Great article Klaas. We should have a 100 year sun-set clause for any new constitution. Future generations need to be given the opportunity to take a fresh look at the way the country is governed and have the freedom to chart better structures and processes for governing Australia for the next 100 years.

We are 9 years past our 100 year constitutional review!

Let's get cracking with a much better steamlined structure that will save us all over $30 billion each year.

Without the states we will see much more decision making, innovation, community engagement and empowerment at the local level. Local government and their regional organisations are happy to be held to high national performance standards and integrated reporting in return for more resources to satisfy local needs.

Nookn,

If we had a 100-year sunset clause on the Constitution, the Australian federation would simply cease to exist and we would go back to six states/colonies. The mind boggles.

I’d like to see the evidence that abolition of the states would save us $30 billion. According to Australia’s Federal Future, our per capita GDP is $4,507 higher precisely because we are a federation. That means we about $99 billion better off in total.

What needs to happen is that the tax-raising powers and capacity should match the responsibilities of each tier of government. States should have their own income tax and Commonwealth grants should be abolished. That way, state governments would answer to their own voters for their performance instead of the petty blame game being played out year after year.