This page provides access to material addressing the idea that the Australian states should be abolished. It's the result of a group of us having met for dinner to discuss the subject. If you're interested in the subject, or just like discussing constitutional reform over a fine Mongolian lamb, then drop me a line.

Caveat: A link from this page does not necessarily imply that I or the ASC agree with anything the document on the other end says. In particular, we aren't affiliated with any of the organisations to which this page has links. All links are provided as a service to readers to assist them in educating themselves about these issues and/or finding a group with which they have enough in common to want to assist.

• Mailing Lists:
  • Discussion of federalism and abolishing the states.
  • Discussion of matters political and constitutional that would be off topic in the list above.
  • Planning for our semi-regular dinner meetings.
• Upcoming Events:
• The second shed a tier congress will be held 21st Septmeber 2001.
• Articles:
  • Towards a best-possible new system of government, by Mark Drummond. Mark is a Ph.D. student at the University of Canberra, researching optimal forms of government for Australia.
  • A $30 billion dollar annual boost that better government can deliver, by Mark Drummond. This is an update of an entry in Rodney Hall's book Abolish the States. Mark wrote the earlier version while a volunteer research assistant for former Federal MP Jim Snow, who was proposing abolition of the states in parliament.
  • Getting a "best possible" system of government by referendum without delay, by Mark Drummond.
  • Why Australia's States Are Doomed, by Gavin Putland.
  • Open Australia, by Lindsay Tanner MP.
  • An article by Glenn Petrusch.
  • A review of Open Australia, by Mark Lennon.
  • Two-Tier Government a Future Possibility, an article in Government News by Fiona West, based on statements by Senator Ian MacDonald, the Minister for Local Government.
  • Brisbane City Council: Australia's Biggest Council, an article in Government News by Fiona West, based on statements by Brisbane's lord mayor and the Local Government Association of Queensland.
  • Addresses by Daryl Melham MP and Senator Cheryl Kernot (page 7 of 19).
  • An SBS program on governmental reform.
• Public debates: These accept your opinions and votes.
  • Should the States be Abolished?
  • Does the three tiered system of government need changing?
  • A public forum associated with Lindsay Tanner's Open Australia.
• Other Organisations: This section contains pointers to the web pages of other organisations interested in this issue. It has no delusions of completeness, so if you would like your organisation's web page included, send me mail.
  • The Foundation for National Renewal has some useful pages.
    • A page of links to web pages, compiled by our own Mark Drummond.
    • A page of links to articles.
  • The Shed a Tier lobby group.
  • Proposed boundaries for a fifty region division of Australia.
  • Australian Regionalism: Federation to Future, a Griffith University exploration of our system of government with a view to developing a better one.
  • Several political parties have published policies on the web that include abolition of the states as at least a long-term objective.
    • The Progressive Labour Party;
    • The Australian Greens;
    • The Australian Democrats and
    • The Left faction of the Victorian branch of the Australian Labor Party.
  • Several people have published possible Australian constitutions that include major changes to the present three-tiered system.
    • Gavin Putland;
    • Dave Shannon;
    • Simon Bastin and
    • Tod Moore.
• Positions and Discussion:
  • David Bofinger's thoughts, constantly under revision. I had to write these for my own benefit, I've added a link to make them accessible to other members of the collective so I can parasitise comments from their superior knowledge.
  • Minutes of the second meeting of the ASC, including some attempts to create a consensus.
  • A more successful attempt at consensus, from the fourth meeting.
  • A presentation from the “Shed a Tier” conference organised by Jim Snow.
  • John August has generated some digests (first, second and third) summarising discussions on the ASC mailing list.
• Albury-Wodonga:
  • At a recent meeting in Albury-Wodonga New South Wales and Victoria agreed, amongst other things, to combine the local governments of Albury (New South Wales) and Wodonga (Victoria) into a single trans-state body. I think this is an event with potentially enormous consequences for governmental change in Australia.
  • It would be good if someone, perhaps several someones, would write up a review of the decisions made, their potential consequences and the principles behind them. Max Bradley has agreed to do this, but that shouldn't stop others putting their personal slant on it.
  • I'd like to personally commend the premiers of New South Wales and Victoria for these initiatives. If you agree with me that abolition of the Australian states is a good end to work for I'd encourage you to write to your state premier. If your state happens to be New South Wales or Victoria, commend them and urge them to go further. If you come from another state, urge them to follow the New South Welsh-Victorian lead. If you're from some other country entirely then you'll have to think of something to say yourself.
  • None of this should be taken to imply approval or disapproval of the policies and/or conduct of the Carr and Bracks governments generally — just support for this policy in particular, and encouragement for them to go further.
• Contacts:
  • Sydney: John August, Mobile: (0419) 683 353
  • Canberra: Mark Drummond, All hours: (02) 6255 0772
  • Berrigan: Max Bradley, Phone/Fax: (03) 5885 2722
  • Anywhere else: John August, Mobile: (0419) 683 353

I welcome feedback at David.Bofinger@dsto.defenceSpamProofing.gov.au.

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