COAG Reform Council

COAG reform agenda

The overarching objective of the COAG reform agenda is to improve the wellbeing of Australians now and into the future.

At its meeting on 13 February 2011, COAG adopted ‘a streamlined agenda built around five themes of strategic importance that lie at the intersection of jurisdictional responsibilities:'

  • a long term strategy for economic and social participation
  • a national economy driven by our competitive advantages
  • a more sustainable and liveable Australia
  • better health services and a more sustainable health system for all Australians
  • Closing the Gap on Indigenous disadvantage.

The Intergovernmental Agreement on Federal Financial Relations (IGA) commenced on 1 January 2009. The IGA sets the rules for the Commonwealth's financial relations with the States and Territories.

The COAG reform agenda is implemented through National Agreements, National Partnerships, Water Management Partnerships under the Agreement on Murray-Darling Basin Reform, and other intergovernmental agreements.

The COAG Reform Council is the key accountability body for the COAG reform agenda.

Current intergovernmental agreements monitored by the council are:

National Agreements

  • National Healthcare Agreement
  • National Education Agreement
  • National Agreement for Skills and Workforce Development
  • National Disability Agreement
  • National Affordable Housing Agreement
  • National Indigenous Reform Agreement

National Partnerships (with reward payments)

  • National Partnership on Preventative Health
  • National Partnership on Elective Surgery Waiting List Reduction Plan
  • National Partnership on Essential Vaccines
  • National Partnership on Improving Teacher Quality
  • National Partnership on Literacy and Numeracy
  • National Partnership on Youth Attainment and Transitions
  • National Partnership to Deliver a Seamless National Economy

National Partnerships

Currently, there are around 24 National Partnerships which support the objectives of the National Agreements. Of these, there are seven National Partnerships with reward payments, as listed above, and the following 17 National Partnerships:

  • National Partnership on Hospital and Health Workforce Reform
  • National Partnership on Health Services
  • National Partnership on Health Infrastructure
  • National Partnership on e-Health
  • National Partnership on TAFE Fee Waiver for Childcare Places
  • National Partnership on Low Socio-Economic Status School Communities
  • National Partnership on Early Childhood Education
  • National Partnership on National Quality Agenda for Early Childhood Education and Care
  • National Partnership on Productivity Places Program
  • National Partnership on Social Housing
  • National Partnership on Homelessness
  • National Partnership on Closing the Gap in Indigenous Health Outcomes
  • National Partnership on Remote Indigenous Housing
  • National Partnership on Indigenous Economic Participation
  • National Partnership on Remote Service Delivery
  • National Partnership on Indigenous Early Childhood Development
  • National Partnership on Remote Indigenous Public Internet Access

Water Management Partnerships (between the Commonwealth and five Basin States)

Reform progress

The Intergovernmental Agreement on Federal Financial Relations (IGA) also gives the COAG Reform Council an overarching role. The COAG Reform Council is to report to the Prime Minister, as the Chair of COAG, on ‘monitoring the aggregate pace of activity in progressing COAG’s agreed reform agenda’.

Reports

Further information