This page sets out a number of resources on federalism in Australia.

The aim is to provide access to a range of web-based material for use by academics, bureaucrats, students and others interested in the Australian federal system. The list of resources will be updated at regular intervals.

Recent Developments in Federalism

For a selection of recent news reports and commentary on federalism issues, click here.

General Resources

Twomey, Anne, and Glenn Withers (2007), Australia's Federal Future: Delivering Growth and Properity, A Report for the Council for the Australian Federation.

This report, commissioned by the Council for the Australian Federation, argues that Australia’s federal system offers many real and potential benefits, and offers suggestions for reform.

Bennett, Scott and Richard Webb (2007), Chronology of Australian Federalism, Parliamentary Library, Department of Parliamentary Services, Canberra. (Last updated May 2007).

A chronology of major events in the development of Australian federalism. Also contains a list of constitutional provisions relevant to federal-state relations, and a list of Parliamentary Library papers on federalism.

Bennett, Scott (2006), The Politics of the Australian Federal System, Research Brief No. 4, 2006-07, Parliamentary Library, Department of Parliamentary Services, Canberra.

Gives an overview of Australian federalism, including its strengths and weaknesses, and canvasses some options for reform.

Brown, A.J., and Jennifer Bellamy, eds (2006), Federalism and Regionalism in Australia: New Approaches, New Institutions? Canberra: ANU E Press, 2006.

A collection of articles from a symposium of the same name in 2006. Includes chapters on regionalism, local government, public attitudes to federalism, and principles for progressing the debate on federal reform.

Craven, Greg (2006), ‘The New Centralism and the Collapse of the Conservative Constitution’ in Kay Walsh (ed.), Papers on Parliament No. 44, Department of the Senate, Canberra, 133-149.

Examines the relationship between conservatism and Australian federalism; responds to various criticisms of Australian federalism; and, argues that the Howard government’s approach to federalism was inconsistent with conservative philosophy.

Walker, Geoffrey de Q. (2000), ‘Ten Advantages of a Federal Constitution’ Policy, vol. 16, no. 4, 35-41.

Outlines ten advantages of federal systems.

Approaches to Federal Reform

Lynch, Andrew and George Williams (2008), ‘Beyond a Federal Structure: Is a Constitutional Commitment to a Federal Relationship Possible?’, University of New South Wales Law Journal, vol. 31, no. 2, 395-434.

Considers the case for formal constitutional recognition of the federal relationship between Commonwealth and State governments. Part of the UNSW Law Journal’s special issue on Australian Federalism (table of contents only).

Twomey, Anne (2007), ‘Australian Federalism – Options for Reform’, National IR Conference, Brisbane, 11 September.

Argues for reform of Australian federalism in three areas: the reallocation of powers and responsibilities between the levels of government; the improvement of mechanisms for intergovernmental cooperation; and, the reform of Commonwealth-State financial relations.

Business Council of Australia (2007), A Charter for a New Federalism.

The BCA calls on the nation’s leaders to work cooperatively through the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) to deliver national reforms.

Business Council of Australia (2006), Reshaping Australia’s Federation : A New Contract for Federal State Relations.

The BCA proposes a 12-point plan to improve the effectiveness of Australian’s federal system.

Productivity Commission (2005), ‘Productive Reform in a Federal System’ in Annual Report 2004-05, Annual Report Series, Productivity Commission, Canberra.

Gives an overview of the role of competition and cooperation in federal-state relations; emphasises the importance of intergovernmental cooperation in addressing national challenges, such as increasing globalization, environmental stability and an ageing population; and, suggests some directions for reform.

Recent Conferences, Seminars and Roundtables

TC Beirne School of Law (2008), The Future of Federalism, University of Queensland, Brisbane, 10-12 July (access to papers is password protected).

This international conference held sessions on global trends in federalism, supra-national federalism, the law of federalism, federalism and finance and the future of federalism. Speakers included Sir Gerard Brennan, Justice Robert French (as he then was) and several other distinguished Australian and international guests.

Centre for Independent Studies (2008), Fixing Federalism, Roundtable Seminar, Video of proceedings, 5 May.

