This guide provides a selection of information sources about the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, an American law developed to reduce offshore tax evasion which has implications for Australia. Introduction: The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) is an American law developed to reduce offshore tax evasion and regain federal tax revenues from American account...

This guide provides an overview of higher education student loans that are provided through the Higher Education Loan Program (HELP). Introduction: Australia’s Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) provides loans to Commonwealth-supported tertiary students. The scheme allows students to defer the costs of tuition until their taxable income reaches a certain level at which repayments commence...

This paper explores the return of Kevin Rudd to the Prime Ministership in 2013, and the issues and dynamics that animated politics prior to Rudd’s announcement of the 2013 election. Introduction: The return of Kevin Rudd to the Labor leadership on 26 June 2013 and his appointment as Prime Minister is one of the most...

This paper reviews the thinking behind Australia's family migration program and the aspects considered when planning its size and composition each year. Executive summary: In contrast to the United States of America, the Australian Government has steadily prioritised skilled migration within Australia’s permanent Migration Program, with proportionally fewer family places available. The current Coalition Government...

Executive summary: Of the 1,093 members who have served in the House of Representatives from 1901 to the end of the 43rd Parliament in August 2013, 300 (27.4%) have been named and/or suspended or ‘sin binned’ for disorderly behaviour in the Chamber. This study outlines the bases of the House’s authority to deal with disorderly...