The present drought conditions foreshadow a serious bushfire season for southeastern Australia. After last summer's severe bush fires in New South Wales there were calls for more frequent and extensive use of fuel reduction burning of forests and other areas to enable firefighting agencies to protect life and property. The frequency and intensity of these...

This Current Issues Brief provides an assessment of the situation in Afghanistan a year after the fall of the Taliban regime. It discusses the problems facing the country and concludes that there are grounds for cautious optimism if the international community stays involved in rebuilding efforts.

This Research Note discusses issues highlighted by a recent attempt by the Queensland government to require local councillors to vacate office if seeking election to federal Parliament.

The changes in the oath of citizenship over the last 50 years reflect the evolution of Australia from British colony to independent multicultural nation. This Research Note provides an overview.

Tasmanian voters went to the polls on 20 July 2002, well before an election was due. Dubbed "the cold snap election", it was only the fifth Tasmanian election held in the middle of winter. The Bacon Labor government was comfortably returned, the Liberal Party lost ground and the Tasmanian Greens re-emerged as important parliamentary players...