States | AustralianPolitics.com

Abbott, Pragmatic Nationalist, Proposes Modest Reform Of Federation

Oct 25, 2014

Describing himself as a “pragmatic nationalist”, Prime Minister Tony Abbott says he believes it is worth another try to “harmonise” the revenue and spending responsibilities of the States and the Commonwealth.

Parkes Abbott spoke at the Sir Henry Parkes Commemorative Dinner in Tenterfield, NSW. On October 24 1889, Parkes, a five-time premier of NSW, delivered his famous Tenterfield Oration, a call for the colonies to federate.

Abbott said: “Now I remain a pragmatic nationalist – but the states exist, they have wide powers under the constitution and they can’t be abolished; so – rather than pursue giving the Commonwealth more authority over the states, as I proposed in my 2009 book, Battlelines – better harmonising revenue and spending responsibilities is well worth another try.”

Abbott said he used to think that “the states should become subordinate legislatures to the Commonwealth”, but he now doubted that “any such constitutional change could succeed”. He said: “…in any event, it’s a good principle to propose the smallest change that will actually tackle the problem – that’s why resolving the mismatch between what the states are supposed to deliver and what they can actually afford to pay for is worth another go.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Abbott, Federalism, States Tagged With: federalism, Henry Parkes, Tenterfield, Tony Abbott

Bob Such, South Australian Independent Liberal, Dies, 70

Oct 11, 2014

Bob Such, the former Liberal-turned-independent member of the South Australian Parliament, has died, at the age of 70.

Bob Such

Such held the seat of Fisher in the House of Assembly for 25 years. First elected in 1989, he served as a minister in the Liberal government led by Premier Dean Brown. He was moved to the backbench after Brown was deposed by John Olsen in 1996. In 2000, Such quit the Liberal Party and was re-elected as an independent in 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014.

Following this year’s state election, Such and Geoff Brock held the balance of power after Jay Weatherill’s Labor government was returned with 23 seats to the Liberal Party’s 22. A few days after the election, Such was diagnosed with a brain tumour. [Read more…]

Filed Under: S.A. Tagged With: Bob Such, Geoff Brock, Jay Weatherill

COAG Discussions Focus On Terrorism, Federation And Taxation

Oct 10, 2014

The Council of Australian Governments met in Canberra and discussed a range of issues, including terrorism, reform of the Federation and the taxation system.

COAG

The Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, held a joint press conference following the meeting. He was accompanied by Premiers Baird, Napthine, Newman, Barnett, Weatherill and Hodgman, as well as the Territory Chief Ministers Gallagher and Giles. Felicity-Ann Lewis represented Local Government.

The State have agreed to introduce legislation to support federal laws covering the arrest, monitoring, investigation and prosecution of domestic extremists and returning foreign fighters.

COAG also agreed that the Federation and Tax Reform White Papers need to progress together. [Read more…]

Filed Under: A.C.T., Abbott, Audio, Federalism, Local Government, N.S.W., N.T., Qld, S.A., TAS, Taxation, Terrorism, VIC, Video, W.A. Tagged With: Adam Giles, Campbell Newman, COAG, Denis Napthine, Felicity-Ann Lewis, Jay Weatherill, Katy Gallagher, Mike Baird, Tony Abbott, Will Hodgman

ALP And Greens Back Palmer Motion For Select Committee Inquiry Into Queensland Government

Sep 30, 2014

The Senate has voted to establish a Select Committee to inquire into aspects of Queensland government administration.

The motion was moved by Palmer United Party senators and supported by the ALP and Greens. It was carried by 30 votes to 27.

The 5-member Select Committee on Certain Aspects of Queensland Government Administration will comprise 2 ALP, 1 Green, 1 PUP and 1 Coalition members. The PUP Senate leader, Glenn Lazarus, will chair the committee.

The Committee is required to report by March 27, 2015, around the time the Queensland state election is due.

The Committee is charged with inquiring into Commonwealth funds allocated to Queensland since March 26, 2012, when the LNP government led by Premier Campbell Newman took office. It will investigate judicial independence and the separation of powers, environmental law, the administration of prisons and detention without trial. The Committee will also examine Commonwealth oversight of coal seam gas projects in Queensland. [Read more…]