Intersections between science and law: the implementation of threatened species legislation in Australia. This project will evaluate the effectiveness of techniques currently used in threatened species legislation in Australia. By combining the skills of experts in law and ecology, we will assess the role of science and scientists in decision-making processes and the extent to which decision-makers apply the precautionary principle when faced with scientific uncertainty. The project will analy ....Intersections between science and law: the implementation of threatened species legislation in Australia. This project will evaluate the effectiveness of techniques currently used in threatened species legislation in Australia. By combining the skills of experts in law and ecology, we will assess the role of science and scientists in decision-making processes and the extent to which decision-makers apply the precautionary principle when faced with scientific uncertainty. The project will analyse the existing legislative techniques and possible alternatives in the context of the current theoretical debate about the respective advantages of reflexive law (which facilitates self-regulation) and top-down command-and-control regulation.Read moreRead less
Between social enterprise and social movement: responses to environmental change at the intersection of rights and regulation. This socio-legal project will illuminate the diverse ways in which formal law blocks or encourages the efforts of ordinary citizens to respond to the challenges of reducing our carbon footprint. It will significantly develop the foundations for designing effective governance structures to support ethically-motivated citizen initiatives.
Regulatory design for water quality management in urban catchments. This project aims, through empirical research (i) to evaluate the effectiveness of current regulatory, quasi-regulatory and other policy strategies for water quality management in urban catchments (including total/integrated catchment management); (ii) to provide practical policy prescriptions concerning how through judicious regulatory and institutional design, those problems may be best addressed for the future; and (iii) adva ....Regulatory design for water quality management in urban catchments. This project aims, through empirical research (i) to evaluate the effectiveness of current regulatory, quasi-regulatory and other policy strategies for water quality management in urban catchments (including total/integrated catchment management); (ii) to provide practical policy prescriptions concerning how through judicious regulatory and institutional design, those problems may be best addressed for the future; and (iii) advance regulatory theory by developing a framework for understanding the relative effectiveness of different regulatory regimes in the context of urban catchment management. Its empirical focus is on the Swan-Canning river in Western Australia.Read moreRead less
Rebuilding fiscal federalism in Australia: reforming the financial relationship between the Commonwealth and the States. The finances of the Australian States in the modern day face serious structural challenges. The aim of this project is to analyse and develop appropriate alternatives for reform of fiscal federalism in Australia, which would allow the States to gain access to income tax revenue as a secure source of funding in the future.
The New Collaborative Environmental Governance: Natural Resource Management in Australia. This project will evaluate the new regional natural resource management arrangements that have been established across Australia. The project outcomes will enable policy-makers nationally to identify opportunities for innovative policies and programs which can achieve better results for the environment (reducing environmental degradation), and for the economy (reducing costs to rural industries and to regul ....The New Collaborative Environmental Governance: Natural Resource Management in Australia. This project will evaluate the new regional natural resource management arrangements that have been established across Australia. The project outcomes will enable policy-makers nationally to identify opportunities for innovative policies and programs which can achieve better results for the environment (reducing environmental degradation), and for the economy (reducing costs to rural industries and to regulators) while substantially increasing effective community participation. The project will also provide principles with the potential to reshape environmental strategy and establish Australia as a leader in collaborative environmental governance internationally.Read moreRead less
Local Capacity Regulation: Facilitating Participatory Environmental Policy. This project aims to develop a participatory strategy capable of substantially improving the environmental performance of small and medium sized enterprises. Its outcome will be to show how local knowledge and capacity can be mobilized to fulfill regulatory and other environmental goals. Its significance will be (i) to develop principles for, and a broader model of local capacity regulation that is robust, sustainable an ....Local Capacity Regulation: Facilitating Participatory Environmental Policy. This project aims to develop a participatory strategy capable of substantially improving the environmental performance of small and medium sized enterprises. Its outcome will be to show how local knowledge and capacity can be mobilized to fulfill regulatory and other environmental goals. Its significance will be (i) to develop principles for, and a broader model of local capacity regulation that is robust, sustainable and easily reproduced, and capable of being applied to a wide range of other environmental and regulatory contexts and (ii) to develop an institutional framework that can facilitate effective community intervention in other domains of governance.Read moreRead less
