Parole in crisis? Public opinion on the use of parole. Serious crimes committed by parolees in Australia have brought parole into the public eye. Without concrete evidence, governments often act on the assumption that the public holds punitive attitudes. This project is expected to develop an evidence base to inform policy on parole at a crucial time when governments are under pressure to restrict its use. Three mixed-method studies aim to assess: what public views on parole are; why the public ....Parole in crisis? Public opinion on the use of parole. Serious crimes committed by parolees in Australia have brought parole into the public eye. Without concrete evidence, governments often act on the assumption that the public holds punitive attitudes. This project is expected to develop an evidence base to inform policy on parole at a crucial time when governments are under pressure to restrict its use. Three mixed-method studies aim to assess: what public views on parole are; why the public holds these views; and what influence these views have on policy and practice. The project is expected to make contributions to: creating information strategies that properly inform the public; supporting prisoner reintegration strategies; and shaping criminal justice policies based on informed community feedback.Read moreRead less
Indigenous Justice Reports: new narratives and practices in sentencing. This project engages a participatory action research model to assess the impact of Indigenous Justice Reports in criminal sentencing on sentence practices and outcomes for Indigenous women. It introduces Indigenous Reports for Indigenous women in Victorian Koori Courts and expands their availability in Queensland Murri Courts. Its comparative research approach identifies how place-based factors influence the process and impa ....Indigenous Justice Reports: new narratives and practices in sentencing. This project engages a participatory action research model to assess the impact of Indigenous Justice Reports in criminal sentencing on sentence practices and outcomes for Indigenous women. It introduces Indigenous Reports for Indigenous women in Victorian Koori Courts and expands their availability in Queensland Murri Courts. Its comparative research approach identifies how place-based factors influence the process and impact of Indigenous Reports on sentencing. This project seeks to improve sentencing processes and outcomes for Indigenous defendants by providing courts with reports that address personal and community circumstances of Indigenous women, provide relevant sentencing options and are accompanied with appropriate supports.Read moreRead less
Designing world-class venture capital programs to support commercialisation of Australian research during and beyond an economic crisis. Government support of venture capital investment is vital for Australia’s economic prosperity. This project examines how foreign governments have tackled the effect of the financial crisis on such investment and provides policy options for ensuring Australia maintains internationally competitive programs in challenging economic times.
Drug Companies, their Patenting Strategies and High-Cost Pharmaceuticals: An Empirical Investigation. Pharmaceuticals are a vital part of clinical services that maintain and improve Australia's health; they are also costly, absorbing a substantial proportion of the national health expenditures. By conferring market protections, the patent system helps the manufacturers of pharmaceuticals to recoup the high costs of research associated with developing new products. Abuses of the patent system by ....Drug Companies, their Patenting Strategies and High-Cost Pharmaceuticals: An Empirical Investigation. Pharmaceuticals are a vital part of clinical services that maintain and improve Australia's health; they are also costly, absorbing a substantial proportion of the national health expenditures. By conferring market protections, the patent system helps the manufacturers of pharmaceuticals to recoup the high costs of research associated with developing new products. Abuses of the patent system by pharmaceutical manufacturers have the potential to stifle competition and inappropriately raise the costs of pharmaceuticals to society. This innovative, cross-disciplinary, research will investigate the existence of abusive patents and, if necessary, propose reforms that will prevent further abuse and reduce the size of the health budget. Read moreRead less
The effects of female genital mutilation laws in Australia. This project aims to produce new knowledge about laws that have criminalised female genital mutilation (FGM) in Australia since 1994. FGM laws are now subject to robust international criticism, as well as increased concerns among the affected communities. Through the use of innovative primary data collection strategies with law and policy makers, justice system officials and with affected communities in Australia and the UK, the proje ....The effects of female genital mutilation laws in Australia. This project aims to produce new knowledge about laws that have criminalised female genital mutilation (FGM) in Australia since 1994. FGM laws are now subject to robust international criticism, as well as increased concerns among the affected communities. Through the use of innovative primary data collection strategies with law and policy makers, justice system officials and with affected communities in Australia and the UK, the project seeks to produce robust evidence and original insights into the effects of these laws and the potential impacts of proposed legal initiatives. Expected benefits include enhanced legal and policy approaches to FGM that will assist with safeguarding the wellbeing of women and children.Read moreRead less
