2026 ASPG Annual Conference

The ASPG holds an annual conference hosted by the Australasian parliaments on a rotational basis.

This year’s annual conference was hosted by the NSW Chapter of the Australasian Study Parliamentary Group at the Parliament of NSW from Wednesday 30 September to Friday 2 October 2026. 

The theme for this year was Parliaments when democracy is under challenge. 

Democracy is the cornerstone of modern governance in our jurisdictions. It promotes individual freedoms, equality, and the right to participate in the open decision-making processes that shape our society. Despite its ideals, democracy is facing challenges on several fronts in the 21st century.
Challenges include the implications of new technologies, the proliferation of mis and disinformation, and declining trust and engagement. In light of these challenges, parliaments, parliamentarians and those who support the work of parliament face the challenge of how to respond to protect and preserve democratic values.

Conference circulars

Circular No. 1
March 2026

Cover page of circular no. 1

Circular No. 2
June 2026

Cover page of circular no. 1

Circular No. 3
August 2026

Cover page of circular no. 1

Circular No. 4
September 2026

Cover page of circular no. 1

Presentations and papers

Please see links below for copies of the presentations delivered at the conference and the corresponding paper.

Thursday 1 October 2026

Dr Sarah Moulds, Adelaide University and Toni Matulik, Parliament of Australia
Parliamentary education and its role in strengthening civic engagement and democratic institutions
Presentation | Paper

Sharon Bent, Bent Psychology
Scrolling towards silence: social media, cognitive overload and the attrition of democratic representation
Presentation | Paper

Lenny Roth and Tom Gotsis, Parliament of NSW
Political deepfakes and the new laws in New South Wales
Presentation | Paper

Dr Melissa Miao, Parliament of NSW
A verified, impartial and accountable Hansard: A democratic citizen’s right and a parliament’s responsibility
Presentation

Fleur Hall and Justin Baker, Parliament of Australia
The contract renewed: ceremony, ritual and the democratic promise
Presentation | Paper

Laura Woodbridge, Monash University
Parliamentary design, democracy and partisanship
Presentation | Paper

Helen Jessica Lock, New Zealand Parliament
Leveraging relationships for civic engagement: collaborative responses to democratic disengagement
Presentation | Paper

Friday 2 October 2026

Sue Hunt, Parliament of NSW
Conduct, representation and exclusive cognisance the matter of Ward
Presentation | Paper

Patrick O’Brien, Parliament of Victoria
It’s the Constitution, stupid! Why the Victorian Government believes it has the right to control Parliament’s access to information – and why it is wrong
Presentation | Paper

Dr Evan Smith and Dr Alexia Adhikari
Transcribing the past for the future: reimagining South Australia’s 1894 women’s suffrage petition to parliament as an interactive public resource
Presentation | Paper

Dr Belinda Beattie, University of New England
Unequal burdens in a developing democracy: parliamentary pay and the structural disadvantage of rural and regional members in New South Wales, 1862–1889
Presentation | Paper (abstract only)

Dr Sam Hames, University of Queensland
Accessible to whom and for what purposes? Researchers reflecting on working across 125 years of parliamentary proceedings
Presentation | Paper

Catie Parsons, Parliament of Western Australia
Auditor General’s opinions on ministerial notifications in Western Australia – supporting executive accountability or merely a ‘fig leaf’?
Presentation | Paper

The Hon Natasha Maclaren-Jones MLC, Member of the NSW Legislative Council
Proving its worth: Reflecting on the Delegated Legislation Committee’s scrutiny function, four years on
Presentation | Paper

Dr Ramona Vijeyarasa, University of Technology
Sydney Gender-responsive law-making as a democratic safeguard: comparative lessons for parliaments under pressure
Presentation | Paper

Jayson Rimamata and Duane Baiabe, National Parliament of Solomon Islands
The role of the parliamentary procedures in strengthening, preserving and/or hindering democracy
Presentation | Paper

William Coad, Parliament of South Australia
The end of the binary? Crossbench fragmentation in the House of Assembly, 56th Parliament of South Australia
Presentation | Paper

Luke Vieceli, Parliament of Tasmania
Caught in a bind: fixed term parliaments in Tasmania
Presentation | Paper