When may half-Senate elections be held? This Research Note suggests that Prime Ministers do not have as much freedom in this matter as public discussion would tend to suggest.

A major component of Australia's income support system is the provision of benefits for veterans (people who saw active service in wartime, usually overseas) and their dependants. This component is not administered by CentreLink but by the Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA). It provides income support and compensation payments and medical treatment. This note shows...

The recent South Australian election saw the narrow defeat of the Liberal Government and the return of a minority Labor Government. Labor governs in controversial circumstances with the support of a former Liberal MHA, Peter Lewis. This Research Note discusses the campaign and its remarkable aftermath and is companion to a discussion on DPL Audio...

The Commonwealth election of 2001 was one of the most remarkable of Australian elections. A Government, seemingly on the ropes just months from polling day, is comfortably re-elected. Unusually, major factors in its victory are immigration and international terrorism issues. Soon after the election the merits of the result come into question due to revelations...

The Liberal National Party Coalition Government was returned with an increased majority at the 2001 election. The two per cent swing to the Government in two-party preferred terms was the largest swing to an incumbent government since 1966 and was only the fifth time that a government received a swing to it since 1949. This...