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. Link to HTML

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.

Gallop G (2009). You’d miss your state government.

Sydney Morning Herald, 26 May.

Former West Australian Premier Geoff Gallop argues that Australia’s multiple centres of power make policy innovation possible:

“Our federal system accommodates different approaches to meet the needs of different communities. Voters have more choice, and for any demonstrated inefficiencies constraining Australia’s economic position, the model of cooperative federalism that preserves autonomy but facilitates nationwide agreement can always be put on the table.”

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.

Jones S (2009). The future of renewable energy in Australia: a test for cooperative federalism?

Australian Journal of Public Administration 68(1): 1-20.

Abstract:

In the context of the Australian federal system industry development will be influenced by the policies of each sphere of government. When announcing a set of policies in 1997 to develop the renewable energy industry the Australian federal government acknowledged the need for a cooperative approach between all governments and industry. The objective of this article is to analyse the government policies over the 1997-2007 period to promote the development of the renewable energy industry in Australia...

Kryger T (2009). State Statistical Bulletin, 2007–08.

Parliamentary Library Research Bulletin, no. 22, 2008–09 (25 February). Link to PDF

This paper provides tables and charts that allow comparisons between individual states and territories across a broad range of social and economic indicators. Each table contains data for the past five years, while each chart plots data for the latest year that data are available.

Matthews M (2009). Fostering creativity and innovation in cooperative federalism – the uncertainty and risk dimensions.

In: Wanna J, ed. (2009). Critical Reflections on Australian Public Policy: Selected Essays (ANZSOG Series) Canberra: ANU E-Press, pp. 59-70. Link to HTML

In this essay, Dr Mark Matthews from ANU’s Centre for Policy Innovation focuses on a particular objective of innovation in the public sector: the management of uncertainty and risk. He argues that governments place too great an emphasis on the management of risk and not enough on the management of uncertainty – and considers the implications of this for cooperative federalism.

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 (162 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.