This updated guide contains links to parliamentary resources (such as transcripts and amendments) relating to passage of the Workplace Relations Amendment (Work Choices) Bill 2005.

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.

While the calling of an election is partly a matter of political judgement and timing, a constitutional and legislative framework governs the electoral timetables and processes. The Constitution requires periodic elections for both Houses of Parliament, with separate provisions reflecting the different constitutional role of each House.

Originally issued in December 2004, this updated electronic brief aims to draw together major resources, research and studies on violence against women and sexual assault in Australia and a selection of the major international surveys. It complements a previous brief, Domestic Violence in Australia, which includes links to interest groups and an overview of Commonwealth...

The advent of the East Asia Summit has been a notable development. However it has also been the focus for some differing opinions in the region on how regional cooperation should best be pursued and on which countries should be principally involved in these efforts. The evolution of the Summit will be significant for the...