We move quickly to Abbott, who, motivated by concern about duplication between state and federal governments, established a white paper process aimed at reassigning responsibilities. While Malcolm Turnbull presented a bold plan to allow states to collect a portion of the income tax given his burning desire to spend it.
Ahead of his election victory last month, Anthony Albanese also vowed to offer “a clearer definition of who is responsible for what”, making him the last prime minister to devote himself to repairing Australia’s fractured federation. .
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese promised to offer “a clearer delimitation of who is responsible for what.” Credit: Bianca De Marchi
But the leaders of Australia’s two most populous and prosperous states will not wait.
Driven by declining Canberra authority during the pandemic, Victorian Prime Minister Daniel Andrews and NSW Prime Minister Dominic Perrottet have formed an unlikely alliance to push for transformative health, tax and care funding reforms of children.
On paper, it would seem unfeasible. Andrews is a progressive Prime Minister of the Labor Socialist Left faction and Perrottet is a right-wing conservative Catholic of the Liberal Party.
Illustration by Matt Golding. Credit: The Age
But his desire to be a bold political reformer goes beyond rigid ideology.
The recent collaboration between the longtime Labor Prime Minister and the relatively new NSW leader also opposes the “stale partisanship” that former Prime Minister Abbott once described as one of the drags of federalism.
The message within the Perrottet government is that there is also a power that has just aligned itself with a Labor leader because it eliminates any partisan element.
As Dan and Dom see it, Victoria and NSW have similar populations, industries, and interests. Collaborating offers political results and can be politically advantageous.
He also denies Canberra one of its strongest advantages in competitive federalism; leverage.
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Speaking to the National Press Club in December, Perrottet spoke of his frustration after attending his first meeting of the former Australian Governing Council as NSW treasurer. In short, I thought it was a waste of time.
Out if the opportunity arose. Instead, Perrottet teamed up with Victorian treasurer Tim Pallas, avoiding the federal government and creating the board of state and territorial treasurers.
In the words of Perrottet himself, he removed the “divide and conquer” approach that Canberra had often taken at COAG meetings and saw the federal government “faced with a strong unified voice”.
More than 57% of Australians live in NSW and Victoria. When the leaders of these states can set aside partisan politics and unite, Canberra has no choice but to listen.
To take advantage of the Commonwealth in this way, there also needs to be a level of trust and respect between the two states.
In many ways, Perrottet’s personal relationship with Pallas was the catalyst for his relationship with Daniel Andrews. Last October, when Perrottet emerged as the favorite to replace Gladys Berejiklian as prime minister, Andrews turned to Pallas for an assessment of his new counterpart.
Political experts working alongside the two prime ministers say the relationship is more than a strategic cooperation, but one of genuine affection.
“They are men and politicians alike,” a Labor source said. “Dom is a kind of ‘great ideas,’ both of which are driven by ideas.”
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Perrottet is a little more open in his affection for Andrews, telling The Age and Sydney Morning Herald that “he’s a great boy.”
Andrews’ office also sees Perrottet’s desire to collaborate as a endorsement of the Victorian Prime Minister. Andrews is certainly a polarizing figure, but Perrottet is not afraid to join him in politics and reform.
Obviously, of course, his political strategies also play with the parochialism of the domestic public.
Both men know that voters will reward them for defending their states and fighting Canberra for a fair share.
His bold reform agenda fights any perception of inertia for Andrews as he seeks a third term while allowing Perrottet to be seen as a reformist prime minister.
It is no coincidence that both NSW and Victoria have elections over the next nine months.