The Australian Army is in the process of acquiring a new main battle tank (MBT). This acquisition is contrary to the policy announced in the 2000 defence white paper when the government said it had 'decided against the development of heavy armoured forces suitable for contributions to coalition forces in high intensity conflicts'.

Based on data from the 2001 Census, more than one in ten Australian homebuyers are experiencing 'mortgage stress', defined in this Research Note as a situation in which homebuyers are paying 35 per cent or more of their income on home loan repayments. While it is acknowledged that not all households paying 35 per cent...

Aren't all children born in Australia, 'Australian'? Not necessarily. Until 1986 every child born in this country automatically became an Australian citizen at birth - no matter who the parents were. Only children of foreign diplomats and 'enemy aliens' did not become Australian citizens. The Citizenship Act was amended in 1986 to remove automatic citizenship...

A customs duty anomaly that has periodically attracted interest is the 5 per cent tariff on imported four- wheel-drive vehicles (4WDs) compared to a 15 per cent tariff on imported passenger motor vehicles (PMVs). The tariff rate differential exists because there is no tariff classification that deals specifically with 4WDs. This Research Note examines the...

On 8 August 2003, Amrozi bin Nurhasyim was found guilty of various charges relating to his purchase of the Minivan and bomb-making chemicals used in the Bali bombings of 12 October 2002. These charges were laid under an anti-terrorism regulation that was proclaimed by President Megawati one week after the Bali bombings. An initial appeal...