Politics

Federal

Australian economy

Editorial

With crises all around, it’s time to reform federalism

The Herald's View November 17, 2025 — 5.00am

For the first time since federation, the three tiers of government in Australia are poised to collect more than $1 trillion in taxes, charges and fees.

At the end of the financial year, the public purse will be bursting at the seams. Certainly, the money comes back to us all, but something is wrong.

A growing number of senior politicians and policymakers believe federation itself is now a contributing cause of Australia’s stagnant growth , its housing crisis, health funding problems and falling living standards.

Today, we begin a three-day series on our federation as it approaches its 125th anniversary. Journalists Shane Wright a

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