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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 September/October 2002 edition (Issue 13).
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In the current edition (September/October 2002)
Cover story:
Feature articles:
Previous editions
Cover Story - September/October 2002:
Local government at the crossroads
Local government in Australia is facing the challenge of increased demand for community services and facilities at a time when its share of overall government revenue has been in decline. Graham Sansom looks at some of the issues facing the House of Representatives Economics Committee as it investigates the funding available to our third tier of government, now responsible for much more than 'roads, rates and rubbish'.
By international standards Australian local government is small: it accounts for only 4% of total government revenue and 5% of expenditure.
With the exception of Brisbane, Australia lacks the tradition of strong city governments found in Europe, the United States and elsewhere. Here, local government was established by the former colonies largely as an administrative convenience: to provide local services that could not be managed effectively by central government, and to raise additional taxes to pay for those services. Local government remains entirely under the control-some would say at the mercy-of the states, although some Commonwealth legislation also applies.
So why should the federal parliament inquire into the finances and responsibilities of over 700, mostly small, local councils? Some of the answers are obvious, others require more thought and perhaps a little vision.
To read the entire article, you can open this pdf document, or ask the Liaison & Projects Office for a copy of the magazine.
On the ground in Afghanistan
Searing heat, harsh terrain and a persistent enemy confront Australian service personnel fighting against terrorism. Nine federal parliamentarians recently visited the Australian men and women serving in Afghanistan, the Persian Gulf and Kyrgyzstan to see for themselves the dedication and skills needed in this toughest of combat assignments.
Planes flying into Bagram Air Force base in Afghanistan use a spiralling, twisting tactical descent when coming in to land. The threat of a surface to air missile attack is real and ever present.
On the ground, the danger is just as real as Australian Special Forces troops, working as part of the US-led international coalition, seek to track and engage the remnants of Taliban and Al Qaeda fighters.
Bagram Air Base, located in the dusty, wind-swept plains north of Afghanistan's capital Kabul, is a major staging point for the war against terrorism.
Danger is a daily reality for Australian troops based there. It was a reality members of federal parliament's Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee wanted to see for themselves as part of their watching brief on the war against terrorism.
Over an eight day period nine members of the committee visited some of the key locations where Australian troops are based, including Bagram, Manas in Kyrgyzstan and Australian Navy ships in the Persian Gulf. It was a unique opportunity for our federal parliamentarians to observe and talk with Australian troops in a combat zone.
To read the entire article, you can open this pdf document, or ask the Liaison & Projects Office for a copy of the magazine.
NAQS: On the Quarantine frontline
We hear plenty, and rightly so, of the efforts of our defence force troops in East Timor, Afghanistan and other parts of the world. We don't hear much, however, of the efforts of a group of lower profile but very important 'troops' also operating on and to the north of Australia's borders - the people implementing the Northern Australian Quarantine Strategy. About the House travelled with parliament's Public Accounts and Audit Committee to investigate.
Screw-worm fly. Mango pulp weevil. Melon and papaya fruit fly. Asian honey bee. Giant African snails. Rabies. Dengue fever. Japanese encephalitis. Foot and mouth disease.
All lurking just to our north in south-east Asia, along with an array of other diseases, pests and weeds. Posing multi-million dollar threats to livestock, crops, native flora and fauna, tourism and public health, these nasties are on the march southwards.
Standing in their way is a team from the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS); staff of the Northern Australian Quarantine Strategy (NAQS).
NAQS is a three-pronged strategy operating right across the top of Australia (and further north in neighbouring countries), from Broome in the west to Cairns in the east.
It combines border controls, scientific research and public awareness to protect Australia's environment, agricultural and horticultural industries, and animal, plant and human health.
To read the entire article, you can open this pdf document, or ask the Liaison & Projects Office for a copy of the magazine.
Ebbs and flows: fighting for the Murray
What does the future hold for one of Australia's greatest rivers, and the people and industries depending on it? Peter Cotton speaks to members of the House of Representatives who live along the banks of the mighty Murray, and finds out how the location of their electorates helps to shape their views.
Ask a politician about problems besetting the Murray-Darling River system and their response will likely depend on how close their electorate is to the mouth of the Murray.
This greatest of Australian rivers meets the Southern Ocean near the Younghusband Peninsula in South Australia, and members of parliament representing South Australian electorates tend to be gloomy in their assessment of the river's health.
And no wonder. During the summer months, up to 80 per cent of Adelaide's drinking water is drawn from the Murray, and the Murray-Darling Basin Commission says that within 50 to 100 years, the river water will be so saline half the time that it will exceed Australian guidelines for good drinking water.
Meanwhile, Members in New South Wales and Queensland whose seats take in the upper reaches of the Darling and Snowy Rivers deny the Murray is in trouble. They characterise such talk as irresponsible scare mongering.
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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