Bill Browne

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 p...

Changing to a more proportional lower house and placing public funding in the hands of voters would strengthen South Australian democracy in the longer term, without denying Labor a deserved victory that reflects their popular support.

On @thepointau.bsky.social --

thepoint.com.au/opinions/260...

Looking for a break from federal politics?

The South Australian election will take place on 21 March, and will be a proving ground for national political trends like the rise of One Nation and experiments with political donation laws.

Read the full piece on The Point: https://theaus.in/4c98n8e

Looking forward to talking with @sophiescamps.bsky.social about her Ending Jobs for Mates Bill, and the role of government appointments, at @australiainstitute.org.au Politics in the Pub.

Verity Lane, Canberra
Evening of Wed 11 March www.facebook.com/events/94713...

“The rise of One Nation may excite the right, but it has also turned left-wing voters into kingmakers,” writes Bill Browne, Director of The Australia Institute’s Democracy & Accountability Program.

Read the full piece on The Point: https://theaus.in/4rGnQl2

It's time ... for more politicians The number of members of Parliament and senators has not kept up with Australia’s population growth. Parliamentarians represent three times as many people

We've been on this for a long time! My first paper for @australiainstitute.org.au on the topic is over eight years old --
australiainstitute.org.au/report/its-t...

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...

More on the case for more politicians, including the logistics and legal requirements on @thepointau.bsky.social : thepoint.com.au/explainers/2...

A larger increase is warranted, perhaps +50%.

Would make Parliament more representative of local communities, make decision-makers more accountable to voters, and deepen talent pool for ministers, shadows and committee chairs.

But a smaller, earlier change is worthwhile too.

Labor’s plan for dozens more MPs could bring back Frydenberg Dozens of new seats could be created under a Labor plan, allowing the Liberals to inject fresh blood into their party room. But the opposition is split on whether to support the move.

Good that the Albanese Govt is taking seriously an increase in the number of parliamentarians. Australia's population has grown by 11 million since the last increase in the 1980s.

Paul Sakkal covers the key arguments - representation, access, geography. www.smh.com.au/politics/fed...

Why Australia taxes beer more effectively than its gas exports Far from fixing the problem of low PRRT revenues, PRRT revenue is expected to fall further over coming years, while beer

Independent Senator David Pocock has added his voice to calls for a 25% tax on gas exports.

@markogge.bsky.social explains why Australia taxes beer more effectively than its gas exports.

Read the full piece on The Point: https://theaus.in/4qOyo05

“As a former political staffer and an economist, there are two questions I hear a lot. One is, why do governments give so much of our gas away free? The other is, should the 'teals' form a political party?”

Read more from Dr Richard Denniss: https://theaus.in/4aMXmqY

Paid an arm and a leg to see a specialist? Fee transparency could help The 78% fee increase since 2010 shows that specialists are simply charging what the market will bear.

My thoughts on specialist fee transparency

thepoint.com.au/opinions/260...

@thepointau.bsky.social @australiainstitute.org.au

YouTube video by Australian Parliament House Streaming Portal Senate Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee | 20/02/2026

If you'd like to watch Rod, myself, Mark Zirnsak (Tax Justice Network), Osmond Chiu (CPSU) etc., the stream is up on YouTube --

Rod and I were on from ~10am although unfortunately my tech issues led to a rocky start! www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7mD...

After revealing penalties on PwC inc a Ban after their Global Tax Scandal - never eventuated - Australia Institute’s Rod Campbell pushes for new legislation so consequences can proceed
“There is zero consequence for any economist who essentially lies for their client.”💥 #auspol

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 mak...

Something you might have wondered about but never asked...
"How to make a submission to a parliamentary inquiry" - @browne90.bsky.social walks you through it.

thepoint.com.au/explainers/2...

Chart showing the contribution to inflation and showing that recently non-wage factor have risen., while the impact of wages has actually fallen

What's driving inflation? Not your wages, but the RBA remains worried we all are doing too well and more of us need to be unemployed
www.theguardian.com/business/gro...

Do beer drinkers pay more tax than gas companies?
Yes, they do!

Beer excise > PRRT
Beer drinkers' income tax > gas company income tax

Thread below, full details here: australiainstitute.org.au/report/tax-b...

