Why?

The Australian National Audit Office has released its report on the handling of FOI requests by several Departments, including Prime Minister and Cabinet. It's found two-in-three decisions were set aside by the Information Commissioner on appeal. Nearly six in ten applications returned nothing.

I share the doubts expressed in all the other comments. More transparency and accountability needed for vetoing grants that have already been through such a laborious process, on such vague grounds.

Meg has done a fantastic job and her influence will be felt for a long time to come. Congratulations and best wishes to @alanrenwick.bsky.social and Tom Fleming.

A very old and dear friend. So sorry to hear this news.

“The High Court’s decision gives the Victorian Parliament a chance to go back to the drawing board, consult with voters and design a fair political finance system,” said Bill Browne, Director of The Australia Institute’s Democracy & Accountability Program. Read more ⬇️ https://theaus.in/4wnvUK7

And so… Trump’s new basis for his tariffs, sec. 122, is also gone if this is confirmed on appeal. /1

An excellent explanation.

Hi Bluesky Would someone let my X followers know that I have been suspended by twitter.I will be more active on this site. I will explain the suspension at a later date as it is an intriguing story that’s not devoid of politics. Many thanks.

Time to start getting on the front foot about Acknowledgment of Country. I anticipate it and positively enjoy it. I miss it when I expect it and it doesn’t happen. It gives me a sense of solidarity and place. I don’t know who the naysayers think they’re naysaying, but there may be a lot of us.

And…?

🗳️ Can South Sudan’s next elections bring stability, or deepen the crisis? Our new brief examines how targeted constitutional and governance reforms could help address persistent instability and support a more sustainable political transition in the country: buff.ly/k8Ga3mT

Huge -- the High Court has struck down a big loophole for the major parties in Victoria's donation laws. The "nominated entities" loophole let the major parties receive uncapped donations from their fundraising vehicles, while everyone else was strictly limited.

What are the accountability arrangements for the secretary general, within NATO? To whom is he answerable; and when does his term expire?

What on earth is Rutte up to?

The UK’s government has announced its first ever citizens' assembly. The People's Panel for Digital ID will take place in May and June and be made up of 100 to 120 people from across the UK. Read more in Monitor 92 👉 www.ucl.ac.uk/social-histo....

And so the solution we should work towards is….?

Not to mention Myanmar…

This is hands down one of the most important and timely articles published in our field this decade. I wish I had written it — but it certainly wouldn’t have been as good. It’s a conversation-changing piece. Let’s change the conversation!

Thanks for directing me to it. Very helpful and informative. What a complicated set of issues for a referendum!

The second series is still worth watching. But much too much commentary at the expense of piano. Lacks a lot of the magic of the first series and the UK version.

Yes, international law can be a bargaining chip in protection of democracy. But international relations regularly undermine democracy through often covert leverage of various kinds. The latter in insidious and needs to be brought under democratic control in the states involved.

Yesterday, there was a debate on treaty scrutiny in Westminster in the Lords. I am very grateful to constitutional expert @lordnortonlouth.bsky.social for highlighting my proposed Private Members’ Bill: the Treaty Ratification (Parliamentary Consent) Bill. It could not have found a better advocate.

An intellectual giant has died. It is impossible to discuss constitutional democracy without discussing Habermas' reflections on it. We will continue to do so for a long time www.jstor.org/stable/3072601

An epoch of German philosophy has ended. Even though world famous Habermas still took the time to answer questions of young aspiring academics. An example to live up to. RIP www.faz.net/aktuell/feui...

On Monday 16 March there will be a debate in the House of Lords (Grand Committee) entitled Treaty Scrutiny in Westminster: Addressing the Accountability Gap. There have been repeated calls for reform of the current system of scrutiny (under the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010).

Shout out to the wonderful Pat Turner, whose retirement has just been announced, after decades of distinguished service, to the great benefit of First Nations peoples. I am privileged to have been able to work with her from time to time as a colleague and friend. www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article...

These are excellent proposals, which would be extremely useful in Australia also, given the state and extent of public procurement practices. They deserve to be widely disseminated.

AEC disclosures show more than $138 million in political funding in 2024–25 had no declared source under the current rules. When dark money & big donors shape our politics, public trust suffers. Australians deserve govts that are not fundraising from industries that profit when policy is weakened.

Kudos to Margaret Sheil for offering Meanjin such an appropriate home.

"The evolution of the White House into a palace, and of court politics at the heart of a modern mass-media democracy, is of enormous interest to the historian, not least because it illustrates the only facet of early-modern politics not understood by the Founding Fathers."- forthcoming J.G.A. Pocock

It’s a little bit late in the day, but today of all days, you might want to read Truth Be Told. Yoorrook Justice Commission’s report, which includes the history of colonial Victoria from a First Nations perspective for the very first time. www.yoorrook.org.au/reports-and-...

This is a very important thread. The whole "it's a new UN" narrative is profoundly flawed. The Board of Peace has no actual power beyond the power of its individual members. So at most it is a new type of alliance between some of the worst human beings on earth -- deeply problematic but nothing new.

Checks and balances of some kind are common, whether so described or not. The claims for ‘exceptionalism’ may be an even more productive subject of historical inquiry.

Well done to @amyremeikis.bsky.social being the only live blog still going when the laws were passed. It is worth a read for those wondering what happened in the Senate last night live.thepoint.com.au#b1d36e9e3b

A new(?) type of threat to judicial independence, becoming increasingly common and blatant.

Mark Carney's speech really is terrific: full text is here and very much worth your time.

Looks like a worthy tribute! Is there a list of authors?

I’m co-organising Workshop #63, Constructing and Reimagining Constitutional Narratives through Pop Culture, at the iacl World Congress 2026 (Bogotá), with Jonathan Hafetz and Mara Malagodi. CFP deadline: 23 Jan @cccwarwick.bsky.social @maramalagodi.bsky.social wccl2026.com/en/call-for-...

Yes. Although what was the US impact in/on the Venice Commission in any event?

Brown v Tasmania is a decision about protest in the context of the environment. If she joined with Justices Kiefel and Keane in her reasons, they would have been very much mainstream.

If you're going to do it, this is a good appointment www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...

Also with experience conducting challenging and sensitive inquiries. Her inquiry into the Morrison Multiple Ministries affair was impressively impartial, temperate, and useful.

Included on this long list- International IDEA and the Venice Commission. US only a bit player in both, at best, but indicative of one aspect of the mindset.

There are a lot of people who don’t think a Royal Commission is a good idea, btw. They are just not writing (or signing!) letters about it.

A very thought- provoking book. Highly recommended for those interested in the practical and doctrinal ambiguities associated with acquisition of statehood.

Emma Johnston was a visionary scientist, environmentalist and leader, with an abiding hope for humanity theconversation.com/emma-johnsto...

Shocking. And what courage she must have had to have, over so much of this year.

How bad an idea this is cannot be overstated