This research paper provides comprehensive information on the Members of Parliament (Staff) Act 1984 (Cth) (MoPS Act) employment framework including recent developments, staff figures, and staffing trends. The paper also updates and expands a previous Parliamentary Library publication on employment issues associated with the MoPS Act. The following employment issues are considered: • the adequacy...

The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) operates a fl eet comprised of surface combatants, submarines, amphibious assault vessels, patrol boats and support vessels as well as a range of helicopters. In size it is a little larger than the navies of countries like Singapore and Thailand, but is much smaller than those of China, India and...

This research paper surveys the major constitutional issues relating to Northern Territory statehood and gives an indication of the complexities and nuances involved. It discusses the application of Commonwealth legislation to the Territory after statehood and provides background on the Northern Territory’s constitutional development and the statehood timeline. The major constitutional issues relating to statehood...

The government recently announced that it was in discussions with the US Government regarding the purchase of twenty-four Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft for the RAAF. This is a very significant development. It is essentially an admission that unacceptable risks have developed since the formulation of the previous plan for sustaining Australia's air combat capability...