Robert Breunig, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University
Imagine taking money from others when times were bad, and not paying it back when times improved. That’s Western Australia’s approach to the other states.
The states are primarily responsible for providing infrastructure, but lack the budgets, especially since the pandemic hit revenues. Making up the shortfall depends very much on the Commonwealth.
How possible will budget repair be?
AAP/Andrew Taylor
The path back to surplus inevitably winds through state finances. And it’s a potholed road.
While state and territory leaders will be partners, Malcolm Turnbull’s government intends to be the driver of a national policy for Australia’s cities.
AAP/Lukas Coch
The Turnbull government’s cities policy is the latest incarnation of ‘the-Commonwealth-knows-best’ approach, with little regard for whether urban issues are best resolved at the metropolitan level.
West Australian Premier Colin Barnett is the only state premier putting his support behind Malcolm Turnbull’s federation proposal.
Dean Lewins/AAP
It would be easy to misinterpret a recent comment by federal Treasurer Scott Morrison as meaning that states and territories generate 90% of all revenue collected in Australia. That’s not the case.
The Australian newspaper reported that the Federal Treasurer has refused to back down on a proposed $4 billion cut to schools and hospital funding – a move that will anger the states.
AAP Image/Lukas Coch
The government’s attempt to engage the States on one hand while whipping them with the other does not augur well for tackling growing health and education costs – or for lasting federal reform.
Then NSW treasurer and now Premier Mike Baird, shaking hands in 2013 to mark the handover of Port Botany under a 99-year lease – the same period as has been proposed to lease state electricity assets to private operators.
Dan Himbrechts/AAP
Privatising public assets is like a tradesperson selling her or his tools when facing a temporary income shortfall. Much better to borrow at low interest rates and productively invest those funds.
Our federation is in need of some fixing.
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The Renewing Federalism series, in partnership with Australian National University’s Tax and Transfer Policy Institute at the Crawford School of Public Policy and with the University of Melbourne School…
A review of federalism and taxation should begin with recognising the value of what we have created as a nation.
Flickr/Ross Thomson
The reform of Australia’s federation is under review. So far in our special series, leading Australian academics have discussed the future of the federation when it comes to taxation, education and health…
States must be able to lessen their reliance from the much larger Commonwealth.
AndreaDanti/Shutterstock
The reform of Australia’s federation is under review. In this special series, we ask leading Australian academics to begin a debate on renewing federalism, from tax reform to the broader issues of democracy…
The relationship between state-federal funding is a jigsaw puzzle.
HoriaVarlan/Flickr
The reform of Australia’s federation is under review. In this special series, we ask leading Australian academics to begin a debate on renewing federalism, from tax reform to the broader issues of democracy…
Finding the balance in state-federal funding is harder than it should be.
Image sourced from www.shutterstock.com
The reform of Australia’s federation is under review. In this special series, we ask leading Australian academics to begin a debate on renewing federalism, from tax reform to the broader issues of democracy…
The way we are governed has changed radically from the world of the Constitutional founders.
Flickr/Alison Young
The reform of Australia’s federation is under review, with a White Paper process currently underway. In partnership with the Australian National University’s Tax and Transfer Policy Institute at the Crawford…
There have been instances of successful federalism - how do we return to these?
Flickr/monkeyc.net
When our two major levels of government work in partnership, our Federation can function well. The standout period for cooperative federalism was the Hawke/Keating term of government, producing the National…