Open research questions in Commonwealth, Australian Politics and Federalism
211 unresolved questions extracted from the limitations and future-work sections of 867 Commonwealth, Australian Politics and Federalism papers in our library. Each links back to the study that raised it.
What the literature leaves open
The use of contract labour in the electricity industry is a central issue. The legislation passed by the Queensland government has significant implications for the union movement.
The small size of most survey samples. The lack of account for local political cultures or the local electoral context. The potential for multi-collinearity problems.
Investigating local political cultures and the local electoral context. Examining the impact of cleavages on voting patterns. Using aggregate data analysis to study other elections.
The paper identifies a gap in the literature on the reasons behind the New Zealand Labour Party's failure to win office until 1935. The study notes that prior work has not fully examined the patterns of geographical mobility and spatial fragmentation of the working class.
The inconsistency of previous work on the election. The lack of attention to the importance of voter registration and protectionist platforms in the election.
The 1841 British General Election has been neglected by historians despite its significance. Previous work on the election has been inconsistent, with some historians focusing on the Reform Acts and others on the passage of Roman Catholic emancipation.
The report's recommendations may be difficult to implement due to bureaucratic pride and long-standing policies. The report's findings may be limited by the lack of data or empirical evidence.
Future research can build on the report's findings and provide further analysis of the financial system and the economy. Future research can explore the implementation of the report's recommendations and their impact on the financial system.
The 'German' vote in the metropolitan area of South Australia is statistically insignificant due to the larger census and electoral units. The rural 'German' vote can be studied, providing an opportunity to understand their role in the war period.
The study identifies a gap in previous research on the Jewish vote in Australia. The paper notes that previous studies have ignored the essential spatial element in analyzing the Jewish vote.
Australian Government Middle East policy and the domestic Jewish vote: an exercise in electoral geography · 1982 · DOIThere is a need for a comprehensive analysis of the Act's effectiveness. There is a need for further research on the role of the Conciliator in promoting racial equality.
The New Zealand Race Relations Act: Conciliators, Conciliation and Complaints (1972-1981) · 1982 · DOILack of cooperation from branches is a major challenge for Cruse National Flag Day. The potential of an annual house-to-house collection and flag day to raise £40,000 is not being fully utilized.
The lack of attention to the issue of windyfoggery and bureaucratese in language is identified. The need for a critical examination of this type of language is stated.
The paper identifies a gap in the consideration of domestic and external components of the economy. It highlights the need for a more nuanced understanding of the interdependence of the economy.
The paper identifies a gap in the literature regarding the influence of the opposition on election outcomes. It challenges the widely accepted notion that governments lose elections rather than oppositions winning them.
Discussion: Do Governments always lose, and Oppositions never win, elections in New Zealand? · 1981 · DOIThe paper identifies a gap in our understanding of the instability of party formations in New Zealand, - The study highlights the need for further research on the factors that contribute to shifts in voter opinion
How Safe? Loss and Regain of a Safe Labour Seat: Dunedin North in the New Zealand General Elections of 1975 and 1978 · 1981 · DOIThe lack of English language proficiency among Mediterranean ethnics disadvantages them in party and union politics. The paper notes that the ALP has difficulty keeping its hold over municipal office in some areas.
The absence of local surveys in areas of 'ethnic' concentration has made it difficult to validate generalizations about 'ethnic voting'. Except for studies in Adelaide, no published attempt has been made to establish correlations between party voting and variables measured by the Census.
The study only looked at middle-class families - The sample size was limited to 30 families - The study did not explore the experiences of recent immigrants
Further research could explore the experiences of recent immigrants in Canberra - The study of work group behaviour in New Zealand could be extended to other contexts - The connection between frequency of visits of supervisors and the level of output required by management could be examined
The Government faces a challenge in balancing its neo-conservative ideology with the need to be seen as caring for those on welfare. Teenage unmarried mothers living on welfare payments face negative and often punitive attitudes from the community.
Doing Something About Nothing: A Note on the Australian Government's Response to Dole Fraud1 · 1980 · DOIThe loss of universal manhood suffrage in Queensland has not been fully explained - The role of the governor, Sir George Bowen, in the conspiracy has not been fully explored
Further research could explore the application of other theoretical models to New Zealand data. The paper's findings could be used to inform future political strategy and decision-making.
Further studies could explore the relationship between birth order and other factors. Research could investigate the birth order of politicians in other countries.
There is a need for more research on New Zealand politics, particularly on the security service. The books help to fill this gap by providing new insights and information.
Book Review: The New Zealand Political System. Stephen Levine. Sydney: George Allen and Unwin, 1979, pp. 207, $7.95 (paper), $15.95 (cloth). · 1980 · DOI
Most-cited papers in Commonwealth, Australian Politics and Federalism
- Brexit, the 2019 General Election and the Realignment of British Politics · The Political Quarterly · 2020 · 94 citations
- Lesson‐Drawing from New Zealand and Covid‐19: The Need for Anticipatory Policy Making · The Political Quarterly · 2020 · 75 citations
- On the Reasonableness of Compelling Citizens to ‘Vote’: The Australian Case · Political Studies · 2002 · 57 citations
- More competent thus more legitimate? MPs’ discourses on deliberative mini-publics · Acta Politica · 2021 · 41 citations
- Be Kind: Negotiating Ethical Proximities in Aotearoa/New Zealand during COVID-19 · Cultural Anthropology · 2021 · 22 citations
- From lockdown to rāhui and teddy bears in windows: Initial responses to Covid‐19 in Aotearoa/New Zealand · Anthropology Today · 2020 · 18 citations
- Affective technologies of welfare deterrence in Australia and the United Kingdom · Economy and Society · 2021 · 13 citations
- In Frank Bainimarama's Shadow: Fiji, Elections and the Future · Journal of Pacific History · 2014 · 12 citations
- Assessing the Performance of Australian Federalism in Responding to the Pandemic · Publius The Journal of Federalism · 2021 · 11 citations
- Progressive home rule? · IPPR Progressive Review · 2020 · 10 citations
Most recent work
- Evaluating the UK Parliament’s career transition scheme for departing MPs · Parliamentary Affairs · 2026
- The changing landscape of immigration detention in Australia: preventive ‘crimmigration’ and the legislative response to NZYQ · International Journal of Refugee Law · 2026
- With wind in its sails, One Nation looks to replicate Farrer success in Victoria – and federally · 2026
- Compulsory voting has boosted turnout in Australia – is it time NZ tried it? · 2026
- Politics with Michelle Grattan: pollster Simon Welsh on One Nation’s rise and Victoria’s ‘very messy’ election · 2026
- Consent by ambiguity: political rhetoric and media framing in Australia’s Voice Referendum · Journal for Cultural Research · 2026
- The Conservative Party in Wales 1945–1997. Sam Blaxland, 2024 · Modern British history. · 2026
- Plenary Address: Senator Pauline Hanson · Australian Energy Producers Journal · 2026
- Half of Australia’s bookshops closed within a decade. Should the government help? · 2026
- Malcolm Fraser and the Commonwealth of Nations · The Round Table · 2026
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