A book by former Queensland Treasurer Dr David Hamill predicting a long-term loss in autonomy for Australia’s States and Territories because of Howard Government’s tax reforms will be launched tonight (Thursday, March 23) by Premier Peter Beattie.
Mr Beattie will launch Dr Hamill’s book The Impact of the New Tax System on Australian Federalism at The University of Queensland at 6pm.
Dr Hamill was Queensland Treasurer from 1998 until 2001 and participated in many State-Federal financial meetings and conferences leading up to the GST deal being signed in 1999 as part of the Howard Government’s New Tax System.
Dr Hamill was State MP for Ipswich from 1983 to 2001, and is a UQ and Oxford graduate who last year was awarded a PhD by UQ in Political Science.
In the book, based on Dr Hamill’s PhD thesis, he says the States are in danger of becoming just another set of service providers to the Commonwealth.
Dr Hamill says the States and Territories have become increasingly reliant on a source of revenue over which they have no control.
“In the absence of fundamental change to its institutional framework, and in an environment in which the conduct of Australian federalism is characterised by coercion rather than cooperation, the increasing financial dependence of States and Territories on GST revenue is rendering them increasingly vulnerable to the dictates of the central government,” he says.
“This creeping centralisation is threatening the fundamental characteristics that distinguish Australia’s system of government as a federation.”
Other guests at tonight’s launch will include former Queensland Premier Wayne Goss and another former Labor Treasurer, Keith De Lacy.
WHERE: The University Bookshop, Staff House Road (Building 4), The University of Queensland.
WHEN: Thursday, March 23 from 6pm to 7.30pm.
MEDIA PARKING: Limited media parking will be reserved outside the University Bookshop, Media vehicles without decal identification will need to place identification on their dashboard.
For more information, contact Dr Hamill on 0438 107 944 ; or Brad Turner from the University’s Office of Marketing and Communications on 07 3365 2659 or 0400 767 489.
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