Speeches

Bligh A (2008). New Federalism: The role of the States in governing the nation.

Inaugural ANZSOG Public Lecture in Queensland (Brisbane, 4 July).

In the first of a series of public lectures commissioned by the Australia and New Zealand School of Government, Queensland Premier, the Honourable Anna Bligh MP, explores what the era of ‘new federalism’, the National Reform Agenda, and a greater role for COAG means for the states, particularly Queensland.

Brumby J (2008). Address to National Press Club of Australia.

(18 November). Link to HTML

Against the backdrop of the global financial crisis, Victorian Premier, the Honourable John Brumby MP, argues:

A tougher global economy is an opportunity… for Cooperative Federalism—for State, Territory and Commonwealth leaders to roll up our sleeves and work together on the challenges we face today, and to build the next era of economic prosperity…

To get more out of Australian Federalism, it needs to be designed not merely to carve up the pie, but to keep growing it.

Brumby J (2008). Address to ANZSOG: Making Federalism Work Conference.

Melbourne: 11 September. Link to HTML

Victorian Premier, the Honourable John Brumby MP (then Chair of CAF), in his address to the Australia and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG) conference, poses the question:

Does a system of government drawn up at the end of the 19th century and activated at the dawn of the 20th century still have currently in the 21st century?

In a word: Yes. Federalism does work. It is a robust and flexible system that has stood the test of time and made us one of the world’s most stable democracies.

Swan W (2008). Modern Federalism not Creeping Centralism.

Address to the Institute of Public Administration Queensland Breakfast, Brisbane, 30 July. Link to HTML

Commonwealth Treasurer, the Honourable Wayne Swan MP, outlines the new architecture for Commonwealth-State relations in terms of the evolving new federal financial structure:

The new architecture of Commonwealth-State financial relations has, and will continue to be, a great enabler of policy change. It will underpin policy reform in the same way than an architect's designs are integral to building a great building. It will provide a point of coherence and certainty, while still leaving room for innovation and policy entrepreneurship at the State level.