This Roundtable Seminar discussed a range of topics, including the constitutional and legal foundations of federalism; the roles and responsibilities of Commonwealth, State, and local governments; national reform; the fiscal aspects of federalism; and the benefits a federal structure brings to Australia. Speakers included Professor Cheryl Saunders, Emeritus Professor Cliff Walsh and Professor Jonathan Pincus.

Governance Stream (2008), ‘The future of Australian governance’, in Australia 2020 Summit: Final Report, 303-351.

Record of discussion and main ideas of the Governance stream at the 2020 Summit; includes section on review of the Australian federation.

Economy Stream (2008), ‘The future of the Australian economy’ in Australia 2020 Summit: Final Report, 33-50.

Record of discussion and main ideas of the Economy stream at the 2020 Summit; includes section on federalism.

Productivity Commission (2006), Productive Reform in a Federal System, Roundtable Proceedings, Productivity Commission, Canberra.

This Roundtable considered general strategies for improving the operation of Australian federalism, as well as specific approaches in the key policy areas of health, the labour market and freight transport. It also looked at various possibilities for federal reform.

Fiscal Federalism

Warren, Neil (2008), ‘Reform of the Commonwealth Grants Commission: It’s all in the Detail’, University of New South Wales Law Journal, vol. 31, no. 2, 530-552.

Warren, Neil (2008), ‘Fiscal equalization in Australia: High level VFI and equity focused HFE’ , CESifo DICE Report 2008/1, 10-15.

Reform of NSW Tax System: Final Report, Report prepared by Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (Michael Keating, James Cox, Sibylle Krieger and Neil Warren), October 2008.

Warren, Neil (2006), Benchmarking Australia’s Intergovernmental Fiscal Arrangements: Final Report, Prepared for New South Wales Treasury.

This report, prepared for the NSW Treasury, examines how Australia’s intergovernmental fiscal arrangements perform against a range of ‘best practice’ benchmark criteria.

Webb, Richard (2006), Developments in Commonwealth-State Financial Relations Since 2000-01, Research Brief no. 11, 2005-06, Parliamentary Library, Department of Parliamentary Services, Canberra.

Examines developments in Commonwealth-State financial relations from the introduction of the GST to the beginning of 2006.

Webb, Richard (2003), Commonwealth General Purpose Financial Assistance to Local Government, Research Paper, no. 1, 2003-04, Parliamentary Library, Department of Parliamentary Services, Canberra.

Examines how the Commonwealth determines the level and distribution of financial assistance it provides to local government, and looks at some key issues in relation to the provision of that assistance.

James, Denis (2000), Federal-State Financial Relations: The Deakin Prophecy, Research Paper, no. 17, 1999-2000, Parliamentary Library, Department of Parliamentary Services, Canberra.

Examines the process by which financial power has, since Federation, gradually become more concentrated in the hands of the Commonwealth, and considers the repercussions of this.

Local Government

Bell, Paul (2008), ‘Constitutional Recognition for Local Government’, Address to Australian Federalism – Rescue or Reform, Tenterfield, 24 October.

Argues for constitutional recognition of local government.

Links

Council of Australian Governments

Official website of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG). Contains records of meeting outcomes, Intergovernmental Agreements, Mutual Recognition Agreements and reports.

Commonwealth Grants Commission

Official website of the Commonwealth Grants Commission. One of the Commission’s main roles is to provide advice to the Australian government on the allocation among the States of GST revenue.

Council for the Australian Federation

Official website of the Council for the Australian Federation (CAF). CAF is a collaboration between State and Territory Premiers and Chief Ministers, aiming to promote constructive engagement with Federal government and COAG. The site contains records of CAF meetings, and a repository containing links to academic and policy papers and other websites.

Forum of Federations

The Forum of Federations is an independent organization concerned with the contribution federalism makes and can make to the maintenance and construction of democratic societies and governments. The website hosts a Federalism Library which contains over 800 documents relating to federalism internationally, as well as an archive of the Forum’s magazine, Federations.

‘Federalism in Australia’, Research Project, Griffith University.

This project and website are a joint initiative of Griffith University's Socio-Legal Research Centre, Centre for Governance & Public Policy, and Urban Research Program. The project aims to conduct research into the social, economic and political roots of Australian federalism, as well as directions for reform.