This briefing paper looks at the intergovernmental mechanisms by which federalism operates in Australia, notably the Council of Australian Governments (COAG). In reality there are many issues at play here and countervailing forces at work. Taking a broad view, what seems to be developing is a form of federalism that is regulatory, conditional and prescriptive...

Parliamentary privilege concerns the powers, privileges and immunities from aspects of the general law conferred on the Houses of Parliament, their members, officers and committees. This paper starts by defining the subject, before looking at parliamentary privilege in the context of a wider constitutional setting, in relation to its underlying purpose, by reference to such...

This briefing paper outlines significant developments in the laws relating to political donations in NSW that have occurred since the publication in June 2007 of the Parliamentary Library's briefing paper on Election Finance Law. It has been written in the context of further discussion of reform at the state and federal government levels including the...

This paper outlines the current debate over the Commonwealth Government's filtering scheme for internet content and the practice of governments in other countries. It concludes: 'With the limited exceptions of Germany and Italy, mandatory ISP level filtering is not a feature of any of the countries reviewed. In place, rather, are voluntary ISP filtering schemes...

This paper outlines the current debate over the Commonwealth Government's filtering scheme for internet content and the practice of governments in other countries. It concludes: 'With the limited exceptions of Germany and Italy, mandatory ISP level filtering is not a feature of any of the countries reviewed. In place, rather, are voluntary ISP filtering schemes...