Dysfunctional Federalism

‘The Labor leader [Kevin Rudd] said his ambitions for savings in this area were informed by both the Productivity Commission’s work and that of the Business Council of Australia.’

From ‘Rudd’s Razor Gang Pledge’ by Laura Tingle and David Crowe, The Australian Financial Review, 2 October 2007, p. 1.

The Business Council of Australia concluded last year the overlap between the two levels of government was costing taxpayers at least $9 billion a year, or $1100 per household. It warned that ‘dysfunctional federalism’ was at its worst in education, health, infrastructure and tax. Mr Rudd commended the BCA findings as a ‘good piece of analysis’ and repeated his intentions to seek out savings in healthcare.

From ‘ALP to End Education Overlaps’ by David Crowe, The Australian Financial Review, 2 October 2007, p. 5.