In a discussion of relevant issues, this paper includes background information, an overview of the main provisions of the Bill, and information on anti-corruption commissions in other Australian jurisdictions.

Recent data from the Australian Institute of Criminology’s Drug Use Monitoring in Australia program indicate a decrease in the use of ecstasy among police detainees. Specifically, only five percent of police detainees in 2010 and 2011 reported using ecstasy; 50 percent lower than in 2009 when ecstasy use peaked at 11 percent. Key findings: Recent...

During December 2010 and January 2011, Queensland was devastated by a series of natural disasters, with 78% of the state being declared a disaster zone. During this period, six children and young people died in association with floodwaters. Of those, four were in vehicles that entered floodwaters. This two-page paper examines this danger.

Pacific development specialist Steve Pollard shares some of his personal development policy sojourns in the continuing interest of adopting better policies for a better future in the islands Steve Pollard, known in the Pacific as a government employee, researcher, consultant, and donor staffer, recently retired from the ADB. He has almost 30 years' experience working...

This Facts Sheet provides a summary of the ways in which adoption currently operates, past adoption practices, and the potential impacts adoption has on those involved. There are three types of adoption currently operating in Australia: Intercountry adoptions are of children from other countries who are usually unknown to the adoptive parent(s). Since 1999-2000, most...