The national Council Of Australian Governments (COAG) has been disbanded to be replaced by a National Federation Reform Council.
Announced by the Prime Minister, Scott Morrison (pictured) the new Council was agreed to by Premiers and Chief Ministers and is expected to change the way the Commonwealth, States and Territories work together to address new areas of reform.
“At the centre of the National Federation Reform Council will be National Cabinet,” Mr Morrison said.
“By any measure, National Cabinet has proven to be a much more effective body for taking decisions in the national interest than the COAG structure,” he said.
“The National Cabinet will be driven by an initial single agenda – to create jobs.”
“A job making agenda.”
Mr Morrison said the National Cabinet which was formed to coordinate the Coronavirus pandemic, would continue to meet regularly and be briefed directly by experts such as the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee.
“During the COVID-19 period, National Cabinet will continue to meet every two weeks. In the future, these meetings will take place once a month,” he said.
“Important taskforces will continue in areas that are critical to our National Agenda.”
Mr Morrison said that once a year the National Cabinet, the Council on Federal Financial Relations (CFFR) and the Australian Local Government Association would meet in person as the National Federation Reform Council with a focus on priority national federation issues.
“This new model will streamline processes and avoid endless meetings that do not result in action.”
“This is a congestion busting process that will get things done with a single focus on creating jobs,” Mr Morrison said.
The first meeting of the new Council is yet to be released.
