Students

POIR2010 – Australian Politics, Inequality and Wellbeing

2026 – Session 2, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Convener
A/Prof Geoffrey Hawker
geoffrey.hawker@mq.edu.au
Tutor
Dr Luke Mansillo
luke.mansillo@mq.edu.au
Owain Matthews
owain.matthews@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
40cp at 1000 level or above OR (10cp in POL or POIR or POIX units)
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

When asked why they are involved in politics, many Australian politicians will answer that they want to make the country a better place, that they want to improve people’s welfare and wellbeing, that they want to make a difference. We don’t have to look far, however, to observe entrenched inequality, social division, unmet human needs and unfulfilled lives. This tension between the promise of politics and the lack of responsiveness of the political system to a large portion of the Australian population, and its consequences for inequality and human wellbeing, is the focus of this unit. Students explore these inequalities, and their political causes and consequences, through the lenses of race, nation, class and gender.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Demonstrate the ability to peer below the surface feature of Australian politics and its discourses to identify the underlying inequalities at play
  • ULO2: Understand and identify linkages between class, race, gender and Australian nationhood
  • ULO3: Critically analyse Australian politics and assess the ways in which it reinforces, reduces or normalises inequality
  • ULO4: Demonstrate capacity to assess the extent that the media and new technologies impact – if at all – on the reproduction of existing social relations
  • ULO5: Demonstrate critical understanding of the interplay between discourse, ideology, structures and agency in shaping the makeup of Australian society in terms of race, nation, class and gender

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due Groupwork/Individual Short Extension AI Approach
Take-home exam 50% No 27/09/2026 Individual No Open
Major essay 50% No 08/11/2026 Individual Yes Open

Take-home exam

Assessment Type 1: Problem-based task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 22 hours
Due: 27/09/2026
Weighting: 50%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Open

Online take-home exam
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Understand and identify linkages between class, race, gender and Australian nationhood
  • Critically analyse Australian politics and assess the ways in which it reinforces, reduces or normalises inequality
  • Demonstrate critical understanding of the interplay between discourse, ideology, structures and agency in shaping the makeup of Australian society in terms of race, nation, class and gender

Major essay

Assessment Type 1: Written Submission
Indicative Time on Task 2: 50 hours
Due: 08/11/2026
Weighting: 50%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: Yes
AI Approach: Open

2500 word research essay
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate the ability to peer below the surface feature of Australian politics and its discourses to identify the underlying inequalities at play
  • Understand and identify linkages between class, race, gender and Australian nationhood
  • Critically analyse Australian politics and assess the ways in which it reinforces, reduces or normalises inequality
  • Demonstrate capacity to assess the extent that the media and new technologies impact – if at all – on the reproduction of existing social relations
  • Demonstrate critical understanding of the interplay between discourse, ideology, structures and agency in shaping the makeup of Australian society in terms of race, nation, class and gender

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • Academic Success for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation.

3 An automatic short extension is available for some assessments. Apply through the Service Connect Portal.

Delivery and Resources

Welcome to Australian Politics, Inequality and Wellbeing. 

Australia has often been imagined as a nation where egalitarianism and a "fair-go" have shielded the general population from the inequalities and injustices faced in many other countries. This is a myth that is still prominent in our politics and public discourse, and one that does not stand up to even the mildest of scrutiny. This unit will interrogate this myth through the lens of key dimensions of inequality, including race, nation, class and gender. We will explore the ways in which these categories have been constructed historically, how they impact of the well-being of different groups, and how they manifest themselves in contemporary Australian politics. 

Unlike most other courses you will do at university, the unit will trace developments in its subject matter in real time and discuss new issues as they arise on a week-to-week basis. This will occur in conjunction with the main substantive themes of the unit.  The aim is then to give students an  experience of contemporary Australian politics that explores the possibilities of agency and choice for individuals and groups.

There is no set text for the unit. Instead, key weekly readings will be posted on iLearn, as well as any supplementary readings. In addition, the week's recorded lectures and power point slides will be found on iLearn, as well as a variety of other resources. To do well in the unit it is essential that students engage with the lectures and the readings as well as with each other in the weekly tutorials (in-person cohort) or in the weekly online discussion forums (online and in-person cohort).

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Academic Success

Academic Success provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit https://students.mq.edu.au/support/technology/service-desk. 

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Unit information based on version 2026.02 of the Handbook