In a state of confusion, it's border line madness
HISTORIAN Geoffrey Blainey talked up the prospect of Far North Queensland becoming its own state this week.
Speaking at a Chamber of Commerce lunch, Prof Blainey said there should be not one but two new states in northern Australia.
Poll: Should Far North Queensland become a separate state?
These would be part of an enhanced federal system of government.
Prof Blainey has a wry sense of humour, but the consensus was he was speaking seriously.
Call for Far North Queensland to split
It's an intriguing idea made all the more relevant by the rising population of Darwin and Cairns (this columnist takes the view that any current population decline in Cairns is temporary and related to cyclical economic factors).
But is Prof Blainey correct? This columnist, for one, doesn't think so.
State claim divides population
Prof Blainey is, more or less, a conservative who desires to keep the federation, albeit with more states.
He believes Australia has largely been a success story with the odd blip along the way.
In terms of democracy, he's right. But that does not mean our system can't be improved.
If anything, I think Australia has succeeded despitee the states, not because of them.
More than a century since federation, the states look more than ever like a colonial anachronism.
The spat over how to save the Murray-Darling is but the latest case of self-interest and parochialism betwen the states impeding good policy.
State governments have repeatedly brought shame to their people, whether it be Victoria and South Australia (state bank collapses), New South Wales (woeful public transport) and Queensland (endemic corruption).
Going back a long time, state governments laid railways with different gauge sizes, massively impeding efficient interstate transport.
The situation where states bid for federal money is a bit like doling out lollies at a party of four-year-olds while at the same time, no one wants to see the states' taxation powers restored.
States should be consigned to the dustbin of history, only to emerge for sporting contests.
It's all very well for people like me to bag our federal system, but what should it be replaced with?
There's no easy answer and one suspects it's a topic that would keep constitutional experts occupied for a long time.
My feeling is state powers should be divided between the Federal Government and local governments, with the latter increased in size and responsibility.
The Commonwealth probably would run education, health, primary industries and water on top of its existing responsibilities.
The enhanced local governments would take over anything left over.
You could imagine enhanced local government regions such as Townsville and Districts, Riverina Region, New England Regional Authority, Cairns and Cape Authority among others.
You could debate boundaries until the cows come home, but I think the end result would be better value for money for taxpayers.
In some ways the Beattie/Bligh local government amalgamations were a step in this direction, though Beattie is on record as supporting the states and the federal system.
This might be more akin to England with its 48 counties (excluding Scotland and Wales), rather than the US, which Blainey used as an example of a successful federal system.
Admittedly, such a system may not be welcomed by West Australians, who probably feel their remoteness from Canberra even more than Far Northerners.
Prof Blainey made the point of different regions developing their own cultures and having their own special needs.
He's right. But I think these special needs and cultures would be better represented by enhanced local governments.
Whether or not you agree with this idea, there is plenty of evidence the federal system needs a revamp.
Tony Abbott, a conservative but one prepared to think outside the square,hassuggestedareferendum, which, if passed, would give the Commonwealth powers over the states such as it has over the Northern Territory and ACT.
The general consensus seems to be that an Australian republic will not be revisited in the lifetime of the Queen.
When that time comes, it would be worthwhile considering other more significant changes to our system of government rather than just how we choose our head of state.
On a final note, it would be interesting to see if Far Northerners really want their own state.
Across the Gulf of Carpentaria, Northern Territory residents said "no" to statehood in a referendum going back a decade, despite the backing of both the NT and Commonwealth governments.
They probably made the right decision.
Far Northerners have every right to seek a greater degree of self-determination.
I, for one, hope this occurs as part of a revamped system of government which would see an end to our outdated federation.
Share this article
Man goes on wild drive in Cairns CBD
THESE are the stunning scenes which brought Abbott St to a standstill yesterday morning.
Sobieralski killed after drug deal failed, court told
BREAKING NEWS: Cairns man Lance Sobieralski was killed over a drug and theft deal gone wrong, a Cairns court has been told.
Boy, 13, caught driving with mum
A 13-year-old boy has been caught behind the wheel of a car at Babinda as his mum took him on a driving lesson through the town and on the Bruce Highway.
Kevin Rudd bound for Cairns jobs expo
PRIME Minister Kevin Rudd will attend this week's Jobs Expo in Cairns.
Cairns Post celebrates school formals
To celebrate the end of a 12-year school journey, The Cairns Post is proud to publish Class of 2009 tomorrow, a special 24-page keepsake for graduating school students from Innisfail north to Thursday Island and everywhere in between.
