From the outset, the NSW Freedom of Information Act 1989 has been subject to amendment and criticism. While its introduction was accompanied by high expectations about improved democratic accountability, for many its actual operation has proved inadequate. Gareth Griffith surveys the major issues in FOI debate, along with the recent developments in this area of...

This paper has been prepared as a preliminary analysis of the results of the 2007 New South Wales election. It contains details of voting for all Legislative Assembly districts, summary tables analysing estimated two-party preferred swing, and an overall summary of results for the Legislative Council. A final version of this paper will be prepared...

SUMMARY The number of women parliamentarians in Australia is gradually increasing; almost onethird of all parliamentarians in Australia are women. Whilst there is still a need for improvement before the numbers balance, it is clear that women politicians have become a regular feature of the political scene. This paper is concerned with the subject of...

This background paper, which reflects the law as at 1 March 2007, discusses questions and issues in parliamentary privilege that continue to be the subject of debate or uncertainty. These include the law relating to: the execution of search warrants, the issuing of subpoenas and orders for discovery in Parliament; the 'effective repetition' of statements...

On 14 November 2006, the High Court handed down its long-awaited decision in the Workplace Relations Case. By a majority of 5:2, the Court rejected all of the challenges by the States and unions to the constitutional validity of the Federal Government’s new workplace relations laws, which were passed in December last year. For many...