Although it was once believed that courts simply declare authoritatively what the law is - leaving any change in the law to our elected representatives - that myth was exploded long ago. The courts make law, and the High Court makes more than most. How, then, does this sit with the law-making responsibility of the...

This report looks at factors that may affect the future supply of informal care. These include Australia's ageing population, an increase in female labour force participation, and changed living arrangements.

The Australian government recently announced a parliamentary inquiry to investigate whether a legal presumption of joint residence should become part of Australian family law - that is, if parents separate and cannot agree on arrangements for their children, the starting point should be that children spend equal time with each parent. The AIFS submission to...

This e-brief is a guide to Internet resources and research on domestic violence in Australia. It includes a survey of Commonwealth government programs and initiatives and an overview of the research on the prevalence of domestic violence, at risk groups and communities, the costs of domestic violence to business and the community, and policy approaches...

This update of a chronology first released in 2000 describes the major changes that have taken place in the Australian Public Service since the 1970s, focusing on changes in the areas of accountability, openness, equity, and efficiency. The chronology is supplemented by tables of parliamentary publications related to the public service.