This month focuses on the following topics: social housing, affordable housing and recent overseas arrivals. Forthcoming releases If you are interested in any of the forthcoming releases or datasets, please contact the Parliamentary Library to discuss in more detail. Statistical reports Release date ABS Lending Indicators, July 2023 1 Sept ABS Retail Trade, July 2023 1 Sept ABS Mineral and Petroleum Exploration, June 2... Read more...
In Australia, the 151 members of the House of Representatives equates to 1 MP for approximately every 134,000 people of voting age (or as a ratio 1:134,000)*. While there is no ‘optimal’ size of a parliament (given physical space and budgetary constraints), some commentators have highlighted the inherent representational implications involved. Accordingly, this Flagpost article considers the historical context, assesses the potential impacts of changing the size of the parliament, and statistically situates the Australian parliament among international comparisons. Read more...
The recent Defence strategic review (DSR) highlights Australia’s deteriorating strategic circumstances and foreshadows the kind of Australian Defence Force (ADF) required to address future challenges. It recommends a shift from a balanced force – capable of responding to a variety of contingencies, but optimised for none – to a focused force designed to ‘address the nation’s most significant military risks’ (p. 54), which, as the DSR observes, is ‘the defence of Australia against potential threats arising from major power competition, including the prospect of conflict’ (p. 32). Read more...
Following the commencement of the Restoring Territory Rights Act 2022, all jurisdictions now have the power to enact voluntary assisted dying (VAD) schemes, with the majority having done so. However, it is currently unclear whether VAD, as authorised by a state/territory law, constitutes ‘suicide’ within the meaning of the carriage service offences contained in the Commonwealth Criminal Code. This has led to state governments advocating for the Criminal Code to be amended to clarify that the restrictions do not apply to VAD schemes, and legal action in the Federal Court of Australia seeking to clarify whether or not the carriage service offences apply to state VAD legislation. ... Read more...
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