This paper sets out the respective responsibilities of the Commonwealth and state governments for health care, identifying those areas where cost-shifting and duplication exist. It discusses some of the major issues in the health debate, with a view to identifying the extent to which they are connected to the federal division of responsibilities. In this...

Crystal methamphetamine, also known as 'ice' and 'crystal meth', is a highly purified form of methamphetamine, a synthetic central nervous system stimulant. This paper provides an overview of crystal methamphetamine and its effects, supply and distribution, and the characteristics of crystal methamphetamine users. It describes the impact of crystal methamphetamine on health and law enforcement...

Earlier this year significant amendments were made to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, perhaps the most controversial of which related to the ministerial appointment of planning assessment panels to replace the role of local councils in determining development applications. This paper reviews the arguments for independent hearing and assessment panels and looks at...

From January to December 2005, there were a total of 599 deaths of children and young people aged 0 to 17 years registered in New South Wales. Males accounted for 58.3 per cent of these deaths (349 deaths) and females made up 41.7 per cent (250 deaths). Diseases of the respiratory system were among the...

The retention of DNA and other forensic evidence following the completion of the trial process raises many issues for the criminal law. On one side, is ‘fresh’ DNA or other evidence to be used by the prosecution to mount an appeal against what is perceived to be a wrongful acquittal, thereby transgressing the rule against...