The national cabinet has worked. Can it last? Editors' Picks An outline for the structure of new arrangements for the national cabinet has been released. It calls for 30 ministerial forums or regulatory councils that…
Male fury against women and kids continues as Senate inquiry ends in whimper Friday May 22, 2020 By Amber Schultz Editors' Picks A Senate inquiry into domestic violence, established after the brutal murder of Hannah Clarke and her three children, has ended three months early. But experts…
Premium Expert briefings An Australian constitution written in the late 1800s doesn’t cope well with modern challenges Thursday April 2, 2020 By Stephen Bartos Communications & Technology Our constitution is a product of its times. It gives the commonwealth responsibilities that mattered nationally in the late 1800s, like “lighthouses, lightships, beacons and…
Daniel Andrews v Steve Bracks on giving income tax to states Friday April 1, 2016 By The Mandarin News Let the states collect their own income tax, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull declared yesterday. It's a bold plan that took premiers by surprise. But it's…
Brave new tax world: devolution back on the COAG agenda Thursday March 31, 2016 By Stephen Easton Economy & Industry A proposal to give income tax power back to the states has emerged from a flurry of confused announcements and commentary, ahead of tomorrow's COAG…
Evaluation 'the key' to traction on hard policy challenges Friday December 11, 2015 By Stephen Easton Community & Social Setting targets, like COAG did for combined efforts to Close the Gap, is useful but should not be the main focus of attempts to get…
John Brumby: COAG 'last bastion of unreformed governance' Monday October 26, 2015 By David Donaldson Career Advice Former Victorian premier John Brumby warns that COAG is trailing on modern governance standards. It needs pre-agreed agendas and an independent secretariat to protect good…
What is the point of federation reform? Friday October 16, 2015 By Stephen Easton Features Federation reform was the big topic at this week's IPAA national conference. Former SA premier and political historian John Bannon made the case for change,…
Policing schools for violent extremism Friday August 14, 2015 By Anthony Bergin Community & Social A NSW audit of prayer groups in public schools has put the education space at the centre of government efforts to counter violent extremism. Perhaps…
Leaders' retreat gives nod to NT statehood Thursday July 23, 2015 By Harley Dennett News Described as Australia's first "Camp David" summit, the leaders of Australia's three tiers of government unanimously backed a statehood bid for the Northern Territory and…
Cheryl Saunders: ten principles for reforming federalism Wednesday July 15, 2015 By David Donaldson News The government's federalism white paper process has been "inconsistent" and "opaque", top legal expert Cheryl Saunders said at Tuesday's John Button Oration. Although Australians are…
20 years on, government services reports benchmark delivery Wednesday January 28, 2015 By Stephen Easton News Now in its 20th year, the annual Report on Government Services produced for COAG by the Productivity Commission continues to drive service improvements through national…
A new federation: tollways, tax and fixing the fiscal imbalance Monday October 27, 2014 By David Donaldson News As the Prime Minister kickstarts debate, experts and former politicians from both sides of the divide offer their road maps for reforming the federation in…
'Undemocratic, opaque, ad hoc': does COAG still work? Monday October 20, 2014 By David Donaldson Features COAG plays an important role in Australia's federal system. But are its decisions rushed and undemocratic? Federation reform requires another look at the premiers' meeting.
Federation talk: premiers soothed, white papers to progress Monday October 13, 2014 By Harley Dennett News Tony Abbott has soothed bristling state premiers, angered by $80 billion in broken agreements, and set the federalism and tax reform white papers back on…
