That we should get rid of State governments D Grade - Round 3 State governments are a legacy of Australia’s history where each state represented a different colony. But do we need state governments today? Over time, we have seen the constant overlap of Australia’s three levels of government, with multiple governments assuming responsibility for the same thing such as a national curriculum, and investment by the federal government in health and public transport. State governments have also becoming increasingly reliant on federal governments for funding, with the proceeds of the GST (Goods and Services Tax) going entirely to the states despite being a federal tax. Critics of state governments question the need support multiple layers of government- with each layer requiring its own resources and compromising the efficiency of the government. Critics further suggest that multiple government layers make decision making a more difficult process when state and federal governments need to agree. They also believe that the roles of each government are increasingly overlapping making it more difficult for one government to be held accountable, believing that people may vote based on their thoughts about the federal government at state elections and vice-versa. However, supporters note that each state has its own individual needs- and doubt the efficiency of running services like hospitals and schools entirely from Canberra. They also state that having individual states promotes competition between states and innovation. Consider: What are the roles of government? How could government fulfil these roles better? Are the roles of state and federal government different? Does each have different needs? For example, does each state need its own police force? Why/why not? Why do we have three levels of government in Australia? Why does local government have responsibilities that the federal government does not? If state governments were abolished would we have to change federal or local governments? How? Would this be good or bad? How does democracy work? Who holds governments accountable for their actions? How might the Australian democracy change with more or fewer elections? Do voters understand the difference at the ballot box? Links: The Sydney Morning Herald - governments are a waste of money. Get rid of them The Australian Why we need state governments in Australia. – Australian Voters Party - Removal of State Governments Policy
That we should get rid of State governments D Grade - Round 3 State governments are a legacy of Australia’s history where each state represented a different colony. But do we need state governments today? Over time, we have seen the constant overlap of Australia’s three levels of government, with multiple governments assuming responsibility for the same thing such as a national curriculum, and investment by the federal government in health and public transport. State governments have also becoming increasingly reliant on federal governments for funding, with the proceeds of the GST (Goods and Services Tax) going entirely to the states despite being a federal tax. Critics of state governments question the need support multiple layers of government- with each layer requiring its own resources and compromising the efficiency of the government. Critics further suggest that multiple government layers make decision making a more difficult process when state and federal governments need to agree. They also believe that the roles of each government are increasingly overlapping making it more difficult for one government to be held accountable, believing that people may vote based on their thoughts about the federal government at state elections and vice-versa. However, supporters note that each state has its own individual needs- and doubt the efficiency of running services like hospitals and schools entirely from Canberra. They also state that having individual states promotes competition between states and innovation. Consider: What are the roles of government? How could government fulfil these roles better? Are the roles of state and federal government different? Does each have different needs? For example, does each state need its own police force? Why/why not? Why do we have three levels of government in Australia? Why does local government have responsibilities that the federal government does not? If state governments were abolished would we have to change federal or local governments? How? Would this be good or bad? How does democracy work? Who holds governments accountable for their actions? How might the Australian democracy change with more or fewer elections? Do voters understand the difference at the ballot box? Links: The Sydney Morning Herald - governments are a waste of money. Get rid of them The Australian – Why we need state governments in Australia. Australian Voters Party - Removal of State Governments Policy
ThatWeShouldGetRidOfStateGovernments_000.docx