You will need to select one of the following questions inorder to complete Assignment 3A: Essay plan and Assignment 3B: Research essay.

1. Federal politics in Australia has adopted what might almost be described as a ‘coup culture’ with five changes of prime minister since 2007. How might this leadership instability be explained?
2. What form, if any, should Indigenous recognition in the Australian Constitution take? Is a successful referendum on the issue likely given the barriers that Australian constitutional changes usually face?
3. ‘As the guardian of the Constitution, the High Court of Australia from time to time disappoints the ambitions of legislators and governments…Parliamentarians, naturally responsive to the wishes and demands of the majority in the community, are sometimes not well placed to uphold individual or minority rights.’ (Chief Justice Murray Gleeson, 1999). Discuss.
4. Examine the ideology, core beliefs and support base of the Australian Greens, OR Pauline Hanson’s One Nation, OR the National Party. What challenges does your chosen party face in order to become or remain a viable player in Australian politics? Does the party have a future?
5. The Australian Labour Party (ALP) arose as the political arm of the labour movement. Is the ALP still a ‘workers’ party?
6. How would you describe Australia’s political culture? Is the tendency towards apathy and cynicism a sign that our democracy is healthy, or does it pose a threat to the democratic process?
7. The defection of Cory Bernadi from the Liberal Party to his own party, Australian Conservatives, in 2017, highlighted internal Liberal Party divisions between conservative and liberal factions along ideological lines. These tensions raise serious questions about the Party’s future as a political force as we know it. What do you think the future holds for the Liberal Party?
8. Proportional electoral voting, such as that used to elect the members to the Australian Senate, are fairer and far more effective than preferential voting systems. Do you agree?

Assignment overview

This assignment requires you to write an essay plan that will form the basic framework for your final essay. The purpose of the task is to:

• Introduce you to the practice of essay writing at the tertiary level
• To get you started early on building a research base of relevant sources
• To encourage you to think carefully about how you will structure the essay and address the essay question.

Related learning outcomes

This assignment assesses the following unit learning outcomes:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of the structure and dynamics of the Australian political system.
2. Apply theoretical models to the analysis of political behaviour in Australia.
3. Critically evaluate different perspectives on issues and problems.
4. Perform logical analysis and develop well-informed arguments.