Expenditure on plant and machinery has traditionally been seen as an indicator of future economic growth and productivity. But in the age of high technology, investment in an economy's knowledge base could be as important. Key areas include investment in research and development, in software and in human capital (measured by expenditure on higher education)...

The ten members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will hold summit meetings in Vientiane, Laos on 29-30 November 2004. The summit will include discussions with leaders of Japan, China and the Republic of Korea (as a part of the 'ASEAN Plus Three' process) and also India. ASEAN leaders will also host a...

This report is the sixth national report on the performance of the National Cervical Screening Program in Australia. Cervical screening services are provided as part of mainstream health services with general practitioners performing approximately 80 per cent of Pap smears. The program is funded by the Australian Government, and the state and territory governments. This...

For some time, considerable disparity has been apparent in the prescribing of medication for children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder in different jurisdictions in Australia. Despite having a smaller population than New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland, Western Australia accounts for the highest number of prescriptions dispensed for dexamphetamine sulfate, a drug prescribed to treat ADHD...

In August 2004 Australia's High Court declared by 4:3 that failed asylum seekers who have nowhere to go can be kept in immigration detention indefinitely. In the Al-Khateb and Al Khafaji cases, the majority said that provided the Immigration Minister retained the intention of eventually deporting such people, detention would remain valid. These cases will...