For those who don't know, this "national cabinet" is an invention of our Prime Minister to deal with the pandemic. The heads of governments across Australia have regular, but infrequent, meetings...
For those who don't know, this "national cabinet" is an invention of our Prime Minister to deal with the pandemic.
The heads of governments across Australia have regular, but infrequent, meetings already. It's called the Council of Australian Governments (COAG, pronounced as a two syllable word: "co-ag"). The Prime Minister, the six state Premiers, and the two territory Chief Ministers get together a couple of times a year to discuss issues that affect everyone.
The Prime Minister has turned this into a regular forum. They're meeting once or twice a week, under the moniker of "the national cabinet". And this has worked wonders to keep everyone on the same page and to maintain a consistent policy across the country. (Although there has been tension from time to time.) It has been one of the tools we Aussies have used to fight the coronavirus.
I think inviting the Kiwi P.M. is a brilliant development!
Especially in light of the fact that there's a clause in the Australian constitution which leaves the door open for New Zealand to join as an Australian state. They were invited to join the Federation back in the day, but they demurred. However, the people who wrote our constitution left that clause in, just in case.
But the point is that New Zealand and Australia are very close. We have open borders to each other's citizens (under normal circumstances), and free trade. Inviting Jacinta Ardern to our "transnational cabinet" is a very positive gesture.
For those who don't know, this "national cabinet" is an invention of our Prime Minister to deal with the pandemic.
The heads of governments across Australia have regular, but infrequent, meetings already. It's called the Council of Australian Governments (COAG, pronounced as a two syllable word: "co-ag"). The Prime Minister, the six state Premiers, and the two territory Chief Ministers get together a couple of times a year to discuss issues that affect everyone.
The Prime Minister has turned this into a regular forum. They're meeting once or twice a week, under the moniker of "the national cabinet". And this has worked wonders to keep everyone on the same page and to maintain a consistent policy across the country. (Although there has been tension from time to time.) It has been one of the tools we Aussies have used to fight the coronavirus.
I think inviting the Kiwi P.M. is a brilliant development!
Especially in light of the fact that there's a clause in the Australian constitution which leaves the door open for New Zealand to join as an Australian state. They were invited to join the Federation back in the day, but they demurred. However, the people who wrote our constitution left that clause in, just in case.
But the point is that New Zealand and Australia are very close. We have open borders to each other's citizens (under normal circumstances), and free trade. Inviting Jacinta Ardern to our "transnational cabinet" is a very positive gesture.