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...

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...

Almost 200,000 Australians are believed to have dementia and many more are involved in caring for a family or friend with dementia. Talina Drabsch provides an overview of the prevalence of dementia, now and over the next 50 years, and discusses its economic and social costs. She highlights the impact on the health and aged...

In November 2005, the NSW Attorney General announced that the government would introduce majority verdicts of 11:1 for criminal trials. If the proposed measures pass into legislation, majority verdicts would be available for all criminal offences, provided a minimum deliberation period has passed. Talina Drabsch examines the arguments for and against this change in the...

The provision of funding and requiring disclosure of donations and expenditure are thought to strengthen Australia’s democratic institutions, enhance the political process, and dampen the influence of money on politics. The extent to which the various regimes achieve these purposes is debateable, as are the changes considered necessary. Talina Drabsch provides an overview of the...