This is the full text of the Council of Australian Governments Communique issued after today’s meeting of first ministers in Canberra.
Full text of the COAG Communique released following today’s meeting of federal, state and territory first ministers.
Council of Australian Governments Meeting – Communiqué
Canberra, 7 December 2012
The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) held its 34th meeting in Canberra today, 20 years to the day since its first meeting in Perth in 1992. The Prime Minister, Premiers, Chief Ministers and the President of the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) participated in today’s meeting. The Leaders welcomed Northern Territory Chief Minister, the Hon Terry Mills MLA and President of ALGA, Felicity-ann Lewis to their first COAG meeting.
COAG also reiterated its commitment to focus its attention on policy reforms of national significance, and to keep its agenda as streamlined as possible.
National Disability Insurance Scheme
COAG reaffirmed its ongoing commitment to a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) by signing an intergovernmental agreement for its first stage. The agreement provides the foundation for all governments to work together to develop and implement the initial phase of the NDIS. The lessons learned in implementing the first stage will inform governments about proceeding to a full scheme by:
- setting out shared roles and responsibilities for working collaboratively on the policy for a full scheme;
- establishing the new Standing Council on Disability Reform, with representation from all jurisdictions, which – from 1 January 2013 – will be responsible for making decisions and formulating advice on matters arising from the launch and related to the transition to a full scheme; and
- setting in place arrangements for the review and evaluation of the first stage which will inform the transition to a full scheme.
COAG noted the historic agreement between the Commonwealth and New South Wales Governments to establish the full NDIS in New South Wales by 1 July 2018. The Commonwealth noted that it looks forward to concluding agreements on the same terms with all other governments.
In addition, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory signed bilateral agreements with the Commonwealth which confirm the operational and funding details for the roll-out of the NDIS in each launch site. From this time, under the launch arrangements, people with a disability, their families and carers will start to benefit from a fairer, more sustainable and equitable approach to supporting people with disability. Discussions on further launch sites are continuing. [Read more…]
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott’s truck ride from Queensland to New South Wales today took him to Port Macquarie in the electorate of Lyne.
Abbott revealed this week that he has acquired a truck driver’s licence. His driving trip started in Brisbane and will end in Terrigal. [Read more…]
The Business Council of Australia has issued a report that says high costs and low productivity put at risk Australia’s pipeline of investment.
Text of news release from the Business Council of Australia.
Pipeline or Pipe Dream? New Research Uncovers What’s at Stake If We Don’t Get It Right on Major Projects
High costs and low productivity are risking Australia’s unprecedented $921 billion pipeline of investment in resources, energy and economic infrastructure, new research for the Business Council of Australia has found.
In a landmark study released ahead of next week’s economic forum in Brisbane, the BCA has for the first time provided a total picture of how capital investment is driving the economy. [Read more…]