Federalism in Australia Essay

Federalism in Australia Essay Kerry Maloney Federalism in Australia is dying. Do you agree? Understanding what Federalism is, is the key to understanding how the Australian government functions. Federalism in Australia was formedon 1 January 1901. Australia’s unique constitution is a blending of the Westminster system, the USA’s system of government (two spheres of government) and the Swiss system (referendum procedures).[1] ‘They constituted their new nation as a federal union by creating a new spear of national government, also called the ‘Commonwealth’ with bicameral federal parliament, responsible government executive, and a high court.’[2] Throughout the history of federalism in Australia reforms have been made when needed, however the basic structure of government has remained the same. Federal parliament is separated into two areas, Commonwealth government and State government. Legislative power is separated between the two, the Commonwealth government has legislative power over areas such as taxation, defence, foreign affairs, postal and telecommunications services.[3] ‘The state government has legislative power over all other matters that occurred within their borders, including: police, hospitals, education and public transport.’[4] During the course of this essay, issues with the federal system Australia is currently dealing with will be presented and how the Australian government is attempting to address problems within the system. Public expenditure and federal arrangements for taxing is a major area of concern. State governments have varied capacities to deliver services and revenue raising within the federation, ‘the current mining boom and the global financial crisis have contributed to substantial changes in the distribution of the GST amongst the States and heightened scrutiny about the equalisation process and its outcomes.’[5] A good example of the above can be found in The Commonwealth Grant’s Commission’s report on GST Revenue Sharing Relativities, Update 2012. This report shows how due to ‘Western Australia’s above average mining production, property transfers, payrolls, motor vehicle registrations and land values, Western Australia has the highest assessed fiscal capacity’[6]. This translates into Western Australia’s GST revenue falling from 7.5% to 5.8%. Then we have South Australia, due to the fact it has above average number of elderly and people of low socio-economic status, ‘below average population growth and below average investment and net lending requirements.[7] South Australia has below average revenue raising capacity across all state taxes’[8], especially payroll tax (due to lower wages, population and employment rate) and below average mining revenue. The above facts translate into above average revenue for South Australia from commonw ealth payments. ‘South Australia has the third lowest assessed fiscal capacity’[9] and gets a GST revenue share of 9.3%.[10] Taking both states GST revenue share and productivity into consideration, some people feel the current system to be unfair and many concerns were heard in the lead up to the last Western Australian state election on 9 March 2014. When federal government intervene in areas that usually belong to the state, intergovernmental conflict occur. A classic example of intergovernmental conflict is environmental protection, concerning issues such as the Great Barrier Reef protection, forestry, coal-seam gas production and the Murray-Darling Basin. In the case of the Murray-Darling Basin, in 2004 The National Water Initiative (NWI) was introduced, NWI allowed the federal government to attempt to resolve problems with upstream usage and management of down stream flows.[11] This demonstrates our system shifting more towards organic federalism and the federal factors political power.[12] In the past decade a more organic federalism has developed in many policy areas. Organic federalism is when the federal government plays a major role in public policy and the state governments and territories role is more in the administration and implementation of policy made at the federal level.[13] Education is a good example of organi c federalism seen in commitments in national policy frame works and direct Commonwealth initiatives.[14] Other issues federalism face, is too much bureaucracy, duplication and inconsistency. Overlapping responsibilities within multiple governments create problems of state and federal governments blaming each other when policies fail due to confusion of which government is constitutionally responsible.[15] Currently the Coalition has made a commitment to release a white paper on federalism. The federalism white paper could be a catalyst for federalism reform, it aims to address functional overlap, duplication and give opportunity for the public to vote on recommendations at the 2016 election.[16] The council of Australian Governments (COAG) is equally a focus of the Coalition, with intentions of streamlining COAG agenda to make it more effective.[17] In an attempt to carry out a large number of major reforms the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) was formed. COAG reforms are aimed at collaboration between the commonwealth, state and territory governments being strengthened.[18] The council of COAG is made up in a way that all sides are guaranteed to be heard. ‘The  members of COAG  are the Prime Minister, State and Territory Premiers and Chief Ministers and the President of the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA). The Prime Minister chairs COAG. The role of COAG is to promote policy reforms that are of national significance, or which need co-ordinated action by all Australian governments.’[19] Some good examples of COAG’s past achievements are; the  National Health Reform Agreement  in August 2011; reforms of laws that overlapped areas of activity within states consisting of unnecessary differences; a wide range of educational reforms; and working with ‘closing the gap’ concerning the disadvantages Australian indigenous.[20] In conclusion, it would be fair to say there are many pressing issues with the federal system and some discontent does exist within the public and government, which have been highlighted during the last few elections both federal and state. However federalism in Australia is not on its way to the grave but is at point where major review and reform is needed. Considering Australia has had federal reform in the past and actions are in motion for federal reform at present in the forms of COAG, GST reform and the Federalism white paper. It seems more likely Australia may see more organic federalism in the future and federalism in Australia will evolve along with changing times and to meet the ever changing needs of a maturing country. Bibliography. Australian Government, australia.gov.au.Australias federation. (n.d.), accessed viahttp://australia.gov.au/about-australia/our-government/australias-federation> on 18 April, 2014. Australian Government, The Treasury, Submission to the GST Distribution Review, Canberra, October 2011, p.8. Collett, E. Federalism Frequently Asked Questions.Gilbert + Tobin Centre of Public Law. (n.d.), accessed viahttp://www.gtcentre.unsw.edu.au/resources/federalism/frequently-asked-questions> on 20 April 2014. Commonwealth Grants Commission, Report on GST Revenue Sharing Relativities — 2012 Update, Canberra, 2012, pp. 16-17. Council of Australian Governments, About COAG. Council of Australian Governments, (n.d.), accessed viahttp://www.coag.gov.au/about_coag> on 25 April 2014. Dudley, J., Contemporary Politics in Australia, Theories, Practices and Issues, Cambridge University Press, New York, 2012, pp.356-361. ‘Federalism’ definition in The Oxford Companion To Australian Politics, eds, B. Galligan and W.Roberts, Oxford University Press, Sth Melbourne, 2007, p.202. Haward, M., Contemporary Politics in Australia, Theories, Practices and Issues, Cambridge University Press, New York, 2012, pp.275-279. [1] ‘Federalism’ definition in The Oxford Companion To Australian Politics, eds, B. Galligan and W. Roberts, Oxford University Press, Sth Melbourne, 2007, p.202. [2] ‘Federalism’ definition in The Oxford Companion To Australian Politics, eds, B. Galligan and W. Roberts, Oxford University Press, Sth Melbourne, 2007, p.202. [3] Australian Government, australia.gov.au.Australias federation. (n.d.), from accessed viahttp://australia.gov.au/about-australia/our-government/australias-federation> on 18 April, 2014. [4]Australian Government, australia.gov.au.Australias federation. (n.d.), from accessed viahttp://australia.gov.au/about-australia/our-government/australias-federation> on 18 April, 2014. [5] Australian Government, The Treasury, Submission to the GST Distribution Review, Canberra, October 2011, p.8. [6] Commonwealth Grants Commission, Report on GST Revenue Sharing Relativities — 2012 Update, Canberra, 2012, pp. 16-17. [7] Commonwealth Grants Commission, Report on GST Revenue Sharing Relativities — 2012 Update, Canberra, 2012, pp. 16-17. [8] Commonwealth Grants Commission, Report on GST Revenue Sharing Relativities — 2012 Update, Canberra, 2012, pp. 16-17. [9] Commonwealth Grants Commission, Report on GST Revenue Sharing Relativities — 2012 Update, Canberra, 2012, pp. 16-17. [10] Commonwealth Grants Commission, Report on GST Revenue Sharing Relativities — 2012 Update, Canberra, 2012, pp. 16-17. [11] Dudley, J., Contemporary Politics in Australia, Theories, Practices and Issues, Cambridge University Press, New York, 2012, pp.356-361. [12] Dudley, J., Contemporary Politics in Australia, Theories, Practices and Issues, Cambridge University Press, New York, 2012, pp.356-361. [13] Dudley, J., Contemporary Politics in Australia, Theories, Practices and Issues, Cambridge University Press, New York, 2012, pp.356-361. [14] Haward, M., Contemporary Politics in Australia, Theories, Practices and Issues, Cambridge University Press, New York, 2012, pp.275-279. [15] Collett, E. Federalism Frequently Asked Questions.Gilbert + Tobin Centre of Public Law. (n.d.), accessed viahttp://www.gtcentre.unsw.edu.au/resources/federalism/frequently-asked-questions> on 20 April 2014. [16] NOVAK, J. New Senate might reform.THE AUSTRALIAN. 11 September 2013, accessed viahttp://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/opinion/new-senate-might-reform/story-e6frgd0x-1226716373957#> on 20 April 2014. [17] OAKES, L. New way to fix old problem with federalism.HERALD SUN. 15 March 2014, accessed viahttp://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion/new-way-to-fix-old-problem-with-federalism/story-fni0fha6-1226855178626> on 20 April 2014. [18] Council of Australian Governments, About COAG. Council of Australian Governments, (n.d.), accessed viahttp://www.coag.gov.au/about_coag> on 25 April 2014. [19]Council of Australian Governments, About COAG. Council of Australian Governments, (n.d.), accessed viahttp://www.coag.gov.au/about_coag> on 25 April 2014. [20] Council of Australian Governments, About COAG. Council of Australian Governments, (n.d.), accessed viahttp://www.coag.gov.au/about_coag> on 25 April 2014.

