This new edited volume has been developed because governments in Australia and overseas continue to appoint public inquiries in considerable numbers. Public inquiries are those temporary, ad hoc bodies appointed by executive government to report on corruption, calamitous events and many different policy issues. Using Australian and international case studies, this new volume explores why royal commissions and public inquiries are appointed, their processes and their impacts. It provides an up-to-date review of current Australian and international developments. Contributors include leading academic specialists and practitioners from across Australian and international jurisdictions.

Contributors Include:

Scott Prasser (Editor)

David Lee (University of NSW)

Paul Tilley (University of Melbourne)

Anita Mackay (La Trobe University)

Sue Regan (Volunteering Australia)

Margaret Cook (Griffith University)

Paddy Gourley (former Commonwealth Public Servant)

Andrea Wallace (University of New England)

Alastair Stark (University of Queensland)

Marlene Krasovitsky (Advocate, facilitator and consultant)

Robert Carling (Centre for Independent Studies)

Dominic Elliott (Dublin City University)

John Phillimore and Peter Wilkins (Curtin University)

Sarah Cooper and Owen Thomas (University of Exeter, UK)

Wendy McGuinness (McGuinness Institute, NZ)

Ken Kitts (University of North Alabama)

Kira Pronin (University of Pittsburgh, USA)