When there is a reference to "The States", people should reflect that this means the Capital City of each state.
For example when people refer to NSW, generally they mean the City State of Sydney, refer to Victoria they actually mean Melbourne.
This is simply the result of the bulk of the population living in these cities.
The State Govt's put resources where the bulk of people are and the scraps go to the regions.
This just reinforces the power of the existing cities to the detriment of the regions.
How the people in Port Headland lobby the govt in Perth must be very difficult. The same would occur for the people of Cairns dealing with the Brisbane govt.
Please let there be a change so that the regions get a fair go.
Maybe some new cities may grow in the regions that will offer competition with the existing cities, competing with them for commerce, residents and ideas.
The Federal Govt. can provide the money and guidelines and regional govt's with their local knowledge allocate the resources to the best local use.
Time for the existing city states to give up some of their power!

Little brother, appears to be confusing “Party run” Democracy (the biggest [political] return for the dollar) V his (perceived entitlements) wants. Regardless of who administers the money I doubt that his situation will change so long as political power is in the party system i.e. Maintain party power first (Majority of votes).

If understand Mr Corke correctly he seems to be arguing pro states and abolishing COAG (in its present form) by his list of perceived negatives. I would suggest that all of his stated concerns could be accommodated in other ways. Neither did he mention any of the possible, probable or obvious benefits to the nation, people, security, policing, business etc that would flow from judicious “harmonising”. However the inevitable crunch will be in the detail.

It is an over simplification to suggest that (as it appears) the options are either the English model at one extreme end or our current hotch potch of laws and jurisdictions as now. Why not our own model?

The idea/practice of Competitive states as per now is that it is arguably counter productive for Australia as a whole. It could be argued that the primary benefactors these competitions are businesses who in the final analysis have no loyalty to anyone except themselves and will “negotiate” between states and leave when it suits them. i.e. the grand prix. Paykel and Fisher et sec.

I do agree that there should be a debate sooner than later and a blank sheet approach should be employed if only to educate the public on the possibilities.

We are the most over governed country on the planet.Eliminate the states and make local govt more responsible.Our state Labor Govts have regulated our lives to the point of lobotomy.
There needs to be a total rationalisation of all Govts and their Public Service masters.

Arjay has put the best case. Why fiddle around 'harmonising' at COAG debates when the job can be done so much quicker and at a tenth of the cost, by abolishing the states all together.

The Rudd Government's reform agenda reflects a simple, yet superior business plan to what has gone before it: "Regulate nationally, deliver services locally."

But rather than ask the autocratic, kleptocrats to deliver services locally, why not ask local councils to do that?

Under the current arrangements in NSW, local councils are being increasingly marginalised by a government that is completely out of touch with local communities. Premier Morris Iemma exercises power in a way that covertly shifts costs to rate-payers whilst at the same time seizing council planning powers and giving central planning control to the all-powerful state Planning Minister - as seen in Soviet times.

In urban growth areas, the NSW state treasury has decised to take over our developers' new development contributions for community facilities. Several years ago they stole our electricity assets for $1 and now set to flog them off to their corporate buddies for billions. All this at a time when there are huge regiona infrastructure back-logs.

Our states have no place in 'new federalism'. They are no better than racketeers. The sooner these odious, archaic institutions are dispatched to a footnote in the Australian History books, the better we all all be! Power to the people.

I think Tanner is entirely right. Both people and organisations operate over state boundaries so much more than they did in 1901. We don't need 8 different Occupational Health and Safety laws.

The rules should be the same in every corner of the country, because they are about what is fair and what is just. This doesn't change when you cross the border from NSW to Victoria.

But the development needs of Coonabarabran are not the same as those of Coober Pedy, let alone the city of Canberra. Local knowledge is best when it comes to developing communities and local economies.