I was fortunate to be able to see our blue planet from outer space. Recollecting these unique moments as an inhabitant of our planet, as a woman and a mother, I cannot but express my deep preoccupation with the fate of this our common, and not very big, home.

Valentina Tereshkova, first woman in space, 1963

Latest Papers

The working papers collection comprises historical papers as well as current ideas and works in progress on some of the major issues and topics of our times.

Putting Indigenous Child Abuse in the Northern Territory into Perspective (released 30 June 2007)
There were 319 substantiated instances of Indigenous child abuse in the Northern Territory in 2004/5. This compared to Qld 1,186, NSW 1,642 and Victoria 770. Perhaps the Commonwealth and other states should be sending an army of bureaucrats to study why the Northern Territory has a comparatively good record for looking after Indigenous children. But let us not doubt the motives of John Howard and Mal Brough in seizing control of NT Indigenous communities! Download the key statistics below.
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Political gimmicks, Welfare Tourists & the Continuing Farce of the Commonwealth Response to the Wild/Anderson Report (released 28 June 2007)
Politics is about the art of the possible. It’s about spinning on the tip of a pin, having no principles and constant reinvention to suit the circumstances of the day. But there is one thing that you cannot hide in politics and that is pure emptiness of policy. The sight of the latest welfare tourists from Canberra in Aboriginal communities conveys just how empty the Howard-Brough incursion into the Northern Territory is.
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A Welcome Change: Back to Basics with Jeff Lawrence (released 15 June 2007)
Paul Keating criticized the LHMU and by implication Jeff Lawrence in his recent Lateline appearance. However the facts do not bear his criticism out.
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Hillary and the Women's Vote (released 13 June 2007)
(A short version of this article on Hillary and the women's vote was published in The Australian on Nov 21, 1996 when President Clinton and Hillary Clinton made their first visit to Australia. Subsequently the author was able to introduce Mrs. Clinton to several prominent Australian women politicians and leaders, this unfortunately cut into the time allocated to the new Prime Minister's wife Jannette Howard's meeting with Mrs Clinton and the classmates of her daughter's school and received some interesting press coverage at the time. All polls in the USA now show Mrs Clinton ahead of her Democratic rivals because of the women's vote, making this article once again, topical.)
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Cape York Land Rights (released 8 June 2007)
Cape York Indigenous Land Rights a fitting tribute to the Pearson brothers and the elders of Cape York Peninsula
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Polity, Capability, Culture (released 26 May 2007)
The story of how Canberra and citizenship under-developed Indigenous Australia - an essential handbook on the past and future of Indigenous affairs. 112 pages
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Governing NSW - Executive Summary & Overview (released 23 March 2007)
The first performance analysis of the NSW government and Opposition by portfolio. Prepared in the lead up to the March 2007 NSW election, this analysis evaluates Ministers and Shadow Ministers by their performance in parliament, in the media, as statespeople, as managers, visionaries and as policy makers. The highest rating obtained by a politician in this analysis was obtained by Liberal Party Transport spokeswoman Gladys Berekjiklian. The success and interest generated by the analysis mean that a similar and more intensive exercise will be carried out for the 2007 Federal election and other State elections.
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Governing NSW - Housing (released 23 March 2007)
Cheri Burton spoke only 19 times in the parliament, in contrast Mr Pearce was on his feet over 76 times.
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Governing NSW - Local Government (released 23 March 2007)
John Turner worked hard in the parliament and pipped Kerry Hickey.
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Governing NSW - Gaming & Racing & Central Coast (released 23 March 2007)
Grant Mc Bride, George Souris and Chris Hartcher had an even battle in gaming and racing and Central Coast portfolios.
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