Federations are in a state of flux globally, and Australia’s federation is no exception. As policy demands change and funding pressures mount, federal reform is always on the agenda. Yet, as demonstrated by the failure of recent reform attempts, change is never easy. A People’s Federation takes a fresh look at the challenges and options facing would-be federal reformers.
The book brings together experts from a variety of backgrounds, many of whom argue that, for reform to succeed in an enduring way, it must engage meaningfully with the citizenry to evolve policy structures in tax, government service delivery and intergovernmental collaboration (Byline: Federation Press).
Professor Roberta Ryan, Director of UTS Institute for Public Policy and Governance (IPPG) and Centre for Local Government (CLG), has contributed a chapter titled ‘Why local government matters’ in the new book. Academics Dr Bligh Grant and Dr Joseph Drew have contributed a chapter titled ‘The Changing Role of Local Government in a People’s Federation’.
The book will be launched during the Australian Political Studies Association Annual Conference in Melbourne on 27 September 2017.
The book can be ordered online from the publisher, Federation Press.