Food security and the governance of local knowledge in India and Indonesia. This project aims to discover how local farming communities’ practical knowledge can improve food security. 795 million undernourished people rely on small farmers for food. To protect these farmers from multinational agribusiness and climate change, this project will examine how small farmers turn useful plant material into cultivated crops through plant selection and breeding under conditions of climate change; identif ....Food security and the governance of local knowledge in India and Indonesia. This project aims to discover how local farming communities’ practical knowledge can improve food security. 795 million undernourished people rely on small farmers for food. To protect these farmers from multinational agribusiness and climate change, this project will examine how small farmers turn useful plant material into cultivated crops through plant selection and breeding under conditions of climate change; identify how regulatory structures in India and Indonesia help or hinder this process; and identify opportunities to apply local knowledge and its regulatory framework in Australia. Better understanding local conditions should benefit regulators, NGOs, businesses and aid agencies.Read moreRead less
Optimising Industry-led Regulation for the Digital Platforms Era. This project aims to investigate how harms caused by digital platforms can be effectively prevented through co-regulation where industry develops rules enforced by a regulator. Widely used in the broader communications sector, ‘co-regulation’ remains chronically under-theorised and its effectiveness has never been adequately reviewed. Meanwhile, harms such as disinformation and violent content expand in both scale and impact. This ....Optimising Industry-led Regulation for the Digital Platforms Era. This project aims to investigate how harms caused by digital platforms can be effectively prevented through co-regulation where industry develops rules enforced by a regulator. Widely used in the broader communications sector, ‘co-regulation’ remains chronically under-theorised and its effectiveness has never been adequately reviewed. Meanwhile, harms such as disinformation and violent content expand in both scale and impact. This research will provide an evidential base for optimising co-regulation in the contemporary Australian communications environment, benefiting regulators seeking to meet public policy goals; consumers experiencing online harms; and platforms themselves, who might otherwise be subject to blunt regulatory tools.Read moreRead less
Tenants of the soil: adapting agricultural land ownership in Australia. Resolving the problem of environmental degradation on agricultural land, which is 60% of Australia’s land surface, is a major challenge. By engaging with farmers whose innovative practices have generated environmental and productivity benefits, this project aims to investigate the co-constructive relationship between land ownership, land use decision making and geography. The project tackles conventional accounts treating pr ....Tenants of the soil: adapting agricultural land ownership in Australia. Resolving the problem of environmental degradation on agricultural land, which is 60% of Australia’s land surface, is a major challenge. By engaging with farmers whose innovative practices have generated environmental and productivity benefits, this project aims to investigate the co-constructive relationship between land ownership, land use decision making and geography. The project tackles conventional accounts treating private property rights in agricultural land as unavoidably opposed to environmental goals. A key projected outcome is a set of rich case studies showing how geography shapes land use decision-making. This new approach provides much-needed evidence to inform law reform that transcends the public law/private rights impasse.Read moreRead less
Developing a responsive regulatory system for Australia's small corporations. Small corporations employ approximately 50% of Australia's 10.5 million employed persons (ABS: Nov 2007). Promoting and maintaining small corporations is vital to the health of the Australian economy and the well being of society. This research will strengthen Australia's social and economic fabric by identifying, in consultation with regulators, industry leaders, government, the ideal regulatory environment for Aust ....Developing a responsive regulatory system for Australia's small corporations. Small corporations employ approximately 50% of Australia's 10.5 million employed persons (ABS: Nov 2007). Promoting and maintaining small corporations is vital to the health of the Australian economy and the well being of society. This research will strengthen Australia's social and economic fabric by identifying, in consultation with regulators, industry leaders, government, the ideal regulatory environment for Australia's small corporations. A responsive regulatory framework will enable small corporations to conduct business more efficiently and profitably allowing for and creating structures and processes for encouraging and managing innovation creativity in this vital sector.Read moreRead less
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
Small mercies, big futures: enhancing law, policy and practice in the selection, protection and settlement of refugee children and youth. This project will assist refugee youth and children who ultimately become Australian citizens or permanent residents. In so doing, it will help to maximise the social benefits that flow from immigration. The project will also help to reduce the risk of social dysfunction that flows from damage sustained in childhood. By raising awareness of issues involving ....Small mercies, big futures: enhancing law, policy and practice in the selection, protection and settlement of refugee children and youth. This project will assist refugee youth and children who ultimately become Australian citizens or permanent residents. In so doing, it will help to maximise the social benefits that flow from immigration. The project will also help to reduce the risk of social dysfunction that flows from damage sustained in childhood. By raising awareness of issues involving refugee children, the project will encourage Australians to become more responsive to children generally. Finally, the international exposure generated by the project will assist in restoring Australia's international reputation, which has been damaged by poor practices in relation to refugee youth and children in the past.Read moreRead less
