10th Beyond Federation Conference
Mooloolaba, 10/11 July 2004
This joint venture by The Foundation for National Renewal and the Beyond Federation Network was conducted at Mooloolaba, Queensland on 10/11 July 2004. A Program of the event is attached.
Invitations were sent to Federal and State MPs, and the Mayors, Councillors and CEOs of every Council in Australia. Many responded expressing interest in the subject and asking to be kept informed of outcomes, but few attended.
Invitations were also extended to all businesses in the Maroochydore, Nambour and Mooloolaba areas. Few replied or expressed any interest. This was in stark contrast to the interest shown by businesses in the State border regions of Albury/Wodonga and Coolangatta/Tweed.
Advertisements were placed in newspapers all over Queensland and these generated enormous interest from members of the public. As a result, more than thirty delegates travelled from all over Australia to participate in what transpired as vigorous debate of the idea of abolishing State Governments.
The Conference cost $4899 to stage and $2015 was collected in Registration fees. The books finally balanced but only because of generous donations from:
John August $5.00
Max Bradley $80.00
Mark Drummond $1854.00
Ross Garrad $600.00
Charles Mollison $295.00
Jim Reeves $50.00
The
Opening Address delivered by Queensland Democrats Senator, John
Cherry;
a paper delivered by Michael Yeates, Convenor of the
Brisbane Public Transport Alliance; a paper illustrating possible
cost savings from which Mark Drummond spoke;
and the notes used
by Charles Mollison to describe a Regional Government Model for
discussion are posted in full on the Beyond Federation website,
www.beyondfederation.org.au
and the website of The Foundation for National Renewal,
www.national-renewal.org.au.
Media coverage was encouraging with several segments on local ABC radio and several articles in the local print media before, during and after the Conference. Senator Cherry and other prominent speakers proved to be a big draw card for the media resulting in segments on at least two TV Channels.
Overall, the Conference was judged by those attending as being very informative, successful and enjoyable. The venue was excellent, the meals superb and participation was at a very high level.
The opening address was followed by Dr A J Brown of Griffith University revealing little known Constitutional history that led to the creation of Australian States rather than a unitary system of government or a system involving regional governments.
Delegates then nominated and discussed the deficiencies of our current structure of government and the criteria against which any suggested alternative structure should be judged. A consolidation of the points raised is attached.
One regional government model was then described by Charles Mollison to set the scene for in-depth discussion by delegates operating in workshops. A copy of the notes used to describe the Model accepted as a basis of these discussions is attached. These workshops examined the application of regional government structures to the major metropolitan areas and to regional Australia.
As expected, regional government was proclaimed as much more likely to provide better government to regional areas than could possibly be delivered by remote State Governments and under-funded local governments. Reasons for this included:
Economies of scale.
More intimate representation.
More transparency and accountability.
Decentralisation.
Decreased cronyism.
More logical allocation of policy/implementation responsibilities.
The People would be empowered.
Decisions would be made at the appropriate level.
National policies would provide uniformity where needed.
Regional implementation would allow region-specific variations.
In another workshop, groups were asked whether Australia's mainland capital cities would be better served by (1) single whole-of-metro-area-governments, or (2) multiple regional governments each serving some 250,000 people. The conclusion reached by a majority of delegates was quite clear – being resoundingly in favour of the regional government model also being applied to major metropolitan areas. Reasons for this decision included:
Lack of intimate representation of communities in a whole-of-city government of 3 or 4 million people. (In places like Sydney, even electorates of 25,000 would result in a parliament of 160 MPs.)
A perceived need for “locality” forums that would result in a reversion to three tiers of government.
There would be a lack of transparency.
There would be a lack of effective input from local communities.
The current tendency towards centralisation would be exacerbated.
Bureaucracies would become large and inefficient.
Even though planning for infrastructure such as rail transport, power and water reticulation could be facilitated by having one ‘whole-of-city government’, other infrastructure such as hospitals, schools, sewerage treatment and disposal, buses, etc, were better handled at a ‘city region’ (of approx 250,000 population)’ level.
This clear preference against single governments for entire metropolitan areas is strongly supported by observed reality across the world, where single whole-of-metro-area governments are rare. (See, for example, discussion in http://www.beyondfederation.org.au/mark-7th.html, especially at about page 8)
This strong preference for applying the principle of regional governments to major metropolitan areas gives clear guidance on the question of the number of sub-national governments needed in any two-tiered system. Whereas a smaller number of regional governments might be possible if mainland capitals each had just one whole-of-city government; a much larger number would be required if major metro areas were also divided up into regions. If it is accepted that optimum sub-national governments should cover average populations of approx 200,000; theoretically, some 100 regions would be necessary across Australia.
In the closing session, delegates were asked to urge all Federal Election candidates in their electorates to support a referendum to amend Section 128 of the Constitution to allow voters to initiate the Constitutional change referendum process. A copy of a pledge distributed for their action is attached. Charles Mollison described the success of such a referendum as being the one chance the People, Local Government, and non-government organisations have of achieving the changes for which we are all striving.
It is envisaged that two or three Congresses in this series will be held each year until we achieve a major breakthrough in government system reform. Events in 2005 or 2006 are planned for Victoria, the Central Coast of NSW and North Queensland.
Charles
Mollison
Chairman
The Foundation for National Renewal
31 July 2004
Enclosures:
Conference Program
Deficiencies in the current structure of Government – General
Deficiencies of Local Government
Desirable Criteria of alternative systems
A Regional Government Model
Constitutional Reform Package