Significant fallout is likely from the NSW inquiry into the treatment of Australian asbestos victims by James Hardie Industries. Federal and State governments are already considering legislation to access James Hardie's overseas assets, and there are growing calls to 'lift the corporate veil' - fundamental to corporations law for 140 years - by restricting 'limited...

This paper discussed a range of issues raised by the government's announcement in April 2004 that it would abolish the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission, and the Labor opposition's announcement a few weeks earlier that it would do likewise in government. They provide a brief history of the administration of Indigenous affairs before ATSIC...

August 2004 sees the thirtieth anniversary of the joint sitting of Parliament held shortly after the double dissolution election of 18 May 1974. in this Research Note Scott Bennett looks at how the joint sitting was organised and discusses the politics surrounding this event.

The Canadian election of 28 June saw the election of a hung Parliament, with the Liberal Government remaining in power with the likely support of the NDP. In this Research Note Scott Bennett gives the background to the election, discusses the campaign, and speculates on the likely future of the minority government, the tenth in...

On 3 May 2004, the Attorney-General first used his new, executive power to proscribe the group Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) as a 'terrorist organisation'. Seventeen groups have been proscribed as terrorist organisations under Australian law to date, but PIJ is the only one of those groups not also listed by the United Nations Security Council...