Except for a short period in 2004, the value of the Australian dollar has been rising steadily against the United States dollar for several years. In this research brief - a revision of Research Note 9 of 2000-01 - Greg Baker and Stephen Barber show details of that rise and provide relevant statistical background.

The humanitarian disaster in the Darfur region of Sudan received a great deal of publicity in 2004. In fact it was the result of an exacerbation of political strife going back many years. In this research brief Ravi Tomar provides a background to the conflict and argues that while a resolution is possible, there are...

It complements a previous brief, Domestic Violence in Australia (92), issued by the Parliamentary Library in August 2003, which includes links to interest groups and an overview of Commonwealth government violence against women initiatives and perpetrator programs.

Released to inform public discussion in the lead-up to the development of the government's next defence or national security white paper, this document aims to put the debate surrounding Australia's maritime strategy within a coherent context. Alex Tewes provides a historical summary of strategic developments in Australia, examines the current situation, and focuses on the...

Governments face major challenges when addressing the issue of workplace health and safety, and there is sharply divided opinion over the appropriate legislative response to industrial deaths and accidents. Any policy has to consider the effects upon industry and investment as well as the effect upon the workforce. Kim Haines, Thomas John and Malcolm Park...