This Research Paper outlines the public positions taken by the Rudd and Gillard Governments towards the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Executive summary This Research Paper focuses on the public position of the Labor Governments, in power between 2007 and 2013, towards the Israeli-Palestinian dispute. It does so by looking at the Rudd and Gillard Governments’ responses to...

The Budget is the government’s central economic and fiscal statement each year. This paper reviews key aspects of the Budget. Introduction The 2015–16 Budget was introduced into Parliament on 12 May 2015. It is the second Budget of the Coalition Government. This overview provides a summary of the headline numbers, the economic context, the Government’s...

The Budget is an opportunity for the Government to inform the Parliament, and therefore the broader public, about matters including: the expected performance of the international and Australian economy the Government’s economic and fiscal strategy specific policy decisions the Government has made. Budget Night is typically the most important annual policy statement by the Government.

This Quick Guide provides a brief background to Australia’s preferential trade agreements (PTAs; often referred to as free trade agreements), in particular what they are, what they cover and commentary on whether they have been effective in increasing Australia’s wider economic welfare. What are Preferential Trade Agreements? A PTA is essentially a contract between two...

The Sudan conflict has been one of the longest running in contemporary African history. This paper provides an update on the current crisis in South Sudan. Executive summary In mid-December 2013, the newly formed country of South Sudan erupted into violence, creating a significant humanitarian crisis. Violence spread rapidly across the country, mainly along ethnic...