The revised legislative crime control scheme would likely survive constitutional challenge in the High Court. On 15 February 2012 the NSW Attorney General, Greg Smith, introduced the Crimes (Criminal Organisations Control) Bill 2012 [the 2012 Bill] into the Legislative Assembly. The Bill was passed without amendment and transmitted to the Legislative Council on the same...

This paper examines the varied issues raised by the Restoration of Oaths of Allegiance Bill 2011. On 11 November 2011 the Constitution Amendment (Restoration of Oaths of Allegiance) Bill 2011 [the Restoration of Oaths of Allegiance Bill] was introduced in the Legislative Council, sponsored by the Reverend the Hon Fred Nile. The Second Reading speech...

This paper canvasses opinions and issues arising from the proposed ban on political donations from third party interest groups in the Election Funding, Expenditure and Disclosures Amendment Bill 2011, currently before the NSW Parliament, with particular reference to the implied freedom of political communication under the Commonwealth Constitution. One point to make is that significant...

This short paper discusses the constitutional issues associated with the proposed amendments in the Election Funding, Expenditure and Disclosures Amendment Bill 2011 relating to caps on electoral expenditure. Significant issues of interpretation remain to be clarified in relation to the implied freedom of political communication. Furthermore, the issues identified in this paper can only be...

Over the past two decades there have been at least ten examples of this political phenomenon in the Australian states and territories. This paper looks at those instances in which a minority government has been based on an agreement, charter or accord between major parties on one side and minor parties and/or Independents on the...