The Challenges of Political Corruption in Australia, the Proposed Commonwealth Integrity Commission Bill (2020) and the Application of the APUNCAC

Political corruption affects each nation-state differently, but the outcomes are nominally the same: a deficit of public trust, weakened government institutions and undermined political systems. This article analyzes issues of political corruption in Australia by framing them within a national integrity ecosystem (NIE) and addressing them against the proposed Commonwealth Integrity Commission (CIC) 2020 bill. It also discusses prevalent ‘grey’ areas of Australian politically-corrupt behavior where they interact with the private sector: the revolving door, political donations, and lobbying; and the state of Australia’s implementation of the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention. This article argues for their inclusion within the mandated scope of the proposed CIC. There is a need for strong legislation, both domestic and international, to fight corruption. This article then discusses the application of the provisions of the draft Anticorruption Protocol to the UN Convention Against Corruption (APUNCAC) that may apply with respect to these ‘grey’ issues, and how an International Anti-Corruption Court may provide another institutional model for Australia to follow. Finally, this article links these proposals to the 2021 UN General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on Corruption and the 9th Conference of States Parties on the UNCAC (COSP9). These events illustrate multilateral momentum and progress on anti-corruption. As a country that has historically supported the UN multilateral framework and its institutions, this article recommends a proactive approach for Australia so that the passing of a strong domestic anticorruption initiative will contribute to the adoption, and eventual ratification, of the APUNCAC.

Q&A participation and behavioral patterns on academic social networking sites: a comparative study of academic, corporate and government institutions on ResearchGate

PurposeThis paper aims to explore question and answer (Q&A) participation and behavioral patterns on academic social networking sites (ASNSs) from the perspective of multiple subjects such as academic, corporate and government institutions.Design/methodology/approachFocused on the Q&A service of ASNSs, this study chooses ResearchGate (RG) as the target ASNS and collects a large-scale data set from it, involving a sample of users and a Q&A sample about academic, corporate and government institutions. First, it studies the law of Q&A participation and the distribution of the type of user according to the sample of users. Second, it compares question-asking behavior and question-answering behavior stimulated by questions among the three types of institutions based on the Q&A sample. Finally, it discusses the Q&A participation and behavioral patterns of the three types of institutions in academic Q&A exchanges with full consideration of institutional attributes, and provides some suggestions for institutions and ASNSs.FindingsThe results show that these three types of institutions generally have a low level of participation in the Q&A service of RG, and the numbers of questions and answers proposed by institutional users conform to the power-law distribution. There are differences in Q&A participation and Q&A behavioral patterns among academic, corporate and government institutions. Government and academic institutions have more users participating in the Q&A service and their users are more willing to ask questions, while corporate institutions have fewer users who participate in the Q&A service and their users are inclined to provide answers. Questions from corporate institutions attract much more attention than those from the other two types of institutions.Originality/valueThis study reveals and compares the Q&A participation and the behavioral patterns of the three types of institutions in academic Q&A, thus deepening the understanding of the attributes of institutions in the academic information exchange context. In practice, the results can help guide different institutions to use the Q&A service of ASNSs more effectively and help ASNSs to better optimize their Q&A service.

Understanding Long-Term Outcomes of Public Health Strategy in Palliative Care at Micro Level: Impact of Home-Based Palliative Care Services under Local Self-Government Institutions in Kerala, India

Objectives: Palliative care units under Local Self-Government Institutions (LSGIs) are increasing in number in the state of Kerala, India, since the announcement of the Pain and Palliative Care Policy, 2008. Whether these units are functioning with a view to materialise the long-term objectives, following the guidelines stipulated by the Government of Kerala and serve the neediest patients with quality care are a matter of debate. Hence, a microlevel study of the palliative care unit is attempted. The aims of the study were to understand the extent to which the structure and nature of functioning of the Pain and Palliative Care Unit under LSGI comply with guidelines set by the Pain and Palliative Care Policy of the Government of Kerala and to check whether the palliative care services are reaching the needy and, if so, are they provided to patients in good quality. Materials and Methods: The award winning Pain and Palliative Care Unit attached to LSGI is selected for analysis and a hybrid research design is followed. Data are collected from 25 patients and their caregivers selected randomly. Mean score of satisfaction level on the basis of Quality care questionnaire -Palliative care is used. Results: Sample unit complies with the revised guidelines of 2015, Pain and Palliative Care Policy. It serves the neediest patients and the quality of care is satisfactory. Conclusion: The study reaffirms the strength of the public health model in palliative care which can provide quality care to the neediest patients.

Integrated Water Resource Management, Sustainability, and Pollution Abatement in Malawi

With the introduction of IWRM, local government institutions are expected to control water-related pollution, which is often associated with new water resource management, supply, and sanitation responsibilities devolved to them as part of decentralisation. The aim of this study was to look into eco-efficiency, environmental performance, physical scarcity and economic scarcity trends, sustainable variables, and externalities associated with the introduction of IWRM in Malawi. Focus group discussions and interviews were conducted with policymakers and households in Ntcheu, Mangochi, and Balaka. Findings confirmed that the challenges local levels of government face in managing water infrastructure and formulation of pollution control measures are a result of the fact that adoption of IWRM happened without any readiness to do so, especially in terms of water-related pollution control.

Data trust and data privacy in the COVID-19 period

In this article, we focus on data trust and data privacy, and how attitudes may be changing during the COVID-19 period. On balance, it appears that Australians are more trusting of organizations with regards to data privacy and less concerned about their own personal information and data than they were prior to the spread of COVID-19. The major determinant of this change in trust with regards to data was changes in general confidence in government institutions. Despite this improvement in trust with regards to data privacy, trust levels are still low.

Transnational Seasonal Land Grabbing in Pakistan: Power Positions and Resistance

Each year, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), Pakistan issues a special 10-day hunting permit to royal family members of Gulf countries for seasonal hunting of Asian Houbara bustard ( Chlamydotis macqueen). This paper attempts to systematically present the understandings on seasonal land grabbing and its political economy in Pakistan. The role of local elites and government institutions and the response of local people, as well as their resistance, is discussed in detail.

The Role of Internal Control Techniques in Sustainable Development to Improve Financial Performance

The study presents the internal control as the main catalyst for the success of the institutional process. The most recent methods are presented in detail in each method and methods of implementation to achieve the desired goal: to circulate the electronic attendance and delivery system through the complaints and suggestions box, conduct a random customer questionnaire that reflects the efficiency of the work . The technological revolution must be approved and dealt with, which benefits government institutions and ensures that institutions continue to progress and achieve the best results and the best services. The administrative and financial control is the evaluation that shows the strength of the mechanisms and the weakness on which the institution depends, where the services of the institution and its activities are improved, which increases the performance of the administration, which is subject to internal control

Women’s Representation and Implications for Fairness, Trust, and Performance in Local Government: A Survey Experiment in Sri Lanka

How do quotas for women in Sri Lanka’s local government institutions affect key governance indicators such as perceived fairness, institutional trust, and perceived performance? These dimensions of governance are underexplored in the context of gender quota policies in patriarchal societies like that of Sri Lanka. The study hypothetically varied the quota provision for women (decrease to 10%, increase to 45%, or keep at the current 25%) in local government, and then tried to understand people’s opinions about the three governance indicators. When examining the results of the experiment (around 1,200 samples), it was found that perceived fairness, institutional trust, and perceived performance increased along with the greater quota provision. Possible mechanisms for the increases in institutional trust and perceived performance may be associated with the signal of fairness generated by the increase of quota provision for women.