Open research questions in Commonwealth, Australian Politics and Federalism
185 gap statements mined from Commonwealth, Australian Politics and Federalism papers in our 4.5M-paper local library, which holds 902 papers on the topic — drawn mostly from each paper's own stated research gap, future-work, challenge and limitation notes, and its abstract. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one.
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What the literature leaves open
Financial stress and discrimination are key drivers of pessimism. The study highlights the need for policy interventions to address these challenges. The findings have implications for community organizations and social services.
The sample size is limited to 2,055 individuals who completed the survey each year from 2021-25.
More than 100 BVR holders are no longer subject to the monitoring and curfew conditions, and it remains unclear what the Commonwealth’s next steps will be.
THE PROBLEM WITH PUNITIVE POWERS: A CONSIDERATION OF THE HIGH COURT’S DECISION IN EGH19 v COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA · 2026 · DOIThe author notes that the bases for the flow of public resources toward sociology are not well understood.
The potential impact of changing to an MMP system is not well understood. The implications of the 1987 general elections for the electoral system are not clear.
It highlights the need to consider the concept of Newspeak in modern media.
The paper highlights the need for analysis of the historical context and constitutional changes surrounding patriation.
The lack of account for local political cultures or the local electoral context. The potential for multi-collinearity problems.
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 lack of effective checks and balances in the current system.
Reform of the New Zealand Political System: How likely is it? A Survey of the Attitudes of Members of the New Zealand Parliament to Reform Proposals · 1983 · DOIThe study notes that there is a lack of effective checks and balances in the current system.
Reform of the New Zealand Political System: How likely is it? A Survey of the Attitudes of Members of the New Zealand Parliament to Reform Proposals · 1983 · 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 · DOISecondly, remarkably little is known about the attitudes of the major and minor political parties to Jews, Jewish issues and Jewish voters; in this area the time is overdue for the replacement of conventional wisdoms by empirical observations, even if such observations only confirm the wisdoms in the long run.
Lack 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.
It highlights the need for a more nuanced understanding of the interdependence of the economy.
The article starts with the British prorogation case, Miller II, arguing that the decision, while bold and innovative, was sharply limited to a defense of constitutional process, as was Miller I, classic instances of the kind of procedural constitutional role suggested for the judiciary in Gardbaum’s model.
Judicial review of royal prerogative and the case of prorogation: Process not substance; exception, not rule · 2026 · DOIWorkChoices and to a lesser extent health, education and human rights were also important vote-shapers, yet Greens policies on these core issues were rarely reported on by the media, despite receiving specific endorsement from a variety of experts and representative bodies as the most responsible and forward-looking policies.
Minor parties in a green election: a Green perspective [Paper in: The Australian Election 07. Williams, Paul (ed.)] · 2008Although the Bill has been defeated twice in the Australian Parliament, there are a variety of ways in which the scheme could still be implemented. The Government has the double-dissolution window open to it until mid-August 1987, and, the Prime Minister's 1 April assurances notwithstanding, sees it as opportune to call an early election of both Houses, there would be nothing to prevent it doing so.
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 '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 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 · DOIFurther analysis of the potential impact of changing to an MMP system. Investigation of voter preferences and behavior.
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.
Most-cited papers in Commonwealth, Australian Politics and Federalism
- ESG in Focus: The Australian Evidence · Journal of Business Ethics · 2012 · 385 citations
- Turnout as a Habit · Political Behavior · 2010 · 139 citations
- What caused the Cronulla riot? · Race & Class · 2006 · 113 citations
- Brexit, the 2019 General Election and the Realignment of British Politics · The Political Quarterly · 2020 · 94 citations
- Is the British State Hollowing Out? · The Political Quarterly · 2000 · 78 citations
- Neoliberalism as a political rationality: Australian public policy since the 1980s · Journal of sociology · 1998 · 77 citations
- Lesson‐Drawing from New Zealand and Covid‐19: The Need for Anticipatory Policy Making · The Political Quarterly · 2020 · 75 citations
- The New Integrationism, the State and Islamophobia: Retreat from multiculturalism in Australia · International journal of law, crime and justice · 2008 · 67 citations
- Compulsory Voting Legislation · Comparative Political Studies · 1974 · 62 citations
- On the Reasonableness of Compelling Citizens to ‘Vote’: The Australian Case · Political Studies · 2002 · 57 citations
Most recent work
- Evaluating the UK Parliament’s career transition scheme for departing MPs · Parliamentary Affairs · 2026
- An expansion to Gamson? ‘dictators’, oppositions, and the distribution of political resources: lessons from Australia · Parliamentary Affairs · 2026
- Common interests, narrow foundations: the politics of evidence, centralisation, and foundational learning in the Australian Capital Territory · Journal of Education Policy · 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
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