This paper provides an overview of both permanent and temporary skilled migration to Australia and outlines some of the recent changes that have been made specifically to address labour market concerns and encourage more 'demand-driven' sponsored skilled migrants. The establishment in 1945 of Australia’s first government department dedicated specifically to immigration is considered to have...

This paper is a reference tool for those needing to locate specific changes in Australian social security and place them in their chronological context. This chronology is one of several produced by the Parliamentary Library dealing with the history of social security payments. The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR), the Department of...

In 2012 at least fifteen members of the Parliament have, or have had, a relative or spouse in federal or state parliament. Since Federation there have been a number of political families in the Commonwealth Parliament. The first parliament included eight sons of state parliamentarians, and seven members who had brothers in state parliaments. In...

This background note examines the 2012 Northern Territory election, focusing specifically on the two month period preceding polling day, and provides an account and brief analysis of the election outcomes.

This background note outlines the types of communications data generated by use of the Internet, email and phones, why law enforcement agencies want it retained, and what existing access law enforcement agencies have to such data. The Government’s interest in establishing a data retention scheme appears to date back to at least early 2010 when...