OCTOBER 12, 2012 Government’s approach to policy development criticised in formal review On 11 October 2012, the Government released the Independent Review of the Australian Government’s Regulatory Impact Analysis Process and its preliminary response. The Review provides a broad overview of the Government’s current policy development processes. The Review was

ISSN 1328-8091 Parliamentof Australia Departmentof Parliamentary Services Contents Purpose .................................................................................................................................................... 2 Overview of the Bill .................................................................................................................................. 2 Issues ................................................................................................................................................... 4 Nauru as a regional processing country ........................................................................................ 4 Provision of care by IHMS .............................................................................................................. 5 Capacity of the Nauruan health care system ................................................................................ 7 Consent of asylum seekers and provision

OCTOBER 9, 2012 High Court holds security risk provision invalid Image source: Wikipedia There has been extensive reporting on the recent High Court decision concerning the impact of an adverse ASIO assessment on an asylum applicant. In its decision of 5 October 2012 in the matter of Plaintiff M47-2012 v

OCTOBER 2, 2012 Do refugees really receive higher welfare benefits than pensioners? The short answer is no. A series of emails have circulated in recent years asserting that refugees settling in Australia are entitled to higher rates of social security payment than other Australian residents, including pensioners. The emails also

Parliament of Australia Department of Parliamentary Services BACKGROUND NOTE Updated 28 September 2012 Australian Government assistance to refugees: fact versus fiction Luke Buckmaster Social Policy Section Contents Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 1 Origins and veracity of the ‘refugee emails’ ........................................................................................ 1 Australia’s refugee and humanitarian program ................................................................................... 2 Asylum seekers .............................................................................................................................. 3

ISSN 1328-8091 Parliamentof Australia Departmentof Parliamentary Services Contents Purpose .................................................................................................................................................... 3 Background .............................................................................................................................................. 4 Committee consideration ................................................................................................................... 4 Financial implications ............................................................................................................................... 4 Key provisions .......................................................................................................................................... 5 Schedule 1—application and transitional provisions .................................................................... 5 Registration .............................................................................................................................. 5 Reporting .................................................................................................................................. 6 Protected information .............................................................................................................. 6 Review of operation of the ACNC Act

SEPTEMBER 18, 2012 A code of conduct for members of the House of Representatives? The House of Representatives is currently debating a motion, moved by Independent MP Rob Oakeshott, to introduce a code of conduct covering members of the House of Representatives. The motion is based on the recommendations in