Policy School Join The Australia Institute's Policy School to learn from experts about key public policy issues and gain tools to effectively advocate for change.

Or if you prefer a webinar, join @australiainstitute.org.au @alicektg.bsky.social and I tomorrow at 11am AEDT to cover submissions and hearings, with a Q&A afterwards. australiainstitute.org.au/events/polic...

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 mak...

Have you ever wanted to make a submission to a parliamentary inquiry?

It's very simple but there are things you can do to make your submission more effective.

On @thepointau.bsky.social -- thepoint.com.au/explainers/2...

“It is possible for Australia to have a fairer political donation system. The current system leaves major parties free to spend much as they always have, while restricting challengers from getting their message to voters,” writes Bill Browne.

Read more on The Point: https://theaus.in/40ddjBB

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 f...

A third constitutional challenge against unfair political donation laws in Australia from billionaire Clive Palmer is on the cards. There are already cases from Victorian independents and Rex Patrick & Zoe Daniel.

Breakdown of the arguments: thepoint.com.au/opinions/260...

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...

Australia needs more politicians -- yes, really! Australia's population has grown by 11 million since the last increase under Bob Hawke.

Smaller electorates would make pollies more responsive. More politicians would deepen talent pool and allow specialisation.
thepoint.com.au/explainers/2...

After speaking to hundreds of whistleblowers, it's clear our laws are failing them Since launching Australia's first dedicated whistleblower legal service in 2023, we’ve heard from hundreds of whistleblowers wanting to speak up about corruption, corporate misconduct, human rights ab...

Every whistleblower I've ever spoken to believed (correctly) they were doing their public duty, bc others failed.
None wanted to become a "whistleblower".
Yet they're punished by systems designed to destroy them.
Labor promised to protect them but have only tormented them with inaction & gaslighting

The last stop on the train line of Australia’s social failures: Tales of a homelessness case worker on the NSW South Coast Life as a homelessness case worker is brutal. You often feel like the last stop on the train line of our country’s social failures. Hardest of all is knowing that people aren’t helped as well as they ...

Policy analysis from actual homelessness case worker.

Proud to have helped with this piece.
thepoint.com.au/opinions/260...

Research undertaken by The Australia Institute during the height of the PwC scandal showed it was a popular move, with polling finding that most Australians supported a long-term ban on the consulting firm after it breached public trust.

Read the full piece on The Point: https://theaus.in/3Zv6Vp5

Australia dips in Corruption Perceptions Index

Australia drops out of top 10 countries in @anticorruption.bsky.social Corruption Perceptions Index.

More on @thepointau.bsky.social live blog:
live.thepoint.com.au/2026/02/the-...

Graph shows FOI decisions were much higher in 2016-17 than under the Albanese Government.

Crisis? What crisis?

Govt's own docs prove that there was no "swarm" of FOI requests that required Australians' FOI rights to be restricted.

No wonder govt delayed 150 days before releasing.

@skyelark.bsky.social on @thepointau.bsky.social live blog: live.thepoint.com.au/2026/02/the-...

Australia has a proud history of protest – but protesters have too often been met with violence

Australia has a proud history of protest, but protesters have too often been met with violence.

Politicians set the tone by how they talk about our democratic right to protest.

More from me on @thepointau.bsky.social live blog:
live.thepoint.com.au/2026/02/the-...

The Point Live: Mass protests planned in response to Israeli president visit, Codependent Coalition back together Mass protests are planned around the country in response to the visit from Israeli head of state Isaac Herzog, who has been accused of inciting the commission of genocide. The Coalition have reunited...

Most power-sharing agreements between major parties and minor parties/independents are public --

So why is the Coalition Agreement secret?

@skyelark.bsky.social on @thepointau.bsky.social live blog live.thepoint.com.au?post=928adea...

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?

I think you've seen this article before but others might be interested -- what decides who the "official" Opposition is, and whether it matters. thepoint.com.au/explainers/2...

Quite right -- it's really a decision for voters and journalists as to who they spend time on, who they take seriously, who they go to for comment.

Altho as Andrew Wilkie flags here: "official" Opposition receives more staff, resources -- up to PM Albanese to give more resources to crossbench.