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Asylum
seekers on Bridging Visa E [HTML]
[PDF 153KB] The collision between the international asylum system and Australia’s
highly developed and managed migration system has played out through
detention centres, in northern waters and in offshore processing
centres. The latest area of concern and contention is asylum seekers
in the community for extended periods on Bridging Visa E, without
work rights, income support or access to Medicare. Refugee advocates
have lobbied parliamentarians and campaigned through the media.
This brief looks at the issues and the arguments, and provides some
international comparisons. It concludes that it is likely that more
support will be extended to asylum seekers in situations of need
in the community. However, advocates’ more exaggerated claims
and demands could be counterproductive, in that they are hastening
the demise of the international asylum system. (26 pages) BACK to Index What's New |
Budget
Review 2007– 08 [HTML]
[PDF 680KB] The purpose of the Library’s Budget Review 2007–08 is to assist Senators and Members by identifying some of the key features of Budget measures contained in the Commonwealth Budget 2007–08. While selective in focus, it is not the intention of this document to make value judgements about the relative importance of different measures or to provide a comprehensive overall assessment of the Budget. (126 pages) BACK to Index What's New |
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The 1967 Referendum—history
and myths [HTML] [PDF
142KB] Forty years ago, on 27 May 1967, a referendum question concerned with amending s.51(xxvi) and s.127 of the Constitution received a 90.77% 'yes' vote and passed in all states. The referendum opened the way for greater Commonwealth Government involvement in the area of Aboriginal affairs. However, did it have the whole-hearted support of both sides of politics, did it confer the vote, equal wages and citizenship on Indigenous Australians, and did it end legal discrimination? This Research Brief examines the history behind, and the myths surrounding the referendum. (24 pages) BACK to Index What's New |
Commonwealth
Members of Parliament who have served in war [HTML]
[PDF 132KB] Over the years, many Commonwealth MPs have served their country in times of war. This Parliamentary Library Research Brief refers to some of them, noting where they served, what they endured, and the acknowledgment they received for their service. (22 pages) BACK to Index What's New |
| Statistical
Local Areas in electoral divisions (2006 electoral redistribution)
[HTML] [PDF
190KB] This Research Brief provides a concordance linking Statistical Local Areas (SLAs) to the Commonwealth electoral divisions that will be used at the next federal election. The concordance allows SLA statistical information to be converted into electoral division totals. (47 pages) BACK to Index What's New |
'Save
Country Seats': the NSW redistribution 2005–06 [HTML]
[PDF 592KB] The recently-completed redistribution for the NSW House of Representatives seats was unusually controversial. There was concern in rural areas over the loss of a country seat—which was also a ‘Federation’ seat—and dismay over the apparent pushing–aside of the ‘community of interest’ principle by the Redistribution Committee. The controversy revealed a lack of community understanding of the redistribution process and an apparent reluctance by the Australian Electoral Commission to engage fully with the public. This paper discusses the controversy, analyses the changes to the redistribution that were made as a result the controversy, and poses the question of whether the redistribution arrangements need alteration. (37 pages) BACK to Index What's New |
The
Commonwealth Budget: process and presentation (updated January 2007)
[HTML] [PDF
522KB] The annual Budget is perhaps a Commonwealth government’s most important political, economic and social document. This Research Brief contains an overview of the main stages in the Budget process, some of the key concepts underlying the content and presentation of the Budget, some terms used, and issues in the Budget’s focus, content, format and reporting. (69 pages) BACK to Index What's New |
Bogong
moths and Parliament House [HTML]
[PDF 443KB] The Bogong moth (Agrotis infusa) migrates annually to the highest peaks in the Southern Alps where millions spend the hot summer months dormant in deep, dark crevices in rock caves among granite boulders. Parliament House, built on Capital Hill with its elevated floodlit flagpole and extensive lighting, disrupts the flight of the moths and acts as a giant light trap for moths migrating through the Canberra area during October and November. The moths treat the building as a temporary camp and it is often necessary to reduce the building’s lighting to allow the moths to continue their migration south. (15 pages) BACK to Index What's New |
South
Korea and the East Asia summit: collective identity, balance of
power or domestic politics? [HTML]
[PDF 133KB] On 13–14 December 2005, the inaugural East Asia Summit was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Three new member states from outside the contemporary geographical definition of East Asia were added—Australia, New Zealand and India. This paper addresses the question of whether the addition of the three new members represents the evolution of a regional collective identity, a calculated move to maximise advantage in the balance of power, or the will of domestic constituencies within existing member states. Taking South Korea as a case study, the paper looks at the competing theories and compares their role in motivating the South Korean approach to the East Asia Summit. It develops conclusions about the usefulness of the competing theories and draws implications for policy makers. (17 pages) BACK to Index What's New |
| The
politics of the Australian federal system [HTML]
[PDF 247KB] The Australian federal system, which came into existence in 1901, has generally worked satisfactorily, even though its dynamics have been altered substantially in the years since. Today there is much debate about its future, recently highlighted by the High Court’s 2006 WorkChoices judgment. There is a general consensus that the Australian federal system does not work as well as it might, and the question for Commonwealth and state governments is what should be done to enhance its performance and reputation. This paper gives an overview of Australian federalism, noting its strengths and weaknesses, and asks: where does the system go from here? (37 pages) BACK to Index What's New |
| Queensland
Election 2006 [HTML]
[PDF 247KB] The Queensland election of September 2006 saw the Beattie Labor Government win a fourth term of office, continuing the longest period of ALP government in the state since 1957. The Coalition parties’ share of the vote puts them within reach of victory, but the way in which they work towards the next election—particularly in the area of policy development—will be crucial to them if they are to succeed. (49 pages) BACK to Index What's New |
| The
proposed sale of Medibank Private: historical, legal and policy
perspectives [HTML] [PDF
347KB] The privatisation of Medibank Private, Australia’s largest and only national private health insurer, has been discussed frequently since not long after the fund was established by the Fraser government in 1976. The latest debate commenced in April 2006, when the government announced its intention to sell. This Brief considers the historical development of Medibank Private, some legal issues relating to ownership of the fund and some policy arguments for and against the sale. (46 pages) BACK to Index What's New |
| Distribution
of businesses by industry and Commonwealth electoral division, June
2004 [HTML]
[PDF 142KB] Counts of businesses by postcode and industry, sourced from the
Australian Bureau of Statistics Business Register, have recently
become available for the first time. This has enabled estimates
to be made of the number and distribution of businesses by industry
and Commonwealth electoral division. These estimates are presented
in a series of tables in this Research Brief. (26 pages) |
