In this staff working paper, Sid Shanks and Simon Zheng undertake a series of modelling exercises that took advantage of the additional available data to explore the effects of research and development on Australian productivity. A major message from the analysis is that, at least for the time being, empirical estimates of the effects of...

This white paper on Australia’s overseas aid program will direct the delivery of aid over the next ten years. It outlines how the government will approach the projected doubling of Australia’s aid budget from its 2004 level to around $4 billion annually by 2010, as announced by the prime minister in September 2005.

The Australian Government has asked the Commission to examine the impacts of migration and population growth on Australia’s productivity and economic growth. The Commission has been requested to report on: the nature of international migration flows the impact of migration, particularly skilled migration, on the labour force, occupations, industries and regions the effects of migration...

In this e-Brief Roy Jordan provides background on the history of sedition as a Commonwealth criminal offence. Some examples of past sedition prosecutions are given. Proposals for reform in the early 1990s are outlined as well as the controversial amendments which were made during 2005. On 2 March 2006, the attorney-general announced a review of...

This is an abridged report of an investigation into the handling by the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs of the case of Mrs Aziza Yaukob Agha, an elderly Syrian visitor to Australia from Lebanon. Mrs Agha died shortly after attending a medical examination requested by the department.