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A People’s Federation

Editor

, , ,

ISBN

9781760021481

Publication Date

18/09/2017

Format

Paperback

Page Extent

320

AUD $99.00 gst included

Photo: © Courtesy of The Oslo Times

Federations are in a state of flux globally, and Australia’s federation is no exception. As policy demands change and funding pressures mount, federal reform is always on the agenda. Yet, as demonstrated by the failure of recent reform attempts, change is never easy. This book takes a fresh look at the challenges and options facing would-be federal reformers. It brings together experts from a variety of backgrounds, many of whom argue that, for reform to succeed in an enduring way, it must engage meaningfully with the citizenry to evolve policy structures in tax, government service delivery and intergovernmental collaboration. Accordingly, many chapters focus on placing the recent Reform of the Federation White Paper process in its domestic and international context. Some chapters explore the desirable values underpinning federal reform. Others detail practical considerations around dividing roles and responsibilities between levels of government, intergovernmental collaboration and financial relations. Still others examine how to engage the public in participation and deliberation over the reform process. This book arrives at a crucial time in federal reform and provides a unique interdisciplinary contribution to the federalism literature.

Foreword by The Hon Peter Beattie AC
Acknowledgments
List of Tables
List of Figures
Abbreviations
About the Contributors

Introduction
          Mark Bruerton and Robyn Hollander

Part I: Roles and Responsibilities in the Federation

1. Beyond ‘Sovereign Spheres’: Public Officials’ Views on Allocating Policy Responsibilities in the Australian Federation
         Rodney Smith and AJ Brown

2. Policy Coherence Across the Education Continuum in Australia: Understanding and Improving Service Delivery
         Bronwyn Hinz

3. Why Local Government Matters
         Roberta Ryan

4. The Thawing Continent: The Changing Role of Local Government in a People’s Federation
         Bligh Grant and Joseph Drew

Part II: Models for Collaboration and Cooperation

5. Heads I Win, Tails You Lose: Intergovernmental Negotiation in Australia and the US
         Carol S Weissert

6. Working Together: Policymakers’ Opinions on Improving Intergovernmental Collaboration in Australia
         Tracey Arklay, Mark Bruerton and Robyn Hollander

7. Bridging Sovereign Spheres through Professional Networks and Lively Publics in the Realm of Mental Health Policy
         Amanda Smullen

Part III: Federal Financial Relations

8. The Fiscal Predicament of Australian Federalism
         Alan Fenna

9. The Failure of the Federalism Reform Process and its Financial Implications for the Australian States
         Richard Eccleston and Neil Warren

10. Two Ideas for Renewal of Australia’s Fiscal Federal Democracy
         Miranda Stewart

Part IV: Future Reform and Engaging the People

11. Obstacles to Federalism Reform in the United States
         John Kincaid

12. Reforming Australian Federalism: The White Paper Process in Comparative Perspective
         Nicholas Aroney

13. Practitioners’ Opinions on Barriers to Reforming the Federal System
         Mark Bruerton and Paul Kildea

14. Deliberating Federalism: Can the Australian Public Help Resolve Federalism’s Triple Challenge?
         Jacob Deem

15. Deliberating about Reform: Involving ‘Ordinary’ Citizens in Federation Redesign
         Scott Brenton and Sophie Reid

16. A People’s Federation? Populism, Deliberation and Federal Reform
         Ron Levy

Conclusion: Grand Bargain or Slow Grind? The Challenges and Opportunities of Federal Reform
         AJ Brown

Index

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