Federalism and Social Policy in Australia

Brenton, Scott [University of Melbourne]

Australia is a case of weak federalism, where interventionist courts and a strong two-party system have had a more significant influence than has federalism on the size and redistributive capacity of the welfare state. Courts have mandated higher living wages than exist in many other countries and have empowered the federal government to gain more political and financial clout than was intended at federation. Most social policy questions are decided at the national level, where the two main parties, traditionally based on class cleavages, have alternated between welfare state development and dismantlement. However, the states continue to deliver most social services and maintain significant public education and health systems and therefore act as an important advocate for the public sector.