'Horizontal fiscal equalisation' was originally devised as a principle for distributing federal government grants to the states and territories, but has now become the basis for apportioning GST revenue. There has been considerable agitation on the part of New South Wales and Victoria, for horizontal fiscal equalisation to be abandoned, and replaced by a per...

In this paper Antony Green summarises results for the election of 21 members to the New South Wales Legislative Council. The 2003 election was the first conducted under changes to the electoral system that made it virtually impossible for parties to engage in preference deals. While the new voting system retained the 'above the line'...

The cross-examination of complainants of sexual offences is a contentious issue. In one sense, it may be characterised as a conflict between the rights of a person accused of a serious crime with the rights of an alleged victim who may have already survived an extremely traumatic experience. Alternatively, the issue may be viewed as...

The expulsion of an MP is an example of the power of a parliament to regulate its own constitution and composition for the purpose of preserving its dignity and efficiency, as well as to preserve public confidence in the institution. It is an ultimate sanction that is rarely used. This Briefing Paper sets out the...

This paper has been prepared by the ABC's election analyst, Antony Green, as a final analysis of the 2003 New South Wales election. It includes details of the Londonderry supplementary election conducted on 31 May, final two-party preferred counts in every electorate, and an analysis of the distribution of preferences in the Legislative Assembly and...