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strengthening democracy
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RESTORING AUSTRALIANS’ TRUST IN DEMOCRACY
Researchers and commentators have noted a decline in trust in democracy amongst Australians. McKinnon wants to reverse this trend and supports work that maintains and strengthens democratic actors, norms, systems and institutions, and improves trust in and support for democracy in Australia.
Ultimately, the vision for this project is that Australia has a healthy and high-quality democracy, with strong and trusted democratic and electoral institutions so:
governments and elected officials act with integrity, and focus on and advance the public interest
Australians have trusted and accurate sources of information and are motivated to participate in and engage with democratic processes
public debates are healthy, constructive, and focused on the most important issues.
current programs
Institutional reform stocktake report
Australia faces profound policy challenges, as trust in government has fallen. While better leadership and cultural change would help, leaders ultimately respond to institutional incentives. Changes to institutional rules can change those incentives.
This report from founding CEO of the Grattan Institute, John Daley, and Rachel Krust, ‘takes stock’ of institutional reform proposals in Australia. It aims to help policy makers and researchers prioritise their efforts investigating and promoting changes to institutional rules. It analyses which reforms would most improve governance so that governments deliver more for Australians while increasing trust in government.
Truth in political advertising
Concern about the truthfulness of political advertising has increased significantly in recent years. Untruths can undermine the ability of citizens to make informed choices when casting their votes and are detrimental to electoral integrity and democratic processes.
McKinnon provides funding to The Australia Institute to advocate for Truth in Political Advertising laws.
With the support of McKinnon, Monash University’s Associate Professor Yee-Fui Ng has also examined the effect, operation, and administration of ‘truth in political advertising’ laws.
The Truth in Political Advertising Laws: Operation and Effectiveness report was released in December 2024.
Commonwealth Parliamentary Procedure Reforms report
The Federal Parliament is central to Australia’s system of representative democracy. It is crucial that it operates effectively, and that Australians retain trust in it, so that Australia’s system of government can meet the contemporary expectations of its citizens.
There are signs that Australians are losing trust.
This report examines potential improvements to Federal Parliament’s operation and effectiveness. It proposes practical, impactful, feasible, and evidence-based reforms to improve trust and confidence in the Federal Parliament.
Discussion Paper: Four-Year Terms for the House of Representatives
McKinnon believes in ensuring our democratic institutions are fit-for-purpose and that discussing switching to four-year parliamentary terms is an important national debate.
This discussion paper provides an overview of the key issues related to moving to four-year terms for the House of Representatives, including the history of the proposal, arguments for and against the change, and key design choices if four-year terms are implemented. This paper is intended to start a conversation and support an informed debate on the issue.
partnerships
McKinnon provides support to a wide range of organisations, think tanks, and initiatives. The programs we incubate, deliver and support will help Australia achieve a more fit-for-purpose political, policy and service delivery system.
The positions of organisations funded do not necessarily represent those of McKinnon.
Integrity, accountability and transparency issues - Centre for Public Integrity
McKinnon provides funding to the Centre for Public Integrity for research, advocacy and analysis on issues relating to public sector integrity, accountability, and transparency. The Centre for Public Integrity is an independent think tank dedicated to promoting integrity, preventing corruption, and supporting accountability in the public institutions. It collaborates with academic experts, legal practitioners and retired judges to conduct research on critical integrity reform.
Public sector whistleblower reform – Human Rights Law Centre
McKinnon provided funding to the Human Rights Law Centre’s Whistleblower Project to advocate for reforms to strengthen protections for public sector whistleblowers so they can safely and lawfully speak up about wrongdoing without facing the risk of criminal prosecution or lawsuits.
As part of this, the Federal Government implemented 21 of the 33 recommendations from the 2016 Review of the Public Integrity Disclosure Act 2013, which commenced on 1 July 2023. The Federal Government is currently considering a second stage of public sector whistleblower reforms.
Integrity issues – Grattan Institute
McKinnon provides core funding to support the Grattan Institute’s mission to produce high-quality public policy recommendations. This includes funding for work on integrity issues, which has supported products such as the 2025 Orange Book, which outlines key policy priorities (including those relating to integrity) to build a more prosperous Australia.
National Anti-Corruption Commission - Australia Institute; Centre for Public Integrity.
McKinnon funded the work the Australia Institute and the Centre for Public Integrity to successfully campaign for the establishment of the National Anti-Corruption Commission, which came to fruition in 2022. The Commission helps to fill critical gaps that have long existed in the country’s integrity system, increase public trust in government and ultimately make Australia a stronger democracy.
Explore more from McKinnon
Leadership
Outstanding Leadership
The quality of Australia’s political leadership directly impacts our nation’s ability to address complex challenges and seize opportunities. That is why we invest in building and celebrating exceptional Leaders.
Public Sector
Productivity and effectiveness
The effectiveness of Australia’s public sector directly impacts our nation’s productivity and success. That is why we invest in developing measurable frameworks that drive impact and making research and resources accessible and useable.
Policy Innovation
Practical Policy approaches
Australia faces specific challenges that require fresh thinking and proven solutions. From education inequality to economic productivity, we need policy approaches that work - not just in theory, but in practice. That’s why we focus on finding and implementing the best policy innovation to accelerate progress and build trust.