The Revival of Australian Federalism? Trends and developments in Commonwealth–State relations

Abstract

This chapter reviews developments in Australian federalism since the start of the new millennium, situating them in the context of longer-term trends and tendencies. After rehearsing the chief characteristics of the Australian federal system, it considers the way different issues have shaped the continuing evolution of that system in recent years. Two of those issues—climate change politics and the COVID-19 pandemic—stand out for the way they seem to have given Australian federalism a new lease on life when centralising forces have otherwise prevailed. The chapter examines the way those challenges have brought the states to the fore and ventures some evaluation of their significance.