My concern is not so much the risk of a one party state - rather that, in the absence of State Govts, a cynical and self-serving Federal Govt may be unfettered, in rewarding and punishing voters in LGA's in a predominantly partisan fashion...

Are we not known as the most over-governed twenty-one million people on the planet? The current system allows for duplication and for the blame game, each jurisdiction wiping its hands of responsibility and pointing the finger at each other. New Zealand has one small chamber from which to run the country (not even an upper house, because their politicians voted themselves out of a job in the 1950's). What doesn't happen there doesn't happen, so there's no-one else to blame. We can still have the states for football games, but we don't need their governments or their bureaucracies.

Before we seriously consider getting rid of our State Governments, do you really want to give more power to your Local Council and would you be happy with one single government (ie Political Party) overseeing every aspect of your life?

Haven't any of you noticed how bad local government really is.

Sure with our silly Anna up here in Queensland we do know just how bad a state government can be. At least I hope they can't get any worse.

However, have a look at your local council, & ask your self, do you want this lot to have even 1% more power than they have right now?

Incidentally, with Beatties amalgamation, we have seen how much worse these councils can get, as they get bigger, so that's no answer, either.

Really, if you want good government, you'll just have to declare me KING.

Equitist - the situation you describe is called "politics" in the unitary countries. Rather than the mickey mouse factional bureaucracy and corruption that is running Australia now.

Wobbles - end local government as well, there is simply no reason for it, the rest of your point is simply paranoia. Unitary countries actually do have one party in charge every so often. Big deal. As I say, that's called - politics.

I response to E.Sykes

The UK has at least three levels of government - National Parliament, County Councils, Borough Councils (and that is not counting the regional governments in Wales, Scotland and Ireland).

Australia is really no different from other countries. I don't see the problem