tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25637657.post2454092494146334482..comments2024-03-29T12:36:41.063+11:00Comments on New England, Australia: Paul Barratt speaksJim Belshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25637657.post-11499473237297182462010-09-08T10:15:30.539+10:002010-09-08T10:15:30.539+10:00I agree with you, of course, Greg. One of our prob...I agree with you, of course, Greg. One of our problems is that constitutional issues are simply not sexy. Discussions rarely focus on principles.Jim Belshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25637657.post-35397025957331610532010-09-07T21:16:05.662+10:002010-09-07T21:16:05.662+10:00Jim, the "we are over-governed" mantra i...Jim, the "we are over-governed" mantra is often accompanied by the totally unrealistic call that the states should be abolished. It seems that one of the great failings of our education system is the ignorance of so many Australians of our own system of government<br /><br />I strongly doubt that our founding fathers fully imagined the potential for misuse of Commonwealth grants to control the policies and activities of the states. It has turned our states into little more than compliant agents of the Commonwealth. <br /><br />After 110 years of federation it is time for that constitutional convention to re-define Commonwealth-State relations and division of powers. In fact it is absolutely essential if we ever hope to see effective government at the state level again.<br /><br />To quote the prime minister today "one size does not fit all". If only that weren't just a catch phrase.Gregnoreply@blogger.com