This paper provies an overview of Commonwealth arts policy and administrative developments from Federation to the present day. It covers: Introduction From Deakin to McMahon The Whitlam Government The Fraser Government The Hawke Government The Keating Government The Howard Government The Rudd Government The briefing does not deal with film policy as that will be...

Middle class welfare has been a controversial issue in policy debates in Australia in recent years. The research examined in the paper suggests that the issues relating to middle class welfare are more complex than generally suggested in the various debates on this topic in Australia and overseas.

The Clean Development Mechanism is an avenue for industrialised countries to undertake carbon abatement projects in developing countries. This Background Note provides information on the CDM and its associated emissions credits. The mechanism is an element of the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Carbon abatement credits occurring from these...

Delaying action to mitigate climate change increases the risk that adverse climate change impacts, including possibly irreversible changes, will occur before greenhouse gas concentrations can be stabilised at a desired level, according to this research paper. The likely consequences of unmitigated climate change present serious risks to our environment and consequently to our socioeconomic productivity...

This research paper provides comprehensive information on the Members of Parliament (Staff) Act 1984 (Cth) (MoPS Act) employment framework including recent developments, staff figures, and staffing trends. The paper also updates and expands a previous Parliamentary Library publication on employment issues associated with the MoPS Act. The following employment issues are considered: • the adequacy...