...and by opposing, end them: A Comparative Examination of Opposition Processes in Patent Law. Patent law is central to the key Australian economic aim of encouraging an innovative culture. One aspect of patent law, the opposition process, is directly linked to two important issues currently facing our patent system: improving patent quality, and minimising predatory behaviour by powerful firms. This project will assess the operation of the opposition process here, and the practice of equivalent .......and by opposing, end them: A Comparative Examination of Opposition Processes in Patent Law. Patent law is central to the key Australian economic aim of encouraging an innovative culture. One aspect of patent law, the opposition process, is directly linked to two important issues currently facing our patent system: improving patent quality, and minimising predatory behaviour by powerful firms. This project will assess the operation of the opposition process here, and the practice of equivalent international procedures in other jurisdictions, in order to inform Australian policy in current and ongoing negotiations towards global harmonisation. Material from this project will lead directly to proposals for improving the Australian patent system, and ensuring that it promotes, and does not retard, innovation. Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE230101646
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$446,593.00
Summary
Regulating predictive technologies for preventive counterterrorism . This project aims to improve the legal regulation of predictive technologies for preventive counterterrorism measures. The project expects to generate new knowledge in counterterrorism law and policy using doctrinal, comparative, and empirical methods. In particular, the project collects data on the United Nations Security Council’s resolutions mandating collection, sharing, and use of predictive technologies to strengthen glob ....Regulating predictive technologies for preventive counterterrorism . This project aims to improve the legal regulation of predictive technologies for preventive counterterrorism measures. The project expects to generate new knowledge in counterterrorism law and policy using doctrinal, comparative, and empirical methods. In particular, the project collects data on the United Nations Security Council’s resolutions mandating collection, sharing, and use of predictive technologies to strengthen global counterterrorism, and examines how these resolutions influence security and human rights in Australia and its security partners. Expected outcomes include recommendations for improving the laws governing the use of predictive technologies and strengthening security, individuals’ human rights, and the rule of law.Read moreRead less
Prospects for quality work and gender equality in frontline care work. Despite policy concerns about unmet demand for paid care, frontline care workers generally have poorer conditions than workers in other feminised sectors. This project will investigate the regulatory options to improve the quality of care work to build Australian expertise and knowledge about the links between job quality and quality of care services.
Coherent, independent and user-friendly? Participant perceptions of social security administrative review processes in Australia and Britain. The capacity to exercise rights associated with citizenship, and to participate meaningfully in community life, is significantly affected by access to financial security and by community confidence in the independence and fairness of systems of entitlement review. This research will examine recent developments in Australian social security review mechanism ....Coherent, independent and user-friendly? Participant perceptions of social security administrative review processes in Australia and Britain. The capacity to exercise rights associated with citizenship, and to participate meaningfully in community life, is significantly affected by access to financial security and by community confidence in the independence and fairness of systems of entitlement review. This research will examine recent developments in Australian social security review mechanisms, in both policy and practice. It is of national significance as it will demonstrate the extent to which statutory objectives of fairness, comprehensibility and accessibility are achieved, particularly from the perspectives of participants in appeals. The research has critical implications for legislation, policy and practice in administrative law and tribunal practice. Read moreRead less
Geographical Indications for Wine in Australia’s Free Trade Agreements. This project aims to clarify the appropriate basis for protecting geographical indications for wines in trade agreements and domestic legal systems. The project expects to generate new knowledge concerning the criteria, evidence and procedure that should be required to establish a geographical indication. Existing law risks misuse of this mechanism to unjustifiably protect domestic markets; the European Union is seeking prot ....Geographical Indications for Wine in Australia’s Free Trade Agreements. This project aims to clarify the appropriate basis for protecting geographical indications for wines in trade agreements and domestic legal systems. The project expects to generate new knowledge concerning the criteria, evidence and procedure that should be required to establish a geographical indication. Existing law risks misuse of this mechanism to unjustifiably protect domestic markets; the European Union is seeking protection for what appear to be grape varieties rather than geographical indications. Expected outcomes include evidence-based recommendations to government and industry. Project outcomes should benefit Australian economic interests by enhancing Australia’s ability to resist spurious geographical indication claims.Read moreRead less