Diversity and innovation

A strength of our federal system is that it accommodates the vast differences across Australia through the tailoring of different polices for different areas. Our system of government was designed to have a balance between national unity and regional concerns. Different policy responses allows for diversity and innovation and means States and Territories compete with each other to provide better services. Innovation and experimentation is a key characteristic of federal system of governments which is lost through central domination.

Craven G (2001). Similar diversity: the Australian states and the Australian nation.

The Barton Lectures Part 7. ABC Radio National (Sunday Special): 25 March.

Professor Greg Craven argues that the existence of states inserts a critical element of distinctly Australian diversity and difference into our political and social culture. He views desires to dispense of them as reflective more of a failure to value and foster difference than any rational impetus for constitutional reform or economic management.

Harwood J, Phillimore J (2008). There's an innovative side to federalism.

Australian Financial Review, 29 April: 63.

Jeff Harwood and John Phillimore from the John Curtin Institute of Public Policy, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, argue:

One of the most appealing justifications for federalism is the concept of ‘laboratory federalism’. This holds that in a federal system the central and state governments can and do learn from one another.

Walker G de Q (2001). Ten advantages of a federal constitution: and how to make the most of them.

Policy, (Summer 2001-2): 35-41. Link to PDF (470 KB)

This article is an extract from a monograph subsequently published under the same title by the Centre for Independent Studies.

Geoffrey de Q Walker argues that:

The constitutional debate in Australia tends to concentrate on and exaggerate the minor inconveniences of federalism, making no mention of its great advantages.

Worldwide support for federalism is greater today than ever before. The old attitude of benign contempt towards the federal political structure has been replaced by a growing conviction that it enables a nation to have the best of both worlds, those of shared rule and self-rule, coordinated national government and diversity, creative experimentation and liberty.

This article is an extract from a monograph subsequently published under the same title by the Centre for Independent Studies.