By proposing a dramatic shake-up of income taxing powers Turnbull has thrown himself into a contest that will test his policy and persuasive skills to the hilt.
Malcolm Turnbull plans to raise the idea of states’ access to income tax at this week’s COAG meeting.
Dean Lewins/AAP
Just when we thought the tax debate was winding down to minimalism, as least as far as the federal government was concerned, Malcolm Turnbull has decided to throw a curveball. The government is preparing…
The Commonwealth is telling the states to fix their own hospital budget problems, as though state governments can simply find savings from other areas.
MARCELODLT/Shutterstock
Jane Hall, University of Technology Sydney e Kees Van Gool, University of Technology Sydney
Health-care costs are rising, driven by expensive developments in treatments, more demanding populations and rising national wealth. We need to change the financing system to meet this challenge.
Mayor R.T. Rybak surveys the 2007 Interstate 35 bridge collapse in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
u.s. Coast Guard/Wikimedia
What do U.S. mayors worry about? A recent survey finds that aging infrastructure is a top concern – and many mayors say state and federal agencies hinder their efforts instead of helping.
Solar downtown: state-level policies led to a surge in solar adoption and energy efficiency measures in the late 2000s.
Massachusetts Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
States and regions are taking the lead on climate change action and, so far, are seeing economic and environmental benefits.
Malcolm Turnbull may struggle to persuade Daniel Andrews and some other state leaders to back major tax change, though Mike Baird has been arguing for reform.
Sam Mooy/AAP
Despite all the media coverage, don’t expect any clear decisions on national tax reform on Friday. But we should see more progress on other issues, including domestic violence and violent extremism.
Australian Treasurer Scott Morrison’s recent comment was easy to misinterpret but ultimately correct.
AAP Image/Mick Tsikas
It would be easy to misinterpret a recent comment by federal Treasurer Scott Morrison as meaning that states and territories generate 90% of all revenue collected in Australia. That’s not the case.
Australia’s government leaders are yet to unite on tax reform.
Mick Tsikas/AAP
State and territory leaders will meet in Sydney today to nut out solutions to health and education funding gaps. But what exactly is the problem they’re hoping to address?
Public hospital funding is in a critical condition.
Anna Jurkovska/Shutterstock
Any health reform proposals should start by addressing public hospitals and chronic care. But successful change in these areas requires getting the state-Commonwealth funding and incentives right.
The federation’s problems have outlasted the leaders who sought transformative reforms a decade ago; their successors must be wholly committed and follow democratic principles if they are to do any better.
AAP/Alan Porritt
The federalism discussion paper is out and the prime minister has called a leaders’ ‘retreat’ to consider it. They should build on the Constitution’s democratic principles to make the federation work better.
Bill Shorten is facing a challenging winter recess.
AAP/Lukas Coch
Allowing states to raise their own income tax and changing the way the GST is carved up are among options put in the government’s discussion paper on reform of Australia’s federation.
Education Minister Christopher Pyne was fast to dismiss the idea of wealthy parents paying for public school.
AAP/Mick Tsikas
First it was the tax paper falling victim to the exigencies of politics; now it’s the federalism one. Neither is finished but already the government has, under sharp political pressure, ruled certain options…
You take the high road and I’ll take the low road.
EPA/Robert Perry
There is almost nothing in the Constitution that helps us make the system function, as against a mass of gaps and silences that are the sources of our problems.
The Australian newspaper reported that the Federal Treasurer has refused to back down on a proposed $4 billion cut to schools and hospital funding – a move that will anger the states.
AAP Image/Lukas Coch
The government’s attempt to engage the States on one hand while whipping them with the other does not augur well for tackling growing health and education costs – or for lasting federal reform.
Honorary Enterprise Professor, School of Population and Global Health, and Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne