Improving Federalism: Drivers of Change, Repair Options and Reform Scenarios

Abstract

The Academy of Social Sciences in Australia (ASSA) and the Institute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA) hosted a 'Policy Roundtable on Federalism' on the 17-18 May 2007 at the University of Canberra. Around 50 attended the roundtable comprising politicians, Commonwealth and state public servants, and academics. The roundtable was provided with a number of background papers including the Hollander-Patapan article and another produced by staff of the Commonwealth Grants Commission entitled 'Trends in Commonwealth-State Financial Relations: a Grants Commission Perspective'. The roundtable focused not only on issues and challenges but, more practically, on options and how to make federalism work better.