Government often knows the shape of the forest, but it has no idea what is going on under the trees.
Andrew Mawson
Latest Papers
The working papers collection comprises historical papers as well as current ideas and works in progress on some of the major issues and topics of our times.
Is it still relevant? The 2011–2012 report Learning from Chicago explicitly identifies the Goulburn Valley / Shepparton region as one of the highest-potential sites in Australia for adapting Chicago’s poly-technical education model. It highlights the Yorta Yorta leadership (Paul Briggs, Kaiela Institute), the iconic local manufacturing heritage of J Furphy & Sons, and the need to connect young Aboriginal people to “the ongoing tradition of manufacturing in the Goulburn Valley” (pages 9–10). The report argues that a “Manufacturing Renaissance Council” model—linking industry skill gaps, schools, and community leadership—could create sustainable, high-quality jobs in advanced manufacturing and food processing, mirroring Chicago’s success in serving African American communities.
“Advanced Manufacturing + World Class Education = Sustainable Communities”
Adapting the Chicago Austin Poly-Technical Model for Yorta Yorta and Goulburn Valley
A Short Backgrounder on First Nations Demography and Other Post Colonial Experiences to help frame discussions and engagement
Report of the 2011 ISX/University of Melbourne/CLCR Visit to Chicago
"The Hampden Bridge Report" (Updated 8 April, 2026)
The Whitlam government represented a new era of possibilities and long overdue reforms. It was time! In 2025, 50 years after the maverick dismissal of the Whitlam government that action is universally viewed as aberrant and mistaken. It is time to look beyond and to the future, as Gough implied, when he said ‘nothing will save the Governor General’.
A Mickey Bull had broken down the house yard fence and was snorting and bellowing
around the penned heifers. You could hear him a kilometre away. Magpie Geese was the meal for the night and everyone was gathered for the NRL Grand Final.
On the road from Saint George to Barcaldine there’s a champion! a patron saint for travellors! ever alert for a broken down grey nomad or an over heated radiator.
No matter the problem he’s hopeful, no problem too big or small. If you’re pulled over on the road he will pull up alongside with a cool drink and a kind word.
A diesel fitter by trade he once patrolled these roads fixing road trains as a young man, so he’s seen it all.
Radiator hose burst? let’s see what we can clamp together..
“I have a mate on the other side of that hill who’ll help, I’ll just give him a call”.
It’s Sunday he’s not answering let’s go to plan b.. there must be an old troopy or LandCruiser nearby..
or a pipe..” just clamp two hoses around this”
.. “you have to stay hopeful”
“...i smell victory” were the words he used.
So he raised the crestfallen travellors and showed him it was all right.
“Its not the destination it’s the journey”
By the way along these stock routes there’s a bore every 20k so look out for the signs.
“Come on I saw one just down the road, fill up your containers..” and off we’d go.
I said ‘out here the people are good to my fellow travellors’ but the Saint of Barcaldine went three stops beyond all that.
He said a stranger from the city asked him “why do you live here?” and his reply was “because everyone has a code of helping everyone out- people are good, we work hard and we help each other out”. The stranger shook his head and the Saint from Barcaldine laughed to himself and thought yep people like you don’t live here”.
When the Saint heard we were working for the greater good with no govt support ..he slipped a wad of 100 dollar notes to help the ones less fortunate trusting we’d know just what to do.
“Leave the world a better place” he said and those were his parting words.
For Matt, Amy, Harry & Floss, Barcaldine
The Australian Unity Republic proposes a transformative overhaul of the tax system under the Australian Executive Council (AEC)—a collective head of state comprising the Prime Minister and state/territory Premiers—applying subsidiarity to enhance local decision-making while streamlining national standards. Building on the AEC model from Common Sense (June 2025), Productivity, Republicanism and Improving Whole of Australian Government Efficiency (August 2025), A National Election Day (September 2025), Subsidiarity: Towards an Australian Republic that Improves the Country (September 2025), and Reshaping Honours and Australia's Soul (September 2025), this reform addresses Australia’s tax system’s vertical fiscal imbalance and $6 billion annual compliance cost (Productivity Commission, 2025). Spearheaded by AEC Leaders' Forums, it includes rationalizing federal-state taxes, expanding GST with equity safeguards, phasing out inefficient levies like payroll and stamp duties, and establishing a Tax Coordination Board. Aligned with the Albanese government’s productivity agenda, these reforms could yield $4–6 billion in annual savings, reduce red tape, and boost equity, fostering a republic that makes the country better through fairer resource allocation, local autonomy, and economic growth. Australians will endorse this republic in a 2026 referendum only if convinced it delivers safe, effective improvements—avoiding corruption via collective checks, enhancing subsidiarity for local empowerment, overhauling colonial structures for productivity gains, and enriching cultural life through elder and community investment. Taxation reform exemplifies how the collective head of state enables these outcomes more effectively than the current fragmented system.
The Australian Unity Republic proposes a transformative overhaul of the honours system, shifting it from a colonial relic to a vibrant instrument of national renewal and societal progress under the Australian Executive Council (AEC)—a collective head of state comprising elected leaders. This reform reimagines the Order of Australia by establishing "Living National Treasures" as its pinnacle, supported by substantial stipends to sustain and amplify their contributions, with a strong emphasis on elder knowledge transmission, general community service, arts recognition, and military legacy. Inspired by Japan’s cultural guardianship, New Zealand’s bicultural framework with Māori advisory councils, Canada’s nationalized honours, and the UK’s 2005 transparency reforms within the Commonwealth, the system embeds reconciliation as a core principle, prioritizing First Nations recognition and the preservation of elder wisdom—integrating awards like the Deadly Awards and arts stipends—while aligning with ANZAC traditions and future military honours. Leveraging $25.5–42.5 million in annual savings from abolished viceregal roles, this initiative enhances productivity and social cohesion, addressing the widespread failure to invest in leaders and change-makers whose knowledge and service risk being lost, fostering a republic that makes the country better by empowering them to mentor others.
