to provide quality support to the Governor, with particular, the development of plans to
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Paper Presented by the Hon. Peter Wellington MP
    UI1SFTJEJOH0⒏DFST`$MFSLT` $POGFSFODF 4ZEOFZ +VMZ l4USJLJOHUIF#BMBODF*NQBSUJBMJUZBOE SFQSFTFOUBUJPOJOUIF2VFFOTMBOEQBSMJBNFOUz 1BQFSCZ)PO1FUFS8FMMJOHUPO.1 4QFBLFSPGUIF-FHJTMBUJWF"TTFNCMZ 2VFFOTMBOE1BSMJBNFOU This aim of this paper is to describe the ways in which the Speakership of the Queensland Parliament currently operates, to consider the ways in which this differs from the traditional Westminster style Parliament and indeed from previous Queensland Parliaments, and to reflect on the particular demands placed on the Speakers of small Parliaments. The Parliamentary Speaker and tradition The tradition of Speakership in the Westminster parliamentary system is a long and enduring one, commencing with the appointment of the first British Speaker, Sir Thomas Hungerford, who was appointed in 1377. From these earliest times, the Speaker has been the mouthpiece or representative of the House, speaking on behalf of the House in communicating its deliberations and decisions, to the monarchy, the Executive and also others. The Speaker represents, in a very real sense, the right of freedom of speech in the Parliament, which was hard won from a monarchical Executive centuries ago. The Parliament must constantly be prepared to maintain its right of…freedom of speech, without fear or favour.1 Amongst the numerous powers, responsibilities and functions vested in Speakers via the constitution, standing orders and conventions, and in addition to being the spokesperson of the House, the main functions of the Speaker are to preside over the debates of the
    [Show full text]
  • Hon. Cameron Dick
    Speech by Hon. Cameron Dick MEMBER FOR GREENSLOPES Hansard Wednesday, 22 April 2009 MAIDEN SPEECH Hon. CR DICK (Greenslopes—ALP) (Attorney-General and Minister for Industrial Relations) (7.30 pm): I start tonight by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land where this parliament stands who have served and nurtured this land for centuries. I pay tribute to them and their great role in our history. It is in this reflection of history that I begin tonight. In December 1862, three short years after the birth of our great state, whose 150th anniversary we celebrate this year, the sailing ship Conway arrived in the small Queensland settlement then known as Moreton Bay. History little records the fate of the Conway, its passengers and its crew, but one thing is known about that day in December 1862: that is the day my family arrived in Queensland and began its Queensland journey. Almost 150 years later, that journey has taken me to this place, the Queensland parliament. I stand tonight as a representative of the people in our state’s legislature, not only as a fifth-generation Queenslander but also with great humility and honour as a son of the state seat of Greenslopes, the electorate I now serve as a member of parliament. My first thanks this evening go to those people who make up the community of Greenslopes. It is a wonderful and diverse community and I look forward to serving them to the best of my ability. This electorate is very dear to my heart. It was at Holland Park, in the Greenslopes electorate, that I was raised as a boy.
    [Show full text]
  • Dr Bruce Flegg MP
    Queensland Government Hon Stephen Robertson MP Member for Stretton Ref [M0/10/4103] Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy and Minister for Trade The Honourable John Mickel MP 17 SEP 2010 Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Parliament House George Street BRISBANE QLD 4000 Dear Mr Speaker Remainder incurpnrateii IN Icace.#. I refer you to the second reading of the. La September 2010. I believe that Dr Bruce Flegg MP, Member for Moggill and Michael Crandon MP, Member for Coomera are in breach of standing order 260 which relates to the declaration of pecuniary interest in debate and other proceedings. As indicated in the Register of Member's Interests, both members hold substantial property holdings which has land tax implications and therefore means they had a direct and material interest in speaking against the bill and of how it passed. In speaking against the bill, the members did not declare their interests at the beginning of their speech as required under section (1) of standing order 260. I would appreciate your investigation of this matter and your advice on the outcome of your deliberations. Should you have any further enquiries, please do not hesitate to contact Mr Lance McCallum, Acting Principal Advisor on telephone 3225 1861. Yours sincerely STEPHEN ROBERTSON MP Level 17 61 Mary Street Brisbane Qld 4000 PO Box 15216 City East Queensland 4002 Australia Telephone +617 3225 1861 Facsimilie +617 3225 1828 Email [email protected] HON JOHN MICKEL MP SPEAKER OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF QUEENSLAND 2 4 SEP 2010 Hon Stephen Robertson MP Minister for Natural Resources , Mines and Energy and Minister for Trade PO Box 15216 CITY EAST QLD 4002 Dear Minister I acknowledge your correspondence dated 17 September 2010, relating to Dr Bruce Flegg MP, Member for Moggill and Mr Michael Crandon MP, Member for Coomera speaking to the second reading of the Land Valuation Bill 2010 on 16 September 2010.
    [Show full text]
  • 2011 Volume of Additional Information
    Legal Affairs, Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services Committee Estimates - 2011 Volume of Additional Information Contents Correspondence from the Leader of the House Copy of correspondence from Hon Judy Spence MP, Leader of the House to Hon John Mickel MP, Speaker, dated 17 June 2011. Copy of correspondence from Hon Judy Spence MP, Leader of the House to Hon John Mickel MP, Speaker, dated 24 June 2011. Copy of correspondence from Hon Judy Spence MP, Leader of the House to Hon John Mickel MP, Speaker, dated 25 July 2011. Minutes of meetings 17 June 2011 19 July 2011 19 July 2011 26 July 2011 Minister for Justice and Attorney-General Questions on notice and the Minister’s answers Documents tabled at the hearing Answers to questions taken on notice at the hearing Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services Questions on notice and the Minister’s answers Documents tabled at the hearing Answers to questions taken on notice at the hearing Correspondence from the Minister dated 25 July 2011 Correspondence from the Leader of the House 17 June 2011 24 June 2011 25 July 2011 Minutes of meetings 17 June 2011 19 July 2011 19 July 2011 26 July 2011 - M I N U T E S - Minutes of a meeting of the Legal Affairs, Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services Committee on Friday 17 June 2011 at 1.28pm Present: Hon Dean Wells MP (Chair) Mr John-Paul Langbroek MP (Deputy Chair) Mrs Julie Attwood MP Mr Jarrod Bleijie MP Mr Chris Foley MP Mrs Betty Kiernan MP (until 1.59pm) Apologies: In attendance: Ms Barbara Stone MP Mr Stephen Finnimore, Research Director Ms Amanda Honeyman, Principal Research Officer Hearing schedule: At the meeting, members were provided with two draft hearing schedule options, and copies of all departmental structures, statutory authorities and senior officers of the departments.
    [Show full text]
  • Court Politics in a Federal Polity AJPS Submitted
    Australian Journal of Political Science For Peer Review Only Court Politics in a F ederal Polity Journal: Australian Journal of Political Science Manuscript ID: Draft Manuscript Type: Original Article Keywords: court politics, core executive, Queensland URL: http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/cajp Email: [email protected] Page 1 of 28 Australian Journal of Political Science 1 1 Court politics 2 3 4 5 COURT POLITICS IN A FEDERAL POLITY 6 7 8 9 10 11 Introduction 12 Australian political scientists have explored the core executive only episodically. Rhodes 13 14 and Wanna’sFor (2009) review Peer of the literature Review found little research on Only Australian executive politics; it 15 16 1 17 was ‘almost devoid of theory, even controversies’. Other characteristics include: the 18 19 predominance of realpolitik in accounts of executive power and a tendency to emphasise ‘practice 20 21 over theory, commentary over fieldwork, and teaching over research’ (Rhodes and Wanna 2009, 22 23 129-30). Weller (2005, 37) concurs, noting the academic literature provides ‘slim pickings for a 24 25 reader who wants to know how the executive system of government works in Australia’. The 26 27 28 challenge for Australian political scientists, therefore, is to provide theoretically informed studies of 29 2 30 the political executive based on original fieldwork. Strangio, ‘tHart and Walter (2013) also call for 31 32 a greater focus on the political executive. They exhort the next generation of scholars to pursue an 33 34 ‘integrated approach to the study of prime ministerial leadership, focusing on the interplay 35 36 between political circumstances, institutional possibilities, individual characteristics and social 37 38 39 relations at the apex of executive government’ (Strangio et al.
