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Inaugural Constitutional Values Survey outcomes published - October 2009

Refined results of the Federalism Project's inaugural Australian Constitutional Values Survey have been formally published in Public Policy. Download the revised final analysis and conclusions regarding priorities for approaches to federal reform.

Address to historic Local Government Constitutional Summit

Project leader Dr A J Brown was invited by the Australian Local Government Association, to serve as one of a small panel of experts advising and assisting local governments to come to a unified position on the way forward for achieving recognition of local government in the federal Constitution, at the historic Local Government Constitutional Summit (Melbourne, 9th to 11th December 2008).

- Download the presentation slides.
- For more information about the Summit Declaration and outcomes, visit www.alga.asn.au

Australian Federalism: Rescue and Reform

A conference and roundtable on the future of Australia's federal system of government. Sir Henry Parkes School of Arts Museum. Tenterfield NSW, 23-25 October 2008. View Conference Outcomes.
- Download the Conference Program.
- Download the Conference Conclusions.

New initiatives in collaborative federalism, the Council for Australian Federation, the Australia 2020 Summit, and many proposals for federal constitutional reform have again put the future development of Australia's system of multi-levelled government into the spotlight. Australian Federalism: Rescue and Reform is bringing together a range of experts, public officials and interested citizens to: Examine the practical implications of recent restructurings in intergovernmental relations - for the environment, the economy, and the sustainability of communitiesM Evaluate the progress of current reforms, and Identify the institutional changes needed to ensure our system of government works better, not just next year but many years down the track.

Speakers, participants and contributors included:

• Senator the Hon Ursula Stephens, Commonwealth Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion
• Hon Tony Abbott MP, Shadow Minister for Families, Communities Services, Indigenous Affairs and the Voluntary Sector
• Cr Paul Bell, President, Australian Local Government Association
• Professor Ken Wiltshire AO, University of Queensland
• Andrew Podger, National President, Institute of Public Administration Australia
• Gary Banks, Chairperson, Productivity Commission
• Melinda Cilento, Chief Economist & Deputy CEO, Business Council of Australia
• Peter Cosier, Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists
• Mal Peters, Past President, NSW Farmers Association
• Dr Klaas Woldring, Beyond Federation
• Professor Cheryl Saunders AO, University of Melbourne
• Dr A J Brown, Federalism Project, Griffith Law School, Griffith University

Coinciding with the anniversary of Sir Henry Parkes' 1889 Tenterfield Oration on Federation and incorporating an Oration Re-enactment Anniversary Dinner.

- Download the conference flyer and registration form

Constitutional Values Survey Release - 10th July 2008

The Federalism Project has completed a major national study of public attitudes towards Australia's federal system, conducted by Newspoll Limited under the Australian Research Discovery Project 'Towards Sustainable Regional Institutions'. This is the first-ever national study of its kind. Results reveal that a large majority of Australians – 66% – think there should be a different federal system by 2030, including 31% of Australians who believe State governments should be totally scrapped or replaced.

- Download the media release
- Download the federalism study summary
- Download preliminary results released on Thursday 3rd July 2008
- Download more detailed result

'Thinking Big: What Will Australian Federalism Be like in 2020?'

Dr A J Brown put the results of the Constitutional Values survey in context at the Future of Federalism Conference, held by University of Queensland and the Law Council of Australia in Brisbane on 10-12 July.

- Download an abbreviated version of the paper as published in the Weekend Australian, 26 July 2008.