Separating Sovereignty and Sharing Problems: Australian Federalism and the European Union. Issue 4 (3rd November 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kay, Adrian
• Is Part Of: Australian journal of public administration. Volume 74:Issue 4(2015:Oct.)
• Page Start: 406
• Page End: 418
• Publication Date: 2015-11-03
• Subjects: federalism -- multi‐level governance -- EU; Public administration -- Australia -- Periodicals; Policy sciences -- Australia -- Periodicals; Australia -- Politics and government -- Periodicals; 351.9405
• DOI: 10.1111/1467-8500.12173
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0313-6647

Abstract

Abstract : From its origins in the study of the European Union, the concept of multi‐level governance (MLG) can contribute to understanding the capacity for, and barriers to, dynamism and innovation in the Australian federation. By placing the quality of the interactions between different jurisdictions at different spatial scales at the centre of analysis, the concept helps to underpin the argument that constitutional change in formal roles and responsibilities is not sufficient, and may not even be necessary, for reform of Australian federalism. The following steps are made in the paper. The first defines the main elements of MLG and its advantages for extra‐constitutional analysis of multi‐level policy coordination. The characteristics of MLG observed in contemporary Australian federalism are set out next. The final section presents a critique of the current Reform of the Federation White Paper. Abstract : The concept of multi‐level governance illuminates the capacity for, and barriers to, dynamism and innovation in the Australian federation. The focus is interactions between different jurisdictions at different spatial scales, showing that constitutional change in formal roles and responsibilities is not sufficient, perhaps not necessary, for reform of Australian federalism.