Recently, the new Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), Bill Shorten, echoed the widespread view that the NDIS ‘is the only lifeboat in the ocean for Australians who live with disability’ – that is, there is limited support for people with disability outside the NDIS. Supports for people with disability outside the NDIS are often referred to as ‘Tier 2’ supports. The Productivity Commission in Volume 1 of its 2011 Disability Care and Support report proposed three tiers of the NDIS, envisaging Tier 2 as linkages with relevant services outside the NDIS, such as mainstream services and community support groups (p. 159). Tier 1 was conceptua... Read more...
In seeking to pursue avenues of accountability, Ukraine has taken Russia to the International Court of Justice (the ICJ), the principal judicial organ of the United Nations (UN), using the 1948 Genocide Convention to which both Ukraine and Russia are States Parties. In invading Ukraine, Russia argued that it was protecting Russian speakers in eastern Ukraine from genocide. The Genocide Convention (Article II) notes that genocide is certain acts ‘committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group’. Ukraine argues that Russia is making false claims about genocide and is erroneously using the Genocide Convention to justify its inv... Read more...
This month: The world population is expected to reach 8 billion by November (United Nations), and the latest Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population data is now available. Releases in August If you are interested in any of the forthcoming releases or datasets, please contact the Parliamentary Library to discuss in more detail. Statistical reports Release date ANZ ANZ Australian Job Ads, July 2022 1 Aug ABS Building Approvals, June 2022 2 Aug ... Read more...
On 27 July 2022, the Government introduced the Climate Change Bill 2022. The Bill proposes to set Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets into law. It is similar to climate target laws enacted in other OECD nations and in four of Australia’s states and territories. It does not introduce carbon pricing, emissions trading, or carbon taxation. Simultaneously introduced was the Climate Change (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2022, which would amend 14 Acts to enable consideration of the greenhouse gas emission reduction targets when specified agencies are exercising powers or performing functions. Read more...
Following the 21 May 2022 federal election, the newly appointed Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, stated that the new Parliament would first meet on 26 July 2022—106 days after the previous Parliament was dissolved. The opening of a new Parliament proceeds according to constitutional requirements, House of Representatives and Senate standing orders and resolutions, and long-standing ceremonial practices. This Flagpost article outlines and contextualises these aspects prior to the new parliament opening later this month. Read more...
Being on mute, an interrupting pet, interesting camera angles, items in the background and technical issues are just a few examples of what parliamentarians have become accustomed to in order to continue business as usual during the coronavirus pandemic. This FlagPost uses a procedural lens to understand how remote participation was implemented and its lasting impact. Read more...
The newly elected crossbench has had their personal employee allocations reduced from 4 to 1, based on recent media reporting. The Government argues that the additional staffing for the crossbenchers is unfair to other backbenchers and a signal of budgetary restraint. This flagpost discusses the regulation and history of this staffing allocation. Read more...
In 2021, the Australian Medical Association reported that according to doctors, access to public hospitals was the worst it had been in 30 years (p. 10). Recent media coverage of patients being treated in corridors, ambulance ramping occurring in every state and territory, and bed and staff shortages around the country indicate that access issues have continued. On 17 June 2022, the Prime Minister announced a review of health funding and health arrangements. This followed calls for months from state and territory leaders for the Commonwealth to increase its share of hospital funding, and concerns from peak bodies about the public hospital system being close to breaking-point. This article ... Read more...
The Census of Population and Housing (the Census) paints a picture of who we are and how we live. Today’s release includes data by characteristics of individuals (age, sex, religion, birth country and language spoken at home, to name a few), a range of data by household, family and dwellings (eg income and housing costs), and data from 2 new Census questions, Selected long-term health conditions and Australian Defence Force (ADF) service. The Census is the main source of information on smaller regions such as suburbs, electorates and local government areas, with initial findings now available from Quickstats and Community profiles. Who we are – Australia’s population On C... Read more...
The Australian Research Council (ARC) is one of the longest-established parts of the Australian Government’s funding system for universities. Recently, however, the independence of the ARC’s decision-making process has been questioned by some in the research community. The issue has been considered by a Senate committee, and concerns have been raised by the Group of Eight (Go8) universities (that received around two-thirds of ARC grant funding in 2020), and a leading international scientific journal, Nature. This FlagPost explores the role of the ARC and recent changes to its remit, as well as explaining the legislative basis for, and ... Read more...
Flagpost is a blog on current issues of interest to members of the Australian Parliament
Blog entries
Senate
House of Representatives
Get informed
Bills
Committees
Get involved
Visit Parliament