    [Show full text]
  • 05.01.07Combined.Pdf
    QueenslandQueensland Government Government Gazette Gazette PP 451207100087 PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY ISSN 0155-9370 Vol. 344] FRIDAY, 5 JANUARY, 2007 You Can Advertise In The ‘Gazette’! Contact your state representative regarding the placement of your UNITS START advertisement in the from $485 weekly Queensland Government Gazette... plus GST NAS, National Advertising Services QLD Marlene Ellison ph: 07 5577 9499 fax: 07 5577 9433 Horne Media NSW / ACT Jonathon Tremain ph: 02 9955 3545 fax: 02 9955 3646 VIC / TAS Harry Damoulakis ph: 03 9885 2928 fax: 03 9885 1179 SA / NT Jim Girdler ph: 08 8364 4678 fax: 08 8364 5557 WA Harold Hogan ph: 08 9470 6655 fax: 08 9470 4699 [1973] Queensland Government Gazette EXTRAORDINARY PP 451207100087 PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY ISSN 0155-9370 Vol. 343] FRIDAY, 22 DECEMBER, 2006 [No. 123 NOTICE Premier’s Office Brisbane, 21 December 2006 Her Excellency the Governor directs it to be notified that, acting under the provisions of the Constitution of Queensland 2001, she has appointed the Honourable Paul Thomas Lucas MP, Minister for Transport and Main Roads to act as, and to perform all of the functions and exercise all of the powers of, Minister for State Development, Employment and Industrial Relations from 19 January 2007 until the Honourable Reginald John Mickel MP returns to duty. PETER BEATTIE MP PREMIER AND MINISTER FOR TRADE NOTICE Premier’s Office Brisbane, 21 December 2006 Her Excellency the Governor directs it to be notified that, acting under the provisions of the Constitution of Queensland 2001, she has appointed the Honourable Rodney Jon Welford MP, Minister for Education and Training Minister for the Arts to act as, and to perform all of the functions and exercise all of the powers of, Minister for Health from 1 January 2007 until the Honourable Stephen Robertson MP returns to Queensland.
    [Show full text]
  • Queensland January to June 2004
    Political Chronicles 605 Queensland January to June 2004 JOHN WANNA Political Science Program, Australian National University, and Politics and Public Policy, Griffith University A Re- Pete Landslide at the 2004 State Election Premier Peter Beattie caught the opposition completely by surprise announcing the state election on 14 January, while most Queenslanders were still on holiday. The Opposition Leader, Lawrence Springborg, working on his farm, raced back to Brisbane, while the Liberals' Leader, Bob Quinn, caught an early flight interrupting his family holiday in Sydney. Just as with the 2001 poll, Beattie's timing meant the campaign would occur over the summer break with few paying attention to politics. Beattie's repeat of a successful tactic reeked of opportunism. Beattie brought on the snap poll in an attempt to clear the air over systemic maladministration exposed in the Families Department. The department charged with protecting children had failed to act in hundreds of cases of child abuse — especially children in foster case and particularly indigenous children. The public inquiry held by the Crime and Misconduct Commission (CMC) in 2003 discovered a culture of cover- up in the besieged department. Even when given evidence of cases of sexual abuse it felt powerless to act and often did not forward matters to the police. The CMC produced an interim report in January 2004 citing 110 recommendations for change. Beattie admitted publicly that both his government and the department "had failed" and that he would provide funding to implement the reforms (Courier-Mail, 7 January 2004). He stated his intention of seeking a mandate to fix the foster care crisis.
