Federation reform could be the secret to improving productivity in Australia and avoiding blurred responsibility in fields such as health, the treasurer, Josh Frydenberg , has suggested. In a speech to be delivered at the University of Adelaide on Thursday, Frydenberg reveals that state and territory treasurers have agreed to draw up potential productivity enhancing reforms in policy areas including transport, health, skills and environmental regulation. In extracts of the Sir John Downer oration, seen by Guardian Australia, Frydenberg argues that Australia’s federal system has “matured” with greater uniformity in states’ approaches on taxation, education and transport and a single national approach to corporations law and the regulation of credit. Josh Frydenberg calls for reform of World Trade Organisation and its dispute rules Read more “But despite this progress we should be under no illusions about the inefficiencies that exist in our federation and the handbrake it represents on […]