Professor Anthony Gray and Emeritus Professor Greg Craven AO  

The future of federal financial relations following Vanderstock

This lecture brings together two constitutional law experts to discuss the implications of the High Court decision in Vanderstock v Victoria.

Professor Gray will discuss the recent Vanderstock decision in the context of the broader question of the future of federal financial relations in Australia. Most would agree that the existing federal financial arrangements are unsatisfactory in one way or another. There is less consensus on what reforms should occur and/or whether substantial reform is even possible. Australia requires a mature discussion about the allocation of responsibilities between different levels of government, and then a mature discussion about providing the respective levels with adequate sources of revenue that are efficient and equitable. Professor Gray's presentation will offer some ideas for consideration.

Emeritus Professor Greg Craven AO will discuss how the decision in Vanderstock has both an immediate and wider significance. While the decision is immediately relevant to the scope of State powers of taxation, its broader importance is as a further important stage in the failure of the High Court to protect the fundamental principle of federalism in the Australian Constitution.

Professor Anthony Gray commenced as Professor of Law at the Bond Law School on 1 May 2024. He has authored approximately 150 refereed journal articles and numerous research monographs. His work has been cited by the High Court of Australia, Supreme Court of the United Kingdom and Supreme Court of Canada. He wrote his PhD on the topic Excise Taxation in the Australian Federation.

Emeritus Professor Greg Craven AO  is a constitutional lawyer and former Vice-Chancellor of the Australian Catholic University. He has written widely in the fields of constitutional law, particularly relating to federalism and judicial interpretation.