    [Show full text]
  • VP 16 March 2004
    16 Mar 2004 1 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF QUEENSLAND FIRST SESSION OF THE FIFTY–FIRST PARLIAMENT VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS NO. 1 – TUESDAY, 16 MARCH 2004 CONTENTS PROCLAMATION CONVENING THE PARLIAMENT ............................................................................ 2 COMMISSION TO OPEN PARLIAMENT................................................................................................ 2 COMMISSION TO ADMINISTER OATH OR AFFIRMATION................................................................. 2 RETURN OF WRIT ................................................................................................................................. 3 MEMBERS SWORN................................................................................................................................ 4 PRESIDING MEMBER ............................................................................................................................ 5 ELECTION OF SPEAKER (Hansard p. 3, 10.42 am)..................................................................................... 5 PRESENTATION OF SPEAKER ............................................................................................................ 6 SPECIAL ADJOURNMENT..................................................................................................................... 6 ADJOURNMENT ..................................................................................................................................... 6 ATTENDANCE .......................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • The Ayes Have It: the History of the Queensland Parliament, 1957–1989
    The Ayes Have It: The history of the Queensland Parliament, 1957–1989 The Ayes Have It: The history of the Queensland Parliament, 1957–1989 JOHN WANNA AND TRACEY ARKLAY THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY E P R E S S E P R E S S Published by ANU E Press The Australian National University Canberra ACT 0200, Australia Email: [email protected] This title is also available online at: http://epress.anu.edu.au/qldparliament_citation.html National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry Title: The Ayes Have It: History of Queensland Parliament 1957-1989 / John Wanna and Tracey Arklay ISBN: 9781921666308 (pbk.) 9781921666315 (pdf) Notes: Bibliography. Subjects: Politics, Australian Politics History of Australian politics, Queensland Parliament History from 1957 - 1989 Other Authors/Contributors: John Wanna and Tracey Arklay All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher. Cover design and layout by ANU E Press All images supplied by the Queensland Parliamentary Library. Printed by Griffin Press. This edition © 2010 ANU E Press Contents Acknowledgments . .vii 1 . Inside the Queensland Parliament . 1 Part I 2 . Parliament’s refusal of supply and defeat of Labor, 1957 . 29 3 . The early Nicklin years, 1957–1963 . 57 4 . Safely in the saddle: the Nicklin government, 1963–1968 . 87 5 . The Nicklin government’s legislative program . 125 6 . The oppositional parties in the Parliament, 1957–1968 . 167 7 . The Pizzey–Chalk interlude, 1968 . 203 Part II 8 .
    [Show full text]
  • Resisting Executive Control in Queensland's Unicameral Legislature
    Dr Kate Jones and Professor Scott Prasser are with the Public Policy Institute, Australian Catholic University Resisting executive control in Queensland’s unicameral legislature — recent developments and the changing role of the speaker in Queensland Kate Jones and Scott Prasser Queensland has long been criticised for the limitations of its parliamentary system and its excessive dominance by executive government. The 1989 Fitzgerald Commission of Inquiry into Possible Illegal Activities and Associated Police Misconduct (henceforth called the Fitzgerald Inquiry), pinpointed Queensland’s system of government and particularly its weak parliamentary system as one of the main causes for the State’s endemic corruption. As the Fitzgerald Report (1989: 123) lamented: Any government may use its dominance in the Parliament and its control of public resources to stifle and neuter effective criticism by the Opposition … A government can use its control of Parliament and public administration to manipulate, exploit and misinform the community, or to hide matters from it. According to Fitzgerald (1989: 123–5) debate was stifled, parliamentary sitting days too few, the Opposition restrained, question-time redundant and the committee system minimalist. Also, the Speaker of Parliament, the supposed independent chair, was perceived as too partisan, one of the prizes bestowed on party stalwarts by executive government (Fitzgerald 1989: 123). While these criticisms were legitimately aimed at Queensland’s National Party government (1983–89), they applied equally to previous Coalition (1957–1983) and Labor administrations (1915–1929; 1932–1957). Strong executive control of parliament was a Queensland tradition. Although not too different from other states, the problem was exacerbated by Queensland’s lack of an upper house — abolished by Labor in 1922 despite a referendum to the contrary.
