The Accountability of Australian Cabinet Ministers

The project examines the highly relevant contemporary issue of ministerial accountability. Historically few ministers have resigned in Australia over performance however poor performers might not last as long as good ones. Data on ministerial duration, Personal and political characteristics of ministers and governments and ministerial performance will be collected and analysed assessing ministerial durability and comparing with other countries. We expect to find ministers more accountable than public think but perhaps less so than in some other countries due to institutional factors. It also examines how media reporting has changed over time affecting public attitudes. It uses innovative methodological techniques.