Australia's Federation: an agenda for reform

30 June 2011

© Commonwealth of Australia 2011
ISBN 978-1-74229-443-8

View the report as a single document - (PDF 2220KB)

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View the report as separate downloadable parts:

Members of the Committee	(PDF 7KB)
Terms of Reference	(PDF 4KB)
Abbreviations	(PDF 6KB)
Recommendations	(PDF 27KB)
Chapter 1 - Overview of Australian federalism	(PDF 159KB)
Introduction The federal model The strengths of federation Evolution of the Australian federation and its limitations A time for review Committee view
Chapter 2 - Constitutional questions	(PDF 102KB)
Constitutional interpretation and centralisation of federal power Cooperative legislative schemes and the referring of powers Committee view
Chapter 3 - Intergovernmental relations	(PDF 87KB)
Vertical mechanisms Horizontal mechanisms Submitter views on intergovernmental mechanisms Committee view
Chapter 4 - Vertical fiscal imbalance	(PDF 145KB)
VFI within the Australian federal system Managing VFI within the Australian federation Intergovernmental agreement on federal financial relations Concerns with the effect of VFI on Australia's federal system Options for reform Committee view
Chapter 5 - Horizontal fiscal equalisation	(PDF 49KB)
Distribution: Legislation and Commonwealth Grants Commission Views on HFE in Australia Incentives and disincentives Financial Assistance Grants – Local Government
Chapter 6 - Local government	(PDF 197KB)
The funding of local government Concerns with Commonwealth and state/territory funding for local governments Constitutional recognition Obstacles in the path of Constitutional recognition Committee view
Chapter 7 - Regional governance and service delivery	(PDF 64KB)
A role for regions The Regional Development Australia initiative Local government and regionalism Regional government - the radical alternative Committee view
Chapter 8 - Reforming the federation	(PDF 68KB)
An architecture supporting cooperation and competition Implementing the principles of reform
Appendix 1 - Submissions	(PDF 5KB)
Appendix 2 - Public Hearings	(PDF 6KB)
Thursday, 2 December 2010 - Sydney Tuesday, 1 February 2011 - Brisbane Wednesday, 9 March 2011 - Perth Thursday, 5 May 2011 - Canberra
Appendix 3 - Answers to questions on notice*	(PDF 1337KB)
COAG Reform Council NSW Business Chamber Western Australian Local Government Association Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet

* Only available in PDF

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