Australian politics can only be properly understood through an awareness of the federal structure.
The essence of federalism is a division of powers between the Federal government and the six State governments. When the federation was formed in 1901 the original states retained their existing constitutions and powers other than those transferred to the federal government.
The federal government is also referred to as the Commonwealth government, the national government, the central government or the Australian government. Its powers are set out in Section 51 of the Constitution.
In practice, the powers of the federal government have been expanded through decisions of the High Court.
The federal government has also gained financial dominance over the States, especially since the States transferred their income taxing powers to Canberra in the 1940s.
Archived Posts
- September 18, 2020: Morrison National Cabinet Meeting Briefing: Bringing Australians Home
- September 4, 2020: Statement on National Cabinet Discussions
- September 4, 2020: Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s National Cabinet Press Conference: An Evolving Federation
- August 21, 2020: Prime Minister Scott Morrison Press Conference Following National Cabinet Meeting
- August 12, 2016: Tony Abbott Regrets Hyper-Partisanship In Speech To Samuel Griffith Society
- October 25, 2014: Abbott, Pragmatic Nationalist, Proposes Modest Reform Of Federation
- October 10, 2014: COAG Discussions Focus On Terrorism, Federation And Taxation
- May 18, 2014: Premiers Rebel Over Federal Budget Cuts; Demand COAG Meeting Before July 1
- December 13, 2013: COAG Agreement On Indigenous Truancy And One-Stop Shops For Projects
- November 29, 2013: Education Ministers Speak Out On Pyne’s School Funding Announcement
- February 20, 2013: Tasmanian Premier Lara Giddings At The National Press Club
- December 7, 2012: Full Text Of COAG Communique
- December 7, 2012: Gillard Claims Progress On NDIS And Power Prices Following COAG Meeting
- December 7, 2012: John Brumby Appointed To Chair COAG Reform Council
- November 12, 2012: Gillard Announces Royal Commision Into Child Sexual Abuse
- August 7, 2012: Gillard Tackles Electricity Prices
- July 27, 2012: As NSW And Victoria Offer NDIS Money, A Political Win For Gillard
- July 27, 2012: Baillieu Offers Extra Funds For NDIS Trial In Victoria
- July 25, 2012: Coalition Premiers Opt Out Of NDIS Trial; COAG Fractures
- May 28, 2012: A High Court Challenge To The Murray-Darling Water Plan?
- April 4, 2012: State Treasurers Not Impressed After Meeting With Swan
- March 31, 2012: Julia Gillard Meets With Campbell Newman
- June 30, 2011: Senate Committee Proposes Reform Of Australian Federation
- October 2, 2008: COAG Meets In Shadow Of Global Financial Crisis
- July 3, 2008: COAG Chief Ministers’ Press Conference
- October 28, 2006: Business Council Calls For New Commonwealth-States Contract
- October 28, 2006: BCA Booklet: Reshaping Australia’s Federation
- July 14, 2006: COAG Meeting: Chief Ministers’ Press Conference
- November 10, 2004: Federal Links With Local Government Will Grow: Howard
- March 18, 2004: Federalism: Canberra And South Australia Act On Murray River
- March 14, 2004: Madrid Bombings Prompt Meeting Of Counter Terrorism Committee
- August 29, 2003: COAG Meeting Reaches Water Agreement But State Leaders Walk Out Over Health
- May 2, 2003: Beattie Says Premiers Must Fight ‘Un-Australian’ Health System
- April 5, 2002: Council Of Australian Governments Joint Press Conference on Stem Cell Research
- April 5, 2002: Council Of Australian Governments Communique
- December 16, 1999: Howard Announces Federal Government Attack on Gambling
- December 16, 1999: Howard Announces National Approach To Problem Gambling
- April 9, 1999: Premiers’ Conference: Howard and Costello Press Conference
- April 9, 1999: Agreement on Reform of Commonwealth-State Financial Relations
