Multi-level governance and the emergence of collaborative federal institutions in Australia

Abstract

English This article looks at recent changes in political-administrative relationships in the intergovernmental arenas of the Australian federal political system. Some of the major structural tensions in these arenas of multi-level governance are identified, and some of the main problem areas for the conduct of effective problem solving are highlighted. Changes in some of these structural elements are considered to be a result of greater entanglement and closer collaboration between state and commonwealth governments, and three possible explanatory models for understanding the changes are considered.These changes are set in a context of wider administrative reforms in the constituent state and commonwealth governments.Two case studies are also given,each drawn from data collected as part of an ongoing research project on intergovernmental relations.The article concludes with a review of the explanatory power of the models of change, and a brief comment on the evolving character of multi-level governance in the federation.