Bill Browne

The Point Live: No request to join military action: PM; Canadian PM visits Australia; calls for gas tax inquiry The PM and Deputy PM say there's been no request for Australia to join military action in the Middle East; Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney begins an official visit to Australia; David Pocock calls...

More from me on these rushed, undemocratic and poor value-for-money laws on The Point live blog. live.thepoint.com.au?post=abc9611...

Taxpayers could foot $100k bill for assault-accused MP's re-election bid Independent MP Nick McBride, who is currently on home detention bail for the alleged assault of his wife, could receive around $100,000 in public funding to support his re-election campaign, according...

It's the second loophole the ABC has found in the new laws in as many months. www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...

South Australians are effectively paying $18 million to subsidise not just the parties’ state election campaigns, but now their federal campaigns as well.

SA parties raise federal campaign funds amid political donation ban Political experts say the use of South Australian political party websites to fundraise for federal campaign purposes raises questions about the risk and perceptions of influence amid new state bans.

As ABC News' Will Hunter reports, Labor, Liberal and the Greens are still using the attention and excitement of the election campaign to collect private money.

They’re just going to put it towards federal purposes instead of state ones. www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03...

With South Australia’s election less than three weeks away, you might expect the state’s strict new donation ban would stop the political parties from fundraising.

No chance.

I have a personal interest in the Liberal Party election review -- the 2022 version cited Australia Institute research, and I'm curious whether the 2025 version did as well.

The Liberal Party is keeping secret its election review and the recommendations coming from it, even though the party has accepted the recommendations.

Report author Pru Goward says supporters and donors deserve to know what went wrong and what should change.

live.thepoint.com.au/2026/03/the-...

Pressure mounts on Federal Government to end political party intrusion in postal vote applications Electoral reform advocates are calling for the Albanese Government to follow the lead of state Labor governments and remove political parties from Australia’s federal postal vote process.

More details on @thepointau.bsky.social --
thepoint.com.au/news/260227-...

Political parties insert themselves in the postal voting process -- a top cause of complaints to the AEC.

Labor Governments have stopped this practice at the state level, which could inspire federal reform federally.

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...