Conclusion – Future National Reforms in the Age of Artificial Intelligence, Pandemics and New Federalism

Abstract

AbstractAlthough national uniform legislation is not a universal remedy for all the legal challenges the Australian federation encounters, this book took a step towards better understanding achievement of national response in crises and for long-term substantial reforms. The inherent complexity surrounding national uniform legislation required a conceptual simplification to guide research, enable communication among scholars and practitioners and develop effective decision-making strategies. This book simplified and gave meaning to general principles and the underlying theory of national uniform legislation. The developed models may serve as a practical evaluation tool for law reformers, policymakers and legislative drafters. The unique insights derived from this research will assist in achieving national reforms in a more effective, efficient and transparent manner, in cases where such uniformity is required.Generating political and legal consensus is particularly important in Australian federation that has been changed by recent events with the tensions between the level of governments revealed in a new light. The bushfires of 2020, later COVID-19 pandemic, international confrontations and the urgent need for economic recovery has had a profound effect on the way Australian intergovernmental relations operate, which will be evaluated for decades to come. The federation had to take many unprecedented actions with a significant reform of intergovernmental architecture amidst the crises with a high number of National Cabinet meetings. What will this mean for future coordination and future of Australian federation?