    [Show full text]
  • For Peer Review Only
    Australian Journal of Political Science For Peer Review Only Court Politics in a F ederal Polity Journal: Australian Journal of Political Science Manuscript ID: CAJP-2014-0109.R1 Manuscript Type: Original Article Keywords: court politics, core executive, Queensland, Bligh government URL: http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/cajp Email: [email protected] Page 1 of 31 Australian Journal of Political Science 1 1 Court politics 2 3 4 COURT POLITICS IN A FEDERAL POLITY 5 6 7 8 Introduction 9 Australian political scientists have explored the core executive only episodically. XXXX 10 11 and Wanna’s (2009) review of the literature including textbooks, journalism, biographies and 12 13 memoirs led them to conclude there was little research on Australian executive politics; it was 14 For Peer Review Only 15 16 ‘almost devoid of theory, even controversies’. Other characteristics include: the predominance of 17 18 realpolitik in accounts of executive power and a tendency to emphasise ‘practice over theory, 19 20 commentary over fieldwork, and teaching over research’ (XXXX and Wanna 2009, 129-30). 21 22 Weller (2005, 37) concurs. He notes the academic literature provides ‘slim pickings for a reader 23 24 who wants to know how the executive system of government works in Australia’. The challenge for 25 26 27 Australian political scientists, therefore, is to provide theoretically informed studies of the political 28 1 29 executive based on original fieldwork. Strangio, ‘tHart and Walter (2013) also call for a greater 30 31 focus on the political executive. They exhort the next generation of scholars to pursue an 32 33 ‘integrated approach to the study of prime ministerial leadership, focusing on the interplay 34 35 between political circumstances, institutional possibilities, individual characteristics and social 36 37 38 relations at the apex of executive government’ (Strangio et al.
    [Show full text]
  • Political Chronicles the Commonwealth of Australia
    Australian Journal of Politics and History: Volume 50, Number 4, 2004, pp. 588-639. Political Chronicles The Commonwealth of Australia January to June 2004 PAUL D. WILLIAMS Politics and Public Policy, Griffith University The first half of 2004 saw newly installed Labor leader, Mark Latham, carve out a distinctive — if quasi-populist — leadership style while also exerting upon John Howard a heightened level of public questioning as to the honesty of his Government. Indeed, the Prime Minister had never appeared more “rattled”. The politics of personal abuse then plumbed new depths as each leader defended his integrity. The major parties’ public opinion standing fluctuated accordingly. A generous Government Budget was matched by Labor’s flight of numerous populist policy kites that saw election speculation become a journalistic sport. National Economy The Australian economy was at no time a liability for the Government. In March, national growth topped an annual rate of 4 per cent. After falling to a 23 year low of 5.5 per cent, the unemployment rate closed the period at 5.7 per cent, while inflation, too, remained low at an annual rate, by June, of 2.5 per cent. Housing costs largely dominated economic discussion, with a general agreement the housing “bubble” had at last burst. January alone saw a 10 per cent decline in home loan approvals (Weekend Australian, 13-14 March 2004). When, in April, the Productivity Commission released its report into housing affordability, few were surprised when it found that “negative gearing” was largely responsible. The Commission’s recommendation to review generous investor tax breaks was ignored by the Treasurer.
    [Show full text]