state of the states 2018 – News, Research and Analysis – The Conversation

Voters want their governments – local, state, and federal – to clean up their act and put integrity reforms high on the agenda. AAP/Mick Tsikas

November 1, 2018

States and territories have improved integrity measures, but Commonwealth lags far behind

Danielle Wood, Grattan Institute; Carmela Chivers, Grattan Institute, and Kate Griffiths, Grattan Institute

Almost all states have improved their accountability in recent years, and are far ahead of the Commonwealth government.

The ACT has Australia’s best state tax system, NSW the worst. Shutterstock

November 1, 2018

Abolish stamp duty. The ACT shows the rest of us how to tax property

Brendan Coates, Grattan Institute; John Daley, Grattan Institute, and Tony Chen, Grattan Institute

The Grattan Institute says swapping stamp duty for land tax would make Australians up to $17 billion a year better off.

There could be much clearer skies ahead for energy policy if states take the reins. AAP Image/Lukas Coch

October 31, 2018

State governments can transform Australia’s energy policy from major fail to reliable success

Tony Wood, Grattan Institute and Guy Dundas, Grattan Institute

The federal government is primarily to blame for the mess that is Australia’s energy policy. It’s time for the states to step up, to reduce both prices and emissions.

Australian cities need to sustain higher levels of construction and to provide higher-density developments to ensure growing populations have access to affordable housing. Brendan Esposito/AAP

October 31, 2018

To make housing more affordable this is what state governments need to do

John Daley, Grattan Institute; Brendan Coates, Grattan Institute, and Tony Chen, Grattan Institute

Governments should stop offering false hopes and pandering to NIMBY pressures. As well as increased public and private housing supply, growing cities need well-designed higher-density development.

No state is better than the rest on all education measures. AAP/Paul Miller

October 30, 2018

No state has all the answers in school education

Peter Goss, Grattan Institute and Julie Sonnemann, Grattan Institute

School education in Australia is generally good, but it should be better.

Health is the largest single component of state government expenditure. Shutterstock/hxdbzxy

October 30, 2018

Waiting for better care: why Australia’s hospitals and health care are failing

Stephen Duckett, Grattan Institute

Australians are waiting too long for elective surgery, dental care and treatment for mental health. It’s no wonder health is a vote-changer.

Another election, another infrastructure promise – in the Andrews government’s case, a $50 billion suburban rail loop. Penny Stephens/AAP

October 29, 2018

Infrastructure splurge ignores smarter ways to keep growing cities moving

Marion Terrill, Grattan Institute

In the election bidding wars, parties commit billions to transport projects, often before all the work needed to justify these has been done. More cost-effective alternatives hardly get a look-in.

The Morrison government is but the latest to indulge in the policy fantasy of redirecting population growth to regional Australia. Simon Dallinger/AAP

October 29, 2018

Australia’s dangerous fantasy: diverting population growth to the regions

John Daley, Grattan Institute and Jonathan Nolan, Grattan Institute

Efforts by governments to redirect population growth to regional Australia have never worked. Even if such policies could be made to work, they probably wouldn’t be worth the costs.

The beauty of our federation is that each state can learn from each other. Shutterstock

October 28, 2018

Grattan Institute Orange Book 2018. State governments matter, vote wisely

John Daley, Grattan Institute

Ahead of two state elections, the Grattan Institute Orange Book examines the state of each state and how each can do things better. The good news is that if each copied the best in each field they would do very well indeed.

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