This report examines the performance of all Australian governments providing education, justice, emergency management, health, community services and housing services. These services account for $120 billion in government expenditure – almost 13 per cent of Australia's gross domestic product. The report is produced by a Steering Committee of senior officials from Australian, State and Territory...

Australia has neither commercial nor military nuclear programs, but its long involvement with nuclear science, nuclear weapons tests and uranium mining has left a legacy of radioactive waste, the management of which has proven a tough policy nut to crack. This chronology – originally published in January 2006 and revised in January 2008 – outlines...

An analysis of summary data for the total population, the 0 to 14 years age group, and the 65 and over age group are presented in the tables in this online-only report.

Summary The prospect of political change in North Korea is a recurring question, buoyed by media speculation regarding the health of the current leader, Kim Jong-Il, the dearth of information about his succession and concern for the potential instability that could occur. Australian interest stems from the possibility that political change in North Korea could...

Summary High oil prices, increased reliance on imported oil, and environmental concerns have led to calls for mandating the blending of domestically-produced ethanol with petrol (‘fuel ethanol’). The most common proposal is for a blend with 10 per cent by volume of ethanol (E10). Mandate advocates cite fuel security, a smaller trade deficit resulting from...