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| Public
versus private? An overview of the debate on private health insurance
and pressure on public hospitals [HTML]
[PDF 132KB] Research Note no. 54 2004–05 Angela Pratt, Social Policy Section 20 June 2005 In debates about the financing of health care in Australia, it is often claimed that private health insurance 'takes the pressure off public hospitals'. However, the market for hospital care in Australia is complex. Subsequently, the relationship between private health insurance membership levels and 'pressure on public hospitals' is far from straightforward (not least of all because 'pressure on public hospitals' is hard both to define and quantify). This Research Note explores these issues by discussing the market for hospital care, and the available evidence on the relationship between private health insurance and public hospital waiting lists. (4 pages) BACK to Index What's New |
| Sources
of personal income by electorate [HTML]
[PDF 463KB] Research Note no. 53 2004–05 Tony Kryger, Statistics Section 14 June 2005 This Research Note looks at the contribution of different income sources to the total personal income of each Commonwealth electorate. Income sources identified include wages and salaries, profit/loss from a person’s own unincorporated business; investments; superannuation and annuity income; and most government income support payments delivered by Centrelink. (4 pages) BACK to Index What's New |
| Regional
telecommunications: an overview [HTML]
[PDF 62KB] Research Note no. 52 2004–05 Jeffrey Robertson, Economics, Commerce and Industrial Relations Section 14 June 2005 Debate over unequal access to information and communication technology services between regional and metropolitan Australia often focuses on infrastructure. However, as this Research Note explains, infrastructure is just one aspect of a wider host of problems that reinforces the ‘digital divide’. (2 pages) BACK to Index What's New |
| United
Kingdom election 2005 [HTML]
[PDF 99KB] Research Note no. 51 2004–05 Scott Bennett, Politics and Public Administration Section 30 May 2005 This Research Note outlines areas of interest in the campaign for the UK election 2005, such as the Australian element, the Iraq war and leadership issues. It analyses the result of the election and the implications for the next 2–3 years of British politics. (4 pages) BACK to Index What's New |
| The Uhrig
Review and the future of statutory authorities [HTML]
[PDF 99KB] Research Note no. 50 2004–05 Richard Grant, Politics and Public Administration Section 30 May 2005 This Research Note examines the recommendations of, and response to, the Review of the Corporate Governance of Statutory Authorities and Office Holders by former Rio Tinto and Westpac chairman, Mr John Uhrig AO. In particular, it notes the recent establishment of the federal Department of Human Services, which was influenced by the Uhrig Review. (4 pages) BACK to Index What's New |
| Poverty rates
by electorate [HTML] [PDF
88KB] Research Note no. 49 2004–05 Tony Kryger, Statistics Section 23 May 2005 This Research Note compares poverty rates across Commonwealth Electoral Divisions, with the poverty line set at half the average disposable income of a couple with 2 children. Poverty lines yielding similar levels of economic wellbeing were also set for other household types. On this definition, 9.3 per cent of all Australians are living in poverty, ranging from 2.1 per cent for people living in Bradfield (NSW) to 15.1 per cent for people in Braddon (Tas). (4 pages) BACK to Index What's New |
| Australia’s
migration program [HTML] [PDF
88KB] Research Note no. 48 2004–05 Janet Phillips, Social Policy Section 10 May 2005 As part of its planned migration program, the federal government allocates places each year for people wanting to migrate permanently to Australia. The 2005–06 migration program, announced on 14 April 2005, allocated 130 000 to 140 000 places, the highest level in almost twenty years. This Research Note looks at Australia’s migration program patterns since 1945, including shifts in numbers and focus, and touches on some of the initiatives that have been introduced recently specifically to address labour market concerns. (2 pages) BACK to Index What's New |
| Physics or be damned!:
The crisis in science education and awareness [HTML]
[PDF 78KB] Research Note no. 47 2004–05 Matthew James, Science, Technology, Environment and Resources Section 10 May 2005 In this, the World Year of Physics 2005, interest in science among the public and young students continues to wane. Can Australia afford to be without such a scientific and technological basis? (2 pages) BACK to Index What's New |
| Global ageing: economic
implications for Australia [HTML]
[PDF 156KB] |
National
security or just Defence? The next White Paper [HTML]
[PDF 680KB] BACK to Index What's New |
Possible
electoral redistributions during the 41st Parliament [HTML]
[PDF 103KB] BACK to Index What's
New |
| The Future
Fund [HTML] [PDF
91KB] Research Note no. 43 2004–05 Leslie Nielson, Economics, Commerce and Industrial Relations Section 4 April 2005 The Government has proposed that a Future Fund be established to meed the expected unfunded commonwealth public sector liabilities. Though this proposed fund is more restricted in its scope than established funds outside Australia, there may be some lessons to be drawn from the operation of these overseas funds. This Research Note does not argue the advantages and disadvantages of the proposed Future Fund, but simply seeks to identify some issues to be considered if and when such a Fund is established (4 pages) BACK to Index What's New |
| Superannuation
investment in infrastructure [HTML]
[PDF 78KB] Research Note no. 42 2004–05 Leslie Nielson, Economics, Commerce and Industrial Relations Section 4 April 2005 Recent economic news has focused on the need to increase investment in Australia's infrastructure. There have been some calls for superannuation funds to provide the capital for this investment. This Research Note outlines the obligations of superannuation fund trustees when making investment decisions, some advantages and disadvantages for a superannuation fund investing in infrastructure, the avenues for investing in this asset class and some comments on the size of current superannuation fund investment in this area (4 pages) BACK to Index What's New |
| Timetable
for the next Australian elections [HTML]
[PDF 79KB] Research Note no. 41 2004–05 Rob Lundie, Politics and Public Administration Section 4 April 2005 This brief outlines the earliest and latest dates for the next Commonwealth, State and Territory elections. (2 pages) BACK to Index What's New |
| Western
Australian Election 2005 [HTML]
[PDF 120KB] Research Note no. 40 2004–05 Scott Bennett, Politics and Public Administration Section 4 April 2005 On 23 January 2005 the Western Australian Labor Premier, Geoff Gallop, announced an election for 26 February. A referendum on shopping hours had already been announced, to be held on election day. This Research Note discusses both events. (4 pages) BACK to Index What's New |
| The annual
allowance for senators and members [HTML]
[PDF 163KB] Research Note no. 39 2004–05 Leanne Manthorpe, Politics and Public Administration Section 14 March 2005 Senators and members receive an annual allowance by way of basic salary—$106 770 from 1 July 2004. This brief explains the legislative basis, fixing and linking mechanisms for the allowance. The brief includes two tables: i) Adjustments to the annual allowance since 1984 against CPI and WCI, and ii) Parliamentary salaries for the states and territories. (4 pages) BACK to Index What's New |
| Anti-dumping
rules and the Australia-China Free Trade Agreement [HTML]
[PDF 166KB] Research Note no. 38 2004–05 Michael Priestley, Economics, Commerce and Industrial Relations Section 14 March 2005 Australia and China are currently undertaking a joint feasibility study to determine whether they should negotiate a Free Trade Agreement. As a condition to the start of negotiations, China is seeking market economy status. This brief examines Australia’s anti-dumping rules as they apply to China and discusses the effect of granting China market economy status in anti-dumping cases. (4 pages) BACK to Index What's New |
| Do Australians
have a legal right to privacy? [HTML]
[PDF 60KB] Research Note no. 37 2004–05 Morag Donaldson, Law and Bills Digest Section 14 March 2005 This Research Note briefly examines the law of privacy in Australia—both legislation and common law—to highlight the fact that while the law is able to offer some protections, there is currently no legal right to privacy. Although the courts are moving towards recognising such a right, it could be some time before there is an authoritative judicial decision in favour of a legal right to privacy in Australia. Thus, Parliament might choose to legislate to grant people such a right (on a conditional or absolute basis) if it considered it to be appropriate. (2 pages) BACK to Index What's New |
| Australia's
$1 billion tsunami-related aid package to Indonesia: progress on the
eve of the March ministerial meetings [HTML]
[PDF 68KB] Research Note no. 36 2004–05 Dr Ravi Tomar, Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Section 7 March 2005 This Research Note discusses the $1 billion aid commitment to Indonesia made by the Australian government on 5 January 2005 and reviews some major issues arising from the same. (2 pages) BACK to Index What's New |
| Australia's
ageing workforce [HTML] [PDF
66KB] Research Note no. 35 2004–05 Tony Kryger, Statistics Section 7 March 2005 The Australian workforce is ageing faster than the general population. This Research Note examines the reasons for this and looks also at how rates of ageing differ between industries. It shows that workers in health and education are amongst the oldest and most rapidly ageing workers in Australia. (2 pages) BACK to Index What's New |
| Foreign
ownership in the telecommunications sector [HTML]
[PDF 78KB] Research Note no. 34 2004–05 Jeffrey Robertson, Economics, Commerce and Industrial Relations Section 7 March 2005 As the Government seeks to fully privatise its 51 per cent share of Telstra, a decision on how to structure the sale will undoubtedly consider changes to foreign ownership thresholds. This brief looks at the positive and negative aspects of increased foreign ownership. (2 pages) BACK to Index What's New |
| Progress
of the United States Military Commission trial of David Hicks
[HTML] [PDF 78KB] Research Note no. 33 2004–05 Angus Martyn, Law and Bills Digest Section 14 February 2005 The trial of the accused terrorist, Australian David Hicks, is due to start before a United States Military Commission in March 2005. This brief provides a brief factual background on the Military Commissions and summarises the key developments to date in the pre-trial proceedings. (4 pages) BACK to Index What's New |
| Australia’s
uranium after Kyoto [HTML]
[PDF 92KB] Research Note no. 32 2004–05 Greg Baker, Statistics Section 14 February 2005 With the coming into effect of the Kyoto Protocol, the use of nuclear power to reduce greenhouse emissions has taken greater prominence in debate. This brief examines the issue of Australia’s large resources of uranium in the context of world supply and demand, shows why world prices are rising and looks to the future of the uranium industry in the context of the environmental debate ovest 15 years of developments in respect of whistleblower legislation in Australia and looks at some of the legal issues surrounding the topic. (2 pages) BACK to Index What's New |
| Whistleblowing
in Australia—transparency, accountability…but above all,
the truth [HTML] [PDF
92KB] Research Note no. 31 2004–05 Thomas John, Law and Bills Digest Section 14 February 2005 This brief will provide an overview of the last 15 years of developments in respect of whistleblower legislation in Australia and looks at some of the legal issues surrounding the topic. (4 pages) BACK to Index What's New |
| Campaigning
in the 2004 federal election: innovations and traditions
[HTML] [PDF 95KB] Research Note no. 30 2004–05 Dr Sarah Miskin, Politics and Public Administration Section 8 February 2005 Australia’s political parties added several innovative techniques to their traditional voter-wooing methods for the 2004 federal election on 9 October 2004. Faced with opinion polls predicting a tight race and political commentators alleging that there were large numbers of undecided voters who were open to persuasion, the parties could not afford to be complacent about their strategies to attract voters. This Research Note reviews some of the innovative techniques of the 2004 election, including tele-marketing, e-mail spam and Internet campaigning, as well as the new approaches to some traditional measures, including mass-media advertising and direct mail. (4 pages) BACK to Index What's New |
| The Internet
telephone: Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) [HTML]
[PDF 127KB] Research Note no. 29 2004–05 Matthew James, Science, Technology, Environment and Resources Section 8 February 2005 Is VoIP a revolutionary new technology set to shake up the traditional roles of telecommunications and Internet service providers? This Research Note describes what the buzz and hype is all about. (2 pages) BACK to Index What's New |
| Exchange
rates–the statistics (revised edition) [HTML]
[PDF 60KB] Research Note no. 28 2004–05 Greg Baker and Stephen Barber, Statistics Section 8 February 2005 Over the last few years the value of the Australian dollar has, in general, been rising steadily against the United States dollar. This Research Note provides some of the relevant statistical background and is an update of a Research Note issued in 2000–01. (2 pages) BACK to Index What's New |
US
presidential election 2004 [HTML]
[PDF 91KB] |
| Bhopal
20 years on: forum non conveniens and corporate responsibility
[PDF 82KB] The Bhopal disaster led to a classic international legal case
in which Union Carbide used the ‘forum non conveniens’
doctrine to avoid being sued in the United States. In Australia,
however, the High Court has insisted on a more ‘globally responsible’
forum non conveniens approach, enabling Australian companies to
be sued here if something goes wrong overseas. But the balance in
ensuring corporate accountability is not necessarily in Australia’s
favour. The US offers avenues for legal action not available in
Australia and other countries. (4 pages) |
| Electoral
matrix: 2004 federal election [HTML]
[PDF 56KB] Research Note no. 25 2004–05 Gerard Newman, Statistics Section 29 November 2004 Traditionally, information about electoral division margins has been presented in a pendulum shape. The pendulum shape implies that electoral swings are uniform across electoral divisions and that divisions will change hands in order of ranking on the pendulum. The 2004 federal election saw regional and state differences in swings and divisions changing hands both ways. This brief attempts to overcome the perceived problems with the pendulum by providing an alternative format for displaying electoral division margins. Electoral divisions are shown in the form of a matrix, with divisions classified by party holding the division and the degree of safeness. (2 pages) BACK to Index What's New |
| Investing
in the economy’s knowledge base [HTML]
[PDF 121KB] |
| The
2004 ACT election [HTML]
[PDF 72KB] The 2004 ACT election—held a week after the federal election—delivered
an historic majority for the re-elected Labor government. The Labor
Party won nine Legislative Assembly seats, the Liberal Party retained
seven seats and the Greens retained one. The Democrats lost their
seat in the Assembly and suffered a 6 per cent swing. (2 pages) |
| Labour
market dynamics [HTML] [PDF
69KB] New jobs are more likely to be filled by persons drawn from outside
the workforce than by persons who are unemployed. This is one of
the findings of this brief which examines the dynamic nature of
the labour market. For simplicity, this is done by comparing two
successive months (July and August 2004) which experienced little
change in terms of the aggregate number of persons recorded as either
employed, unemployed or not in the labour force. It will be shown
that a situation that appears to be fairly stable at an aggregated
level can mask considerable change at the micro level. (2 pages) |
| Australia,
ASEAN and the Vientiane summit, November 2004: new prospects for
cooperation [HTML] [PDF
79KB] The ten members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) in their meetings in Vientiane, Laos, are holding a special
summit on |
People trafficking:
Australia's response [HTML]
[PDF 81KB] People trafficking is a well established and enormously lucrative business throughout the Asia Pacific region. This Research Note looks at some of the issues associated with people trafficking, outlines Australia’s responses to date, and discusses how effective those measures are likely to be in combating trafficking. (2 pages) BACK to Index What's New |
| Does
the Australian Constitution allow harsh and inhumane detention?
The decision in Bherooz [HTML]
[PDF 60KB] This Research Note examines the decision of the High Court in Behrooz. The Court held in that case that the Australian Constitution confers power on the Commonwealth to legislate for detention of non-citizens, even where that detention may involve harsh or inhumane treatment of detainees. (2 pages) BACK to Index What's New |
| Commonwealth
expenditure on Indigenous affairs 1968–2004 [PDF 313KB] This Research Note presents data on trends in identifiable Commonwealth
expenditure in the area of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Affairs. BACK to Index What's New |
| The
king, the courts and ‘incompetent’ children: the welfare
jurisdiction of the Family Court of Australia [PDF 60KB] This Research Note explains the welfare jurisdiction of the Family Court of Australia by highlighting its historic roots and noting some of the cases in which it has been applied. It also examines the concept and extent of parental responsibility in so far as it relates to the welfare jurisdiction. (2 pages) BACK to Index What's New |
Continued
detention for the protection of the community [PDF 84KB] This Research Note examines the key features and operation of Queensland’s Dangerous Prisoners (Sexual Offenders) Act 2003. Under this legislation, a court may order the continued detention of sexual offenders after their original prison terms have expired. It outlines the arguments that were advanced during the constitutional challenge to this Act and highlights the potential relevance to the Commonwealth. The decision of the High Court is expected to be handed down soon and a subsequent research note will deal with this decision. (4 pages) BACK to Index What's New |
| Legislative
attempts to reduce challenges to decisions under the Migration Act
1958 [HTML] [PDF 63KB] Australian governments of both political persuasions have sought to reduce challenges in the courts to decisions under the Migration Act 1958. Two techniques to achieve this are considered in this Research Note: the inclusion in the Migration Act of a privative clause and the codification of the requirements of procedural fairness. (2 pages) BACK to Index What's New |
| Arguing
with a friend: dispute resolution under AUSFTA [HTML]
[PDF 84KB] This Research Note outlines the stages of the dispute resolution system and highlights its positive and more problematic sides. The note will be followed up by a more detailed analysis of the dispute resolution system in a forthcoming Current Issue Brief, including a discussion of investor, labour and environmental disputes, compliance review under Article 21.13 and the minimum requirements of additional rules of procedure. (4 pages) BACK to Index What's New |
The
Philippines elections 2004: issues and implications
[HTML] [PDF 183KB] In the Philippines national elections of 10 May 2004, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (in office since 2001) secured re-election and pro-Arroyo parties also gained majorities in both chambers of Congress. The new Arroyo administration, however, faces formidable challenges, particularly in confronting institutional ‘gridlock’, pursuing economic reform and seeking to resolve ongoing insurgencies, some with links to international terrorists. This Research Note reviews the outcome and key implications of the elections. (4 pages) BACK to Index What's New |
In
the shadow of the corporate veil: James Hardie and asbestos compensation
[HTML] [PDF 94KB] Significant fallout is likely from the NSW inquiry into the treatment of Australian asbestos victims by James Hardie Industries. The NSW Special Commission will not report until 21 September this year but Federal and State governments are already considering legislation to access James Hardie’s overseas assets. Constructions unions in Victoria have banned James Hardie materials, and the NSW Government may do likewise for State projects. And there are growing calls to ‘lift the corporate veil’—fundamental to corporations law for 140 years—by restricting ‘limited liability’ in cases of physical injury.sed its energy white paper which proposes changes to fuel excises. This Research Note examines the proposals and comments on them. (4 pages) BACK to Index What's New |
| Energy
White Paper: fuel excise grants reform [HTML]
[PDF 79KB] In June 2004, the Government released its energy white paper which proposes changes to fuel excises. This Research Note examines the proposals and comments on them. (4 pages) BACK to Index What's New |
Economic
indicators: Whitlam to Howard (August 2004 update) [HTML]
[PDF 79KB] The period from the Whitlam Government through to the Howard Government has seen significant movement across a range of economic indicators. Some indicators that particularly stand out are high inflation under Whitlam, low employment growth under Fraser, high employment growth and (paradoxically) high unemployment under Hawke/Keating and low inflation under Howard. While these are just a few indicators, this Research Note examines the performance of the economy during each administration across a large number of economic indicators. (4 pages) BACK to Index What's New |
2004
Defence cuts: possible Australian implications [HTML]
[PDF 79KB] The UK is planning to cut areas of their existing defence expenditure, in some places by up to 25 per cent. Australia has different defence requirements to the UK, but many of the reasons given by the UK for their cuts are applicable in Australia defence planning. The cost implications for the Australian taxpayer are potentially enormous. (2 pages) BACK to Index What's New |
Minority
government for Canada 2004 [HTML]
[PDF 98KB] The Canadian election of 28 June saw the election of a hung Parliament, with the Liberal Government remaining in power with the likely support of the NDP. This paper gives the background to the election, discusses the campaign, and speculates on the likely future of the minority government, the tenth in the past 80 years. (2 pages) BACK to Index What's New |
| The
1974 joint sitting of Parliament: thirty years on [HTML]
[PDF 92KB] August 2004 sees the thirtieth anniversary of the joint sitting
of Parliament held shortly after the double dissolution election
of 18 May 1974. |
The Attorney-General's
power to proscribe terrorist organisations [HTML]
[PDF 67KB] On 3 May 2004, the Attorney-General (‘the Minister’)
first used his new, executive power to proscribe the group Palestinian
Islamic Jihad (PIJ) as a ‘terrorist organisation’. Seventeen
groups have been proscribed as terrorist organisations under Australian
law to date, but PIJ is the only one of those groups not also listed
by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) as a ‘terrorist
organisation’. However, the UNSC does not need to list an
organisation in order for the Minister to exercise the new power.
The Minister must only be satisfied of a test set out in subsection
102.1(2) of the Criminal Code Act 1995. This Research Note examines
the operation of that test. (2 pages) |
| The implications
of a US military drawdown in Korea [HTML]
[PDF 102KB] In June 2004 the US government in talks with South Korea raised
a proposal that would see one third of the US military force currently
in South Korea withdrawn. The US drawdown will have little military
significance on the peninsula. Here in Australia the US drawdown
is likely to bring focus on the role of US training bases and whether
Australian military forces are going to be needed in any potential
war in Korea. (2 pages) |
The Commonwealth
plan for reforming defamation law in Australia
[HTML] [PDF 100KB] The lack of uniformity in defamation law between the States and
Territories has been the subject of much criticism for over twenty
five years. In a recent short paper, Outline of possible national
defamation law, the Commonwealth Attorney-General has put forward
a broad blueprint for a nationally consistent law. Unless the States
and Territories agree to bring their defamation laws into line with
the paper, the Commonwealth has said it will develop legislation
to override existing State and Territories’ law. This Research
Note briefly reviews the major proposals contained in the Commonwealth
paper. (4 pages) |
| The PBS
and the Australia–US Free Trade Agreement
[HTML] [PDF 114KB] Recent debate has centred on whether and how the Australia–US
Free Trade Agreement will affect pharmaceuticals in Australia, especially
the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. This research note examines
the parts of AUSFTA that have caused the most concern and provides
an assessment of their likely impact on the PBS. (4 pages) |
| Opinion
polls: issues and preferred party, and preferred PM, July 2004
[HTML][PDF 182KB] Opinion polls: comparison
of voting intention, July 2004 [HTML][PDF 150KB] In what is expected to be an election year, opinion polls are the
focus of considerable attention. These two Research Notes are the
latest in a series compiling and comparing results from the major
polling organisations. Research Note no. 1 traces shifts in voting
intentions from June 2001 to June 2004 and Research Note no. 2 explores
changes in how voters have ranked issues of importance to them and
the party they prefer to handle these issues. The latter includes
a comparison of the 'preferred prime minister' results of Newspoll
and ACNielsen. (4 pages each) |
