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About the House, your free colour magazine
 About the House is a free colour feature magazine produced five times a year by the Liaison & Projects Office of the House of Representatives. It covers the varied work of Members of the House, especially Committee investigations.
The magazine is available through the offices of every Member of the House of Representatives, or can be ordered directly through the Liaison & Projects Office (tel: 02 6277 2122, email: liaison.reps@aph.gov.au).
The current About the House magazine is the May/June 2003 edition (Issue 16).
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In the current edition (May/June 2003)
Cover story:
Feature articles:
Previous editions
Cover Story - May/June 2003:
The Next Step for our children
The health and well being of Australias children is the subject of a new investigation by the House of Representatives Family and Community Affairs Committee. Early childhood expert, Professor Alan Hayes, looks at why the inquiry is a timely opportunity to take the next step in ensuring a better future for our children.
The renewed focus on the importance of the early years of human development stems from wider public awareness of the research on early brain development, and particularly the life-long impact of the neurological impairments flowing from abuse and neglect of children. In turn, this has raised the prominence of the early years for politicians and policy makers, with increased interest in the influences on children in the early years of life, including the importance of family and of early care.
The interest in early human development has coincided with recognition of the benefits of investing in prevention rather than in costly and less effective interventions later in life. The Commonwealth, state and territory governments have all recently developed initiatives that focus on the needs of young families, in particular those who are disadvantaged, vulnerable or otherwise socially excluded.
To read the entire article, you can open this pdf document, or ask the Liaison & Projects Office for a copy of the magazine.
Between a rock and a hard place
Mineral exploration expenditure in Australia has fallen by 40 per cent since 1997. The House of Representatives Industry and Resources Committee is investigating the causes and consequences of this decline, as well as the situation for petroleum. About the House reviews some of the evidence presented to the committee so far.
For the first two-thirds of the 20th century agriculture and mining dominated the Australian economy. Phrases like riding on the sheeps back and the lucky country reflected the fact that we were blessed with natural resources to harvest, which we did (and still do) through world-class farmers and miners.
Since then, we have seen the diversification of the economy, with the rise of a manufacturing sector and now the rapid growth of the services sector. While the spectacular developments seen in resources extraction after World War 2 have slowed, and the resources sector has concentrated on becoming more efficient, innovative and, increasingly, focused on value-adding, it nevertheless remains vitally important to our economy. Minerals and petroleum still account for some 35 per cent of the value of Australias exports.
There is concern in resources industry circles, however, that the future may not be so bright, with mineral exploration expenditure having declined by more than 40 per cent since 1997.
To read the entire article, you can open this pdf document, or ask the Liaison & Projects Office for a copy of the magazine.
Out for the Count
The latest redistribution of federal electorates will see Queensland gain a seat in the House of Representatives, while the Northern Territory and South Australia will each lose a member. About the House uncovers a brewing controversy over the way this outcome was calculated.
The two federal members representing Northern Territory electorates are pushing for legislation to ensure that the Territory keeps at least two seats in the House of Representatives.
Their move follows a recent determination by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) that the number of electorates in the Northern Territory be reduced to one.
The Member for Lingiari, Warren Snowdon, says that while he has no problem with the formula used to determine the Territorys representation entitlement, the statistical information used to determine the seat allocation for the Territory was flawed.
The Constitution states that the latest statistics must be used when the formula is applied to determine the allocation of electorates, says Mr Snowdon. The statistical information used by the Electoral Commissioner to determine the Territorys allocation was not accurate.
To read the entire article, you can open this pdf document, or ask the Liaison & Projects Office for a copy of the magazine.
Authority for War
The decision to send Australian troops into combat in Iraq has generated debate about the role of the federal parliament in relation to such decisions. Professor Geoffrey Lindell provides a detailed analysis of the issues.
It has been said that probably the most striking achievement of the framers of the Australian Constitution was the successful combination of the British system of parliamentary government containing an executive responsible to the legislature with American federalism. Unlike its American counterpart, it is a constitution that was founded upon trust rather than the mistrust of governmental power. The decision of the Australian government to commit our military forces in the Coalition War against Iraq without prior parliamentary approval, presents an interesting and striking illustration of these observations.
To read the entire article, you can open this pdf document, or ask the Liaison & Projects Office for a copy of the magazine.
Hub of the House
Hundreds of pieces of legislation, hundreds of documents and hundreds of petitions are dealt with every year by the House of Representatives. Helen Beringen goes behind the scenes to talk with the people who help the House and its members take care of the enormous amount of business the federal parliament must handle.
Its the hub of many an Australian householdthe kitchen or dining table around which family and friends often gather to discuss the important things in their lives.
The house on the hill is no different. The centrepiece of the House of Representatives Chamber is a large rectangular table where the affairs of the nation are regularly discussed and debated.
To read the entire article, you can open this pdf document, or ask the Liaison & Projects Office for a copy of the magazine.
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