Lifestyle wars: law's role in responding to the challenges of non-communicable diseases. In economic, social and personal terms, non-communicable diseases impose a massive health burden upon Australian society. Law is a potent tool that could influence the economic, environmental and social structures, as well as the personal choices, that generate poor health outcomes. Very little work has been carried out on law's relationship with non-communicable diseases, either in Australia or internatio ....Lifestyle wars: law's role in responding to the challenges of non-communicable diseases. In economic, social and personal terms, non-communicable diseases impose a massive health burden upon Australian society. Law is a potent tool that could influence the economic, environmental and social structures, as well as the personal choices, that generate poor health outcomes. Very little work has been carried out on law's relationship with non-communicable diseases, either in Australia or internationally. By exploring and promoting the contribution that public health law can make to health policy on non-communicable diseases, this project will contribute to the promotion and maintenance of good health in Australia.Read moreRead less
Learning from Preventable Deaths: A prospective evaluation of reforms to Coroners' recommendation powers in Victoria. Coroners in Australia investigate nearly 13,000 deaths each year and have a unique vantage point on health and safety risks. The public as a whole will benefit from information that helps translate those insights into system changes that work to prevent injuries and accidents from occurring. This project is designed to produce such information. It will also serve stakeholders ....Learning from Preventable Deaths: A prospective evaluation of reforms to Coroners' recommendation powers in Victoria. Coroners in Australia investigate nearly 13,000 deaths each year and have a unique vantage point on health and safety risks. The public as a whole will benefit from information that helps translate those insights into system changes that work to prevent injuries and accidents from occurring. This project is designed to produce such information. It will also serve stakeholders at several other levels. By illuminating circumstances in which coroners recommendations produce positive change, project findings will help coroners shape and disseminate their prevention messages for maximum effect. Also, for states interested in modifying or boosting coroners' recommendation powers, our findings will help guide reforms.Read moreRead less
Analysis of legislation and policies affecting the development of Indigenous wildlife-based enterprises. Entrepreneurial enterprise development by Indigenous people in remote regions is being encouraged as part of government policy to move people off welfare and into work. Indigenous knowledge of wildlife makes it a logical source of wealth generation but a range of legal and policy constraints add to substantial existing social and logistical problems. An understanding of the legal processes in ....Analysis of legislation and policies affecting the development of Indigenous wildlife-based enterprises. Entrepreneurial enterprise development by Indigenous people in remote regions is being encouraged as part of government policy to move people off welfare and into work. Indigenous knowledge of wildlife makes it a logical source of wealth generation but a range of legal and policy constraints add to substantial existing social and logistical problems. An understanding of the legal processes involved in establishing and maintaining sustainable and ongoing wildlife-based enterprises will improve their chances of success, and will also offer the opportunity to change regulatory frameworks to ensure consistency, remove contradictions and encourage workforce participation. The research will have national and international implications.Read moreRead less
Genetic discrimination in Australia: an exploration of the nature and extent of the phenomenon within the legal and social context. This project involves national, groundbreaking research into the newly-emerging phenomenon of genetic discrimination in Australia. Undertaken by a multi-disciplinary, cross-institutional team with a wide range of expertise, this innovative and topical research will investigate genetic discrimination across three key perspectives: consumers, third parties and the le ....Genetic discrimination in Australia: an exploration of the nature and extent of the phenomenon within the legal and social context. This project involves national, groundbreaking research into the newly-emerging phenomenon of genetic discrimination in Australia. Undertaken by a multi-disciplinary, cross-institutional team with a wide range of expertise, this innovative and topical research will investigate genetic discrimination across three key perspectives: consumers, third parties and the legal system. It will advance the existing knowledge base, both nationally and internationally, and establish comprehensive baseline data for further evaluative research. Important outcomes for each of the three sectors will be generated, as well as a comprehensive overview of this important new Australian social issue. Recommendations will inform the development of appropriate law and policy.
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