Engagement
Here is a selection of my recent public and policy outreach work.
Blogs and op-eds
Do the teal independents vote like a political party? (20 May 2025) - a policy brief with the ANU based on this paper on the parliamentary behaviour of the teal independent MPs.
How They Vote For You can mislead the voting public (20 April 2025) - a blog ahead of the 2025 federal election, discussing how the popular voter information platform They Vote For You can be used to mislead voters.
Why is no one talking about Brexit anymore? (2 July 2024) - analysis exploring the economic challenges facing the UK, its manifestations in Brexit and anti-immigration sentiment, and the prospects for deep structural renewal.
‘Nowcasting’ policy positions from party manifestos in the UK general election 2024 (18 June 2024) - analysis supporting a talk given to to the Australian Institute of International Affairs with Professor Jennifer Lees-Marshment and Latika Bourke.
The Parliamentary Voting Behaviour of ‘Teal’ Independent MPs (12 June 2024) - an analysis, which later became a journal article on how much the teal community independents vote together in the House of Representatives, and of the changing dynamics of parliamentary voting due to a record sized crossbench.
The federal election winner will get a big opportunity to change the face of the High Court - will they take it? (5 May 2022) - commentary on the upcoming appointments to the High Court of Australia. The piece argues that descriptive representation in Courts improves outcomes for minority litigants, and that the government should be mindful of this.
Radio and television
I have made a number of appearances on TV and radio, including an hour long broadcast commentating the King’s first appearance at Westminster following the death of the Queen. Here are a couple of pieces more closely related to my research below:
Life Matters, Radio National (29 June 2022) - Commentary on politics in the High Court of Australia, in the light of the Roe v Wade reversal in the US Supreme Court, with Sabra Lane and George Newhouse.
‘The worst showing’ (5 July 2024) - Commentary on ABC News on the UK General Election Results. Click the image below to watch:
Newspapers and commentary
I have provided comment for the Australian Financial Review, The Guardian, The Daily Mail, The Daily Telegraph, and Reuters.
Recently, I provided analysis and comment to the AFR on the parliamentary behaviour of the teal independents (How Green is Your Teal, 16 April 2025), which was summarised and featured by Independent candidate and returned MP Kate Chaney.
I am available to comment on the political and professional backgrounds of MPs, minor parties and independents, parliamentary politics, judicial politics and appointments in Australia, UK politics, or any of my published works.
Selected public events
Rise of the monster acts: growth in legislative complexity in Australia since the 1980s (13 March 2025) - Lecture given to the Australasian Study of Parliaments Group at the Parliamentary Library in the Australian Parliament (also given to the Australian Law Reform Commission, 28 April).
In the talk I argue that from the 1980s, Australia has seen the emergence of large, complex ‘monster acts’ that are far more likely to receive a disproportionate number of amendments. Click the image below to see the lecture:
Panel Discussion - End of an Era? 2024 UK General Election (4 July 2024) - panel discussion on the UK General Election 2024, with Dr Charles Miller, Professor Helen Sullivan and Professor Ian McAllister. See the event on YouTube below:
Britain Votes! (July 3 2024) - panel discussion ahead of the 2024 UK General Election, organised by the Australian Institute of International Affairs with Professor Jennifer Lees-Marshment and Latika Bourke. See the event on YouTube below: