Christian Kerr comments on the recent COAG meeting:
But if the premiers want movement on these issues, why do they need to wait for the Commonwealth? Why don't the states take a lead?He is absolutely correct. Even with the fiscal imbalance there is nothing budgetary wise stopping the States ignoring the national government and making/implementing policy.
In a federalist system the States are supposed to be the most dynamic, innovative and powerful part of the political system. They are smaller, more agile and more competitive with each other; rather than the big cankerous central bureaucracy of the national government.
In a federalist system the national government actually has very few responsibilities as most government is domestic in nature, not international, which makes government the natural domain of the states.
It has been a long path that has got Australia to this point, including an inferior constitution, however, there is no excuse for the States not being independent and innovative. Something they are not in this point in time.