Non-urban water regulation: next generation compliance & enforcement . This project aims to develop the next generation of regulatory technology in non-urban water compliance and enforcement. Effective technologies are needed to make government regulation more efficient, reduce regulatory burdens and improve compliance with complex laws. This project delivers new ways to optimise regulatory technologies that drive innovation, reduce costs and enhance sustainable water use. Expected outcomes incl ....Non-urban water regulation: next generation compliance & enforcement . This project aims to develop the next generation of regulatory technology in non-urban water compliance and enforcement. Effective technologies are needed to make government regulation more efficient, reduce regulatory burdens and improve compliance with complex laws. This project delivers new ways to optimise regulatory technologies that drive innovation, reduce costs and enhance sustainable water use. Expected outcomes include regulatory guidance strategies and training, advances in applied regulatory theory, and innovative technology tools capturing the complexity of water regulation and supporting decision-making. This will provide public resource savings and ensure fairness and effectiveness of water compliance and enforcement.Read moreRead less
Workplace Death and Injury: Re-visiting the Regulatory Impact of Prosecution and Deterrence. The project will be conducted in Australia's two most populous States and falls squarely within the Commonwealth Government's mission of 'promoting good health and well being for all Australians' - one of the key national research priorities. In particular the project supports the specific goal of 'strengthening Australia's social and economic fabric' by examining the role played by legal prosecution o ....Workplace Death and Injury: Re-visiting the Regulatory Impact of Prosecution and Deterrence. The project will be conducted in Australia's two most populous States and falls squarely within the Commonwealth Government's mission of 'promoting good health and well being for all Australians' - one of the key national research priorities. In particular the project supports the specific goal of 'strengthening Australia's social and economic fabric' by examining the role played by legal prosecution of OH&S offences in deterring serious workplace injuries and fatalities. It is anticipated that the results of the project will be used to reduce the heavy costs that current rates of workplace injuries and deaths impose on Australian workers, their families and the national economy. Read moreRead less
Building an intellectual property system: The Indonesian experience. This project aims to provide an independent assessment of the development of the Indonesian intellectual property system over the past 30 years. Economic theory suggests pathways to innovation and ‘tipping points’ in intellectual property (IP) development. This project plans to explore the introduction and operation of IP in Indonesia as a typical example for middle-income developing countries. It plans to analyse hundreds of c ....Building an intellectual property system: The Indonesian experience. This project aims to provide an independent assessment of the development of the Indonesian intellectual property system over the past 30 years. Economic theory suggests pathways to innovation and ‘tipping points’ in intellectual property (IP) development. This project plans to explore the introduction and operation of IP in Indonesia as a typical example for middle-income developing countries. It plans to analyse hundreds of court decisions that have recently become available, as well as the implementing laws and institutions supporting IP. It aims to show the bargaining processes about the future of the system between the government and foreign investors as well as citizens and between different institutions, thereby providing valuable information to Australian businesses and the government.Read moreRead less
Reimagining Judging in International Criminal Courts: A Gendered Approach. This project focuses on a significant gap in International Criminal Court research: the contribution of judges to the ICCs poor conviction record for sexual and gender-based (SGB) crimes and their application of gender-sensitive judging in general. Significantly, it aims to provide new knowledge for judges, legal experts, and scholars to improve accountability for SGB crimes and for adopting a gender-sensitive approach to ....Reimagining Judging in International Criminal Courts: A Gendered Approach. This project focuses on a significant gap in International Criminal Court research: the contribution of judges to the ICCs poor conviction record for sexual and gender-based (SGB) crimes and their application of gender-sensitive judging in general. Significantly, it aims to provide new knowledge for judges, legal experts, and scholars to improve accountability for SGB crimes and for adopting a gender-sensitive approach to adjudication. Drawing on judicial interviews and on national court analysis, it will produce a groundbreaking book reimagining ICC cases through a feminist judgement approach and a provide valuable online toolbox for judges and academics. It will advance Australia's commitment to gender justice internationally.
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