The much-heralded success of the national cabinet is more related to the extraordinary circumstance in which it operates than its revolutionary design.
Scott Morrison has further ramped up his pressure on states to relax border restrictions by declaring “there will be a Commonwealth definition of a hotspot – come rain, hail or shine”.
A federal cabinet minister has lashed out with an extraordinary attack on premiers, declaring Friday’s national cabinet meeting “has become a flashpoint for the future of Australia’s federation”.
Now the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) has been scrapped, there’s a real chance for health to remain on the national agenda. But let’s not repeat mistakes of the past.
In political terms, Palaszczuk is on risky ground whatever she does; depriving the economy through continued border closure, or risking a serious outbreak.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg will warn against the danger of a protectionist push in Australia as a result of the virus crisis, in a Tuesday speech that also stresses it is vital to get the country moving…
Yes, there has been friction over social distancing restrictions and the Ruby Princess debacle, but our federal system of government has actually worked very well during the crisis.
The ‘war cabinet’ is vital in a time of crisis, with the federal and state governments all having a say. And once the crisis has passed, parliament will resume its normal function.