Thanks for your interest - I hope you'll read the article. Policy capture and a lack of structural reform are important problems - my paper suggests these aspects of crisis leadership are challenging for individual MPs. So good they're locally responsive, but not the whole story!

Now that the Deloitte report, about the government's unlawful administration of mutual obligations, is making international headlines, it's worth looking at what's actually in it (apart from AI slop) and WHY it was actually commissioned

A thread👇

This paper had a long genesis (here I am getting caught in the rain during fieldwork in 2020) and thanks are due to many people not least of all the MPs who volunteered their time to explain their work to me and all the others I pestered for feedback over the years!

However, I also find a resilient democracy should be responsible, as well as responsive, and overwork, distrust in politicians and their own representative priorities present challenges for MPs as crisis leaders!

I find using 28 interviews & a survey of ~100 state and federal MPs that they prioritise work which helps build up their service & symbolic connections – coordinating with local civil servants, understanding the impacts & danger signs in their communities & supporting people who are suffering.

In crises we expect our national leaders to be there for us - emotionally and practically coordinating emergency responses/support for those affected. We also hope that our politicians look forward to prevent future disaster. But what about 'on the ground' in individual MPs' constituencies?

Interested in MPs' constituency work and how well suited it might be to crisis leadership during disasters like floods, fires and pandemics? I am chuffed to have my new paper out now in Parliamentary Affairs to help answer these questions. Check it out!

academic.oup.com/pa/article/d...

How do democracies respond to extremist attacks? Selen A Ercan, Jordan McSwiney, Emily Beausoleil, Claire Fitzpatrick & @andreafelicetti.bsky.social explore 2 approaches to resilience- ‘bouncing back’ & deepening democracy. Read OPEN ACCESS: buff.ly/I5TbA9U

@polstudiesassoc.bsky.social @sagepub.com

How do the Teals actually vote in parliament? Do they resemble a party in this way? @palesl.bsky.social has the answers in this new research note in @ausjpolsci.bsky.social @auspsa.bsky.social www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

I been enjoying a lot of Adrian Tchaikovsky stuff lately. City of Last Chances and Cage of Souls were fun.

Had the pleasure of reviewing Civic Engagement in Australian Democracy for the AJPH. Excellent chapters on compulsory and early voting, the Voice referendum and the role of the public, judges and NGOs in democracy - check it out! onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

How do politicians talk about housing, and does it impact policy?

#ICYMI Political scientists @markriboldi.bsky.social & @pandanuspetter.bsky.social join @marijataflaga.bsky.social to discuss housing policy, safety nets and the fair go.

#AUListen 🎧 #DemocracySausage ausi.anu.edu.au/news/democra...

New Closing the Gap data show Australia is on track to meet just four targets, while another four are getting worse. It’s time for a new approach.

👉 Read the full story: theconversation.com/progres...

New article & 1st from my PhD! Is there a rel’ship between letters from the public to the Prime Minister & topics of speeches. I find evidence of deliberate, systemic non-responsiveness. The PM knowingly ignored this form of public opinion. @govandopp.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1017/gov....

The latest from me in @aunz.theconversation.com theconversation.com/the-greens-e...

In this episode I reference a paper by @cosmohoward.bsky.social and I where we analyzed narratives and strategies in Oz Parliament around the phrase 'Housing Crisis' 2020-2023 check it out:

www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

@marijataflaga.bsky.social @markriboldi.bsky.social and I have a chat about UBIs & crisis thinking in housing and social welfare policy. I haven't listened, so if I say anything regrettable just know I've grown and changed since back then (yesterday). 😱🏠💰🗣️

reporter.anu.edu.au/all-stories/...

Pol comm; representation; & leg affairs scholars! Check out UKMP Inbox - a database of UK MP's enewsletters. Builds on @dcinbox.bsky.social and canberrainbox.com.au.

@ecpr-polcom.bsky.social @psa-parliaments.bsky.social @psaexecpolitics.bsky.social @psaepop.bsky.social @psabcpe.bsky.social

We know the Albanese government won by a landslide in the 2025, but does this mean that Albo's model of 'consensus politics' is the way to go? @emilyrosefoley.bsky.social
& Rob Manwaring dig in on 'consensus politics' in contemporary social-democratic politics www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

2yrs since #Robodebt Report, we turn our attention to whether the APS is responding/learning. In this ANU Policy Brief @mariamaley4 & I look at how the broader APS is responding.

policybrief.anu.edu.au/aps-leaders-...

@themandarin.bsky.social @anucrawfordschool.bsky.social

Hello Sydneysiders! On Tuesday 23rd Sep join Frank Bongiorno, George Megalogenis, @bspiesbutcher.bsky.social, @lizhumphrys.bsky.social & me for our public event A New Australian Politics: Rupture or Realignment. Registration is free & we'd love to see you there! events.humanitix.com/a-new-austra...

Amen

democracy is tricky, gimme a break!

Should we lower the voting age to 16, and if so should we make it compulsory? The gang (@jillesheppard.bsky.social, @powercleanpolitics.bsky.social @blairwilliams26.bsky.social Faith Gordon) and I weigh in. Check it out!
theconversation.com/should-austr...