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McKinnon pursues structural improvements and systemic reforms that enhance transparency, accountability, and collaboration across the policymaking ecosystem.
By strengthening the use of evidence, fostering genuine stakeholder engagement, and refining decision-making processes, these reforms help build public trust and improve policy outcomes.
Effective policymaking should deliver real, measurable benefits to citizens, businesses, and communities. We are improving the way policies are designed and implemented to ensure they are practical, impactful, and built to address the challenges of today and the future.
current programs
The Percy Allan Shadow SPI initiative seeks to raise expectations of what Parliamentarians should expect in a Statement of Public Interest. Building on the work of the Evidence Based Policy Research Project, it supports parliamentarians to make better informed and more transparent decisions.
The Shadow SPI initiative will produce a companion SPI for substantive government bills in the New South Wales Legislative Council, complementing and commenting on the Government SPI. Through this process we are helping to create a constructive, public example of effective, evidence-based policymaking that serves the common good.
We develop simple, modern policymaking guides and tools to support robust policymaking and help spread good practice across the policy ecosystem.
By streamlining, simplifying and sharing what works, we are helping build a leaner, more efficient and more transparent policy system.
We work with organisations across the policymaking ecosystem to refine our resources and support improved practices through evidence, genuine engagement with stakeholders and effective delivery.
Policymaking Assessment Framework >
Australian federal and state public policies display the full range of outcomes; from innovative and world-leading policies we can be proud of, to policy failures that have not delivered the intended value.
The structured assessment of policymaking process allows us to see, celebrate and learn from effective policy innovation, improving processes at a system level.
This series of reports provides insights into patterns of good and poor policy development and identifies the barriers, trends and challenges that influence modern policymaking.
How the Sausage is Made: Assessing Australian Policymaking Practices in the Energy Sector >
Explore More from mckinnon
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.
DEMOCRACY
A resilient and vibrant democracy requires constant vigilance and renewal. Supporting and strengthening our democratic foundations has become critical for Australia’s future.
POLICY INNOVATION
Australia faces specific challenges that require fresh thinking and proven solutions. From education inequality to economic productivity, we need policy approaches that work - not in theory, but in practice.