Background Briefing

Canberra's low key intervention in Bougainville has helped shape a peace agreement now used as a model in many parts of the world. Yet its billion dollar state building experiment in the Solomon Islands is running into serious problems. This tale of two Pacific policies investigates Australia's often fraught relations with its nearest neighbours. Reporter, Diane Martin.

It's a tropical paradise worth many millions on the open market. The debate is intense about how the indigenous people will fare when new laws allowing privatisation of land open up a different world. Reporter, Ian Townsend.

Psychiatric consultants in Queensland speak out about gross inadequacies in the mental health system in that State, placing lives at risk. Documents show there have been problems in some regions for decades. Reporter: Heather Stewart.

It was the first country in Africa where Europeans arrived to trade, in gold and slaves, and 50 years ago it became the first black African nation in the sub Sahara to become independent. Since then it has had a history full of ideals and tyranny, promise and despair. In that way Ghana is Africa in microcosm. A BBC production.

In the health industry and government circles patient responsibility and self care are the new buzzwords. It's all about getting people out of the expensive end of medical care, and into self care groups much earlier. It may come to mean if you're a smoker, you won't get surgery. Reporter Sharona Coutts.

One was a campaigning greenie rock star, the other a silvertailed barrister, businessman, and republican. Now both Peter Garrett and Malcolm Turnbull are in the bear pit of politics, where glamour takes you only so far, and old ways have to be put aside in the contest for power. Reporter: Wendy Carlisle.

It's a whiteboard jungle out there as educationalists and economists haggle over the surest way to get the best out of our kids. One proposal being considered is more money for teachers whose students get the best test results. The status quo is not an option, and teachers unions are in a difficult position. Reporter: Stan Correy.

The anger and hurt of divorcing parents often spills over into custody and access to children. Accusations of child abuse are defended with claims of lies and alienation using Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS) resulting in the accusing parent losing custody. PAS has been discredited in America but there's concern that it's still being used in the Family Courts of Australia. Reporter: Jane Shields

Despite optimism after the recent Davos meeting, the global free trade talks remain moribund. Last July, the developing world formed a new coalition, and pulled the plug citing unfair and intimidating tactics by the EU & USA. What goes on behind the scenes? A BBC investigation.

As consumers demand more and more 'stuff' the impact on the freight industry will be enormous. The number of trucks on the roads will double in two decades. This will have important implications for traffic, roads, pollution, and energy use. Steve Skinner reports.