This issues backgrounder updates the 2015 e-brief 'Right to farm laws', focusing primarily on significant developments in Australia.

The main focus of this paper is to provide Members of Parliament and the New South Wales public with an overview of the key issues surrounding uranium mining and nuclear energy in NSW.

This e-brief begins by looking at the prevalence of abuse of older people and adults with disability. It then outlines existing NSW agencies that play a role in protecting these groups from abuse and also considers NSW and national review recommendations to establish agencies to protect “vulnerable” or “at-risk” adults from abuse and neglect.

The misuse of pharmaceutical drugs is a major public health issue in Australia, as highlighted by parliamentary, government and coroner reports. There are fears that Australia could be heading down the same path as the United States, where prescription drug misuse has been described as an epidemic.

On 21 September 2017, the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2017 was introduced into the NSW Legislative Council. This paper compares it with a similar Bill in Victoria.