The distinguishing feature of the Westminster form of responsible government is the virtually iron clad nexus between the elected executive and the parliament. Unlike other forms of responsible government, all ministers must be drawn from the membership of the Westminster parliament. Richard Herr considers some of the problems associated with small parliaments, exemplified by the...

The Coalition parties only received 45.09 per cent of the first preference vote in the Senate but won 21 of the 40 seats up for election, or 52.5 per cent of the seats. Scott Brenton analyses the relative lack of proportionality in the Senate, and some possible improvements.

Terry Burke challenges orthodox views of the relationship between the market and the state, between social housing provision and support, and between past housing needs and those of the future.

David Carment reviews the controversy surrounding the Commonwealth Radioactive Waste Management Bill 2005, which gives the federal government the power to override the opposition of the NT Labor government and the NT Liberal Party as well as relevant Aboriginal heritage legislation and the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. Carment argues that opposition to the...

Christopher Michaelsen criticises the lack of accountability and scrutiny in the Anti-Terrorism Bill 2005. He argues that the 28 new anti-terrorism laws introduced since September 2001 have generally lacked effective judicial and parliamentary review mechanisms and that the new bill has the same shortcomings. He recommends the establishment of an independent monitoring body.