The Council for the Australian Federation (CAF) met in Adelaide this morning, reaffirming their commitment and goodwill to working collaboratively on state and territory matters vital to service delivery for the benefit of all Australians.
CAF Priorities
Population Planning and Management
CAF acknowledged that population growth, including overseas migration, has contributed significantly to the fabric of Australian society and the economy over the past 100 years. This is an important issue for CAF and all reaffirmed interest in identifying ways of better integrating planning across all levels of government to support a growing population. CAF called on all governments to work together on this priority matter and report back to COAG in the first half of 2019.
Health Funding
Today CAF discussed the reconciliation of health funding, following the referral of 2016/17 funding by states and territories to COAG, and noted the impact on the ongoing provision of health services. CAF agreed that the future health reform agreement should adhere to the principles of certainty, transparency and integrity to maintain a high quality health care system in a sustainable and predictable funding environment.
Closing the Gap refresh
CAF noted progress on the Closing the Gap Refresh, which is intended to be finalised in the first half of 2019. To deliver a refreshed Closing the Gap framework, CAF supports governments working collaboratively and in genuine, formal partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities.
Public Safety Mobile Broadband
CAF considers that Public Safety Mobile Broadband capability is an essential future platform to keeping Australians safe and calls on the Commonwealth to resolve the issue of spectrum allocation at low or no cost.
Bullying
CAF discussed progress on actions to counter bullying and calls on the Commonwealth to support further work on ‘right to be forgotten’ legislation which would allow youth and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to request removal of material from internet search results in certain circumstances.
