Cooperative arrangements in comparative perspective

Abstract

Introduction. Australian federalism is at yet another critical turning point. While this proposition might be made from several perspectives, the focus of the present chapter is the progressive development of intergovernmental cooperation to a point that is beginning to alter the de facto, although not the de jure, design of the Australian federation. Cooperation now affects the performance of many functions that traditionally have been left to sub-national spheres in decentralised systems of government. Its continued expansion has consequences for a range of key constitutional principles: accountability and transparency; the relationship between governments and parliaments; the rule of law;..