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The Immediate Challenge Regarding COAG Reform
Author(s) -
Beattie Peter
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
australian journal of public administration
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.524
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1467-8500
pISSN - 0313-6647
DOI - 10.1111/1467-8500.00299
Subject(s) - federalism , commonwealth , parliament , cooperative federalism , autonomy , government (linguistics) , public administration , political science , state (computer science) , law , politics , linguistics , philosophy , algorithm , computer science
Federalism presented an attractive model for young Australia. Preserving the autonomy of colonies through the retention of state governments and the establishment of a bicameral Commonwealth parliament with a ‘states’ house’ helped to counter the suspicion of central government. But as a system of government, federalism requires coordination and cooperation between the layers of government. In the history of Australia’s federation there are examples that show times of strong cooperation and coordination between the states and the Commonwealth. However more and more, our federation does not enjoy cooperation or coordination on issues of vital importance to all Australians. I believe it is time to look at the way our system of federalism works. We require a mechanism to facilitate coordination and cooperation between the layers of government.