Report
NSW Legislative Council Elections 1999
This paper contains a summary of results for the 1999 election of 21 members to the New South Wales Legislative Council. The 1999 election will long be remembered for the imposing size of its ballot paper, with 264 candidates in 81 groups distributed across three rows on a ballot paper approximately one metre across by...
Briefing paper
DNA testing and criminal justice
The purpose of this paper is to present an overview of the current debate in NSW about extending police powers to take forensic samples for DNA testing. This debate has intensified over the past few months, due in part to the announcements made by the Police Minister, Hon Paul Whelan MP and the reported comments...
Report
The Future of the Snowy River
The Snowy River has its headwaters in the montane areas of the Snowy Mountains, and flows 380 km to the sea by the Victorian town of Marlo. The River is largely dependent for flow on the catchment above Jindabyne due to a rain shadow effect on the tablelands. For instance, mean annual rainfall varies with...
Report
Banks and Community Obligations
What are the obligations of Australian banks? In addition to the duties they have to their shareholders, do they also have a separate responsibility to the community? Should they consider the needs of the poor, the elderly and those in rural and regional areas who, for one reason or another, may have difficulty accessing banking...