Unintended consequences: an examination of Australia's ‘historic policy shift’ on East Timor

The Howard government's foreign policy objectives concerning East Timor remain the subject of intense historical debate. Given that some Indonesians harbour suspicions about Australia's role in East Timor's independence, it is important to reflect on Australia's diplomacy throughout this period. This article draws on 15 interviews with former politicians and officials—including Prime Minister John Howard and Foreign Minister Alexander Downer—to argue that in 1998, Australia's foreign policy was focused on supporting Indonesia's democratisation process and maintaining the bilateral relationship. It was only when Indonesia moved towards a ‘special status’ of autonomy for East Timor that Australia reconsidered its own position. Although rarely acknowledged, Australia's policy shift actually precipitated outcomes that it had sought to avoid. As such, Habibie's decision to allow self-determination in East Timor can only be viewed as an unintended consequence of Australian diplomacy—independence was never the objective of Australian foreign policy.     

SEQUENTIAL SALES OF SIMILAR ASSETS: THE LAW OF ONE PRICE AND REAL ESTATE

ABSTRACT The housing literature largely overlooks the price evolution of similar assets sold sequentially, even though such sales often occur with new residential developments. The law of one price implies no persistent price pattern for identical assets sold sequentially. Nonetheless, the auction and nonauction literatures reveal conditions leading to sales sequence effects on prices. This paper examines price evolution in the condominium market where similar units are sold sequentially in a setting with minimal consumption risk. The results indicate no pervasive sequence–price relationship for sequential sales of similar property units.     

On some Anomalies Observable in the Earlier Styles of English Architecture

Excavations in the south range of the cloister of Bordesley Abbey have produced an unusual sequence. The construction scheme of the buildings to the south of the cloister arcade—centring on the refectory and kitchen—was piecemeal and took over two hundred years, from the later twelfth to early sixteenth centuries. At an early stage the range included timber (which may have been part of the original temporary structures) and stone buildings. In the fifteenth century there was a major change of use: the refectory became a workshop and dumping area while the kitchen was used for non-ferrous metalworking: these activities probably continued to the Dissolution. The implications of the excavations are considered in the context of the development of the cloister and then the precinct. The important evidence for adaptation and innovation is discussed in the light of work elsewhere in order to argue that the results have a relevance for other Cistercian houses and monasteries in general.     

Recent Discoveries at Ilium

Excavations revealed important elements of a pre-Flavian fort, including a well-preserved clay and turf rampart, barrack blocks and a granary. A good assemblage of contemporary pottery, metalwork and glass was associated with these levels. The results are assessed with a discussion of previous excavations in Abergavenny. The site also yielded the first firm evidence of the town's Norman defensive bank and later Edwardian town wall. A Civil War phase of defences was also recorded.