John Harrison writes in the Brisbane Times (28.2.16) about suggestions from two former Queensland premiers, Peter Beattie and Campbell Newman, that the federation’s ‘dysfunctional’ character needs reforming to improve government efficiency and boost the Australian economy.
Harrison bases his commentary on claims made in two recent books by, or about, Beattie and Newman. The Brisbane Times has reproduced a number of excerpts from Beattie’s recently released book, ‘Where To From Here, Australia?’.
‘In the wake of Campbell Newman’s bio-polemic Can Do: Campbell Newman and the Challenge of Reform, we have a new book from former premier Peter Beattie, called Where to from here, Australia?.
‘Across the political divide, both rate the dysfunctional character of the federation as holding back the Australian economy. Barrackers for a republic are riding the wrong horse.’
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