QUEENSLAND HOME FOR FEDERATION HEADQUARTERS
Published Wednesday, 01 November, 2006 at 11:27 AM
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
Premier Peter Beattie announced today that Queensland would be home to the headquarters of the newly-formed Council for the Australian Federation.
Mr Beattie said Queensland was an ideal home for the Secretariat.
“Our state, more than any other, represents the diversity of Australia,” Mr Beattie said.
“We are the only state where more people live outside the capital city than in it and we understand the different and common challenges of remote, regional and urban Australia.
“Consequently, I have secured Queensland as the location for the headquarters of the Secretariat of the Council for the Australian Federation and when the Council next meets in February 2007 in Brisbane, we will provide a paper to invigorate a debate to foreshadow the benefits of holding a constitutional convention in early 2008.”
Mr Beattie said he had raised concern about the expansion of Commonwealth powers at the inaugural meeting of State and Territory Premiers and Chief Ministers held earlier this month.
“There has been extraordinary expansion of Commonwealth powers in the latter half of the 20th century and in the face of this, the failure of the Senate to fulfil its charter as the State’s House,” he said.
“I mooted the possibility of reform to the Senate that would result in State and Territory leaders providing membership of the Senate, thereby ensuring that States rights and interests are truly represented.
“My colleagues agreed that it is imperative that we find a more effective model of cooperative federalism – suited to the 21st century.
“We know the public is tired of arguments between different levels of government regarding duplication and gaps. They want a model of cooperative federalism that works.”
ENDS
Wednesday, 1 November 2006
Media: 3406 7105 or 0448 757 086
Mr Beattie said Queensland was an ideal home for the Secretariat.
“Our state, more than any other, represents the diversity of Australia,” Mr Beattie said.
“We are the only state where more people live outside the capital city than in it and we understand the different and common challenges of remote, regional and urban Australia.
“Consequently, I have secured Queensland as the location for the headquarters of the Secretariat of the Council for the Australian Federation and when the Council next meets in February 2007 in Brisbane, we will provide a paper to invigorate a debate to foreshadow the benefits of holding a constitutional convention in early 2008.”
Mr Beattie said he had raised concern about the expansion of Commonwealth powers at the inaugural meeting of State and Territory Premiers and Chief Ministers held earlier this month.
“There has been extraordinary expansion of Commonwealth powers in the latter half of the 20th century and in the face of this, the failure of the Senate to fulfil its charter as the State’s House,” he said.
“I mooted the possibility of reform to the Senate that would result in State and Territory leaders providing membership of the Senate, thereby ensuring that States rights and interests are truly represented.
“My colleagues agreed that it is imperative that we find a more effective model of cooperative federalism – suited to the 21st century.
“We know the public is tired of arguments between different levels of government regarding duplication and gaps. They want a model of cooperative federalism that works.”
ENDS
Wednesday, 1 November 2006
Media: 3406 7105 or 0448 757 086