Four Elements of Transformational Leadership Essay

Organizations emphasize the concept of leadership in training managers or group leaders to propel a team or the organization forward. Within leadership, the effectiveness of the transformational versus transactional leader is often debated. Transactional leadership relies more on a â€Å"give and take† understanding, whereby subordinates have a sense of duty to the leader in exchange for some reward. Transformational leadership, on the other hand, involves a committed relationship between the leader and his followers. In 1985, industrial psychologist Bernard Bass identified and wrote about four basic elements that underlie transformational leadership. Ads by Google Stanford Exec. Leadership Where innovation and visionary leadership meet. Learn More. gsb.stanford.edu​/​SeniorLeadership Idealized Influence Transformational leaders act as role models and display a charismatic personality that influences others to want to become more like the leader. Idealized influence can be most expressed through a transformational leader’s willingness to take risks and follow a core set of values, convictions and ethical principles in the actions he takes. It is through this concept of idealized influence that the leader builds trust with his followers and the followers, in turn, develop confidence in their leader. Inspirational Motivation Inspirational motivation refers to the leader’s ability to inspire confidence, motivation and a sense of purpose in his followers. The transformational leader must articulate a clear vision for the future, communicate expectations of the group and demonstrate a commitment to the goals that have been laid out. This aspect of transformational leadership requires superb communication skills as the leader must convey his messages with precision, power and a sense of authority. Other important behaviors of  the leader include his continued optimism, enthusiasm and ability to point out the positive.

Hum105 Week 1 Questiona Essay

1.The word myth, as used popularly is an accepted popular misconception accepted by many as truth. The academic definition as given in our texbook is, â€Å"Ancient narratives that attempt to answer the enduring and fundamental human questions: How did the universe and the world come to be? How did we come to be here? Who are we? What are our proper, necessary, or inescapable roles as we relate to one another and to the world at large? What should our values be? How should we behave? How should we not behave? What are the consequences of behaving and not behaving in such ways?† (Leonard & McClure, 2004, p. 1). In other words, in this sense, myths are the storys that give reason to the questions we have about our social beliefs and moral values. 2.Myths seem to cross cultural barriers in their similarities due to a similar set of questions that we have no scientific answer for. Though religion and mythology give reasons as to why we act the way we do, where we began and what is right and what is wrong in our behavior, we do not have solid proof as to the reasons that these rules for living come from. From the beginning of time for any society, there has been the need to establish a set of rules for establishing acceptible ways of living, and without giving a historical reason based in peoples’ own history, there is no real way of not having the argument that a people can make up their own set of values based on their own current, individual wants. 3.There is a strong tie between belief, knowledge, myth and religion. Belief can be described as knowledge based on faith, rather than factual data. Myth is story that gives reason as to why we live the way that we do and why we accept the set of values that we live by. Religion is belief in a reasoning as to how and what we believe as fact, and the the history of how we came to be as a true happening. Religion is also what gives rules and consequenses for the ethics and moral rules in which societies use for their way of living. 4.I believe that mythology has a place in contemporary culture as it has been a tremendous part of our history and explains many actions and reactions that our ancestors used in their decision making. From various ceremonies such as weddings and funerals, to old sayings, songs and stories, myth has been an important way in which tradition has been carried down through the generations and across borders into mixed societies. In both teaching their own young, and explaining to and entertaing members of other groups, mythology is a way of telling the story of the history of a culture in a way that is easy for most to understand. Leonard, S., & McClure, M. (2004). Myth and knowing. An introduction to world mythology . : McGraw-Hill Company.

A Report On Interpersonal Skills - 1814 Words

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