If the Federal Government decided to promote the establishment of a nuclear energy industry in Australia, the siting of the power plants is likely to be one of the most politically contentious issues. Overseas evidence suggests that even in countries that rely on nuclear power for a large proportion of their electricity needs, there is...

Queensland government estimates of land clearing in Queensland between 1990 and 2001 are approximately 50 per cent higher than the Federal Government’s estimates. If the Queensland government figures are correct, Australia’s total greenhouse emissions may be well above the Kyoto target. Without the decline in land clearing claimed by the Federal Government, total emissions would...

This paper explains why the current patchwork of media and advertising regulation is failing to prevent the premature sexualisation of Australian children. A number of improvements are proposed based on a review of current regulatory arrangements for the areas most responsible for the sexualisation of children: girls' magazines, television and outdoor advertising, and television programs...

The devastation caused by the 2002-03 fire season precipitated state and federal inquiries. While each inquiry assessed bushfire mitigation strategies, the impacts on the environment and the resources available to fire services, for the first time all the inquiries raised concern about the impact climate change could have on fire risk in Australia. This paper...

Australia's security agencies have become increasingly politicised under the Howard Government. Whistleblower and former intelligence official Andrew Wilkie has put forward a four-point plan to ensure the independence of Australian security agencies. (A summary of this report is available free online with the full report available for purchase).