This month: snapshot of the Australian economy, economic gains and losses during COVID-19, National Ocean Account, elder abuse and National Work Safety Month. Forthcoming releases If you are interested in any of the forthcoming releases or datasets, please contact the Parliamentary Library to discuss in more detail. 2021 Census of Population and Housing, 2nd release The second release of data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2021 Census of Population and Housing is due on 12 October and will include data on: Occupation Industry of employment Status of employment Public or private employer indicator Non-school qualifications Hours worked Method of ... Read more...
Most Australian parliamentarians are affiliated with a political party. From time to time, however, parliamentarians change their party affiliation or sit as an independent while retaining the seat to which they were elected. In the 46th Parliament three parliamentarians changed party. This was fewer than the 45th Parliament when six parliamentarians changed: four of whom did so more than once (see Tables below). Read more...
It has been almost 50 years since Senate committees first began reviewing government department and agency annual reports. The overarching purpose of annual reports is to ‘inform the Parliament and the public about the achievements, performance and financial position of Commonwealth entities and companies at the end of each reporting year’. This Flagpost reflects on committees’ role in scrutinising annual reports and their less visible but important impact on promoting oversight and transparency. Read more...
On 9 September 2022, the Australian flag above Parliament House was lowered to half-mast as a mark of mourning and respect for the death of Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God Queen of Australia and Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth. The Governor-General, David Hurley, Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, Leader of the Opposition, Peter Dutton, and Parliament's Presiding Officers have issued statements of condolence, reflecting on The Queen’s enduring leadership and lifetime of service. This Flagpost article highlights Queen Elizabeth II’s relationship with the Australian Parliament and provides further information on the procedures and protocols upon ... Read more...
Most social security payment rates will be increased on 20 September as part of the regular, twice yearly indexation process. The Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth stated that the September increase is ‘the largest indexation increase to payments in more than 30 years for allowances and 12 years for pensions’. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese tweeted that ‘millions of Australians will see the biggest increase to their pension in 30 years’. This FlagPost explains what an ‘indexation increase’ is and why this 30-year record works to maintain rather than increase the real value of these payments. Read more...
During the 2022 federal election campaign, the Labor Party included improving the Australian Public Service (APS) within its raft of policy commitments. Since the election, Labor’s Minister for the Public Service, Katy Gallagher, has appointed Gordon de Brouwer as Secretary for Public Sector Reform. This Flagpost article examines the key issues likely to influence plans for reform, taken from the ALP’s policy positions, inquiries initiated by the previous Government, and other related issues. Read more...
In one of the first acts of the 47th Parliament, the Government proposed a series of changes to the House Standing Orders. These (currently 270) Standing Orders are rules which govern the operation and conduct of House business, as provided for in The Constitution (section 50). House Practice explains that ‘Standing orders are made and amended by motion moved on notice in the usual way’. While Standing Orders can be amended any time by passing a motion, it’s become the custom of incoming governments to review Standing Orders in the new parliament. This Flagpost article outlines the recent changes to Standing Orders and their various impacts. Read more...
This month: Australian lithium exports and the latest Agriculture Census. Forthcoming releases 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 ABS Assets and Liabilities of Australian Securitisers, June 2022 1 Sept ABS Managed Funds, June 2022 1 Sept ABS Lending Indicators, July 2022 ... Read more...
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...
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