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Established in 1992, the Council of the Australian
Governments (COAG) is the most significant intergovernmental
forum in Australia, bringing together the three
tiers of government in Australia. Chaired by
the Prime Minister, COAG also involves State
Premiers and Territory Chief Ministers, as well
as the President of the Australian Local Government
Association.
COAG's objectives are to:
- increase cooperation among governments in
the national interest
- pursue reforms that aim to achieve an integrated,
efficient national economy and single national
market
- continue the structural reform of government
and review relationships among governments
- consider other intergovernmental or whole-of-government
issues.
South Australia has been instrumental in ensuring
issues of national importance have been addressed
at COAG meetings: in recent years, this work
has included the Living Murray Initiative, Climate
Change, and national mandatory greenhouse gas
reporting.
Other significant areas of recent cooperation
in COAG include National Competition Policy,
National Reform Agenda, Health and Community
Services, water reform, counter-terrorism, and
transport.
Meeting outcomes are issued in communiqués,
available at
www.coag.gov.au/meetings/archive.htm. Current
Intergovernmental Agreements are also listed
on COAG's website at
www.coag.gov.au/guide_agreements.htm.
Infrastructure in South
Australia
At its June 2005 meeting, the Council of Australian
Governments (COAG) agreed to prepare five yearly
infrastructure reports. At the meeting on 13
April COAG released each jurisdiction’s
report as well as a national overview.
South Australia’s report provides information
on current infrastructure supply and demand,
current and planned infrastructure investment,
performance and regulatory and planning arrangements
affecting provision and use of infrastructure.
The report was prepared by the Department for
Transport, Energy and Infrastructure in collaboration
with all relevant agencies including the Department
for Water, Land and Biodiversity (DWLBC), SA
Water and the Department of Further Education,
Employment, Science and Technology (DFEEST).
Importantly, the report demonstrates that current
and planned investments in infrastructure have
increased in recent years and that the South
Australian Government is working constructively
with other spheres of government and the private
sector to meet future infrastructure challenges.
Five Yearly Report to the Council of Australia
Governments (February 2007)
Download PDF format - 2.3MB
National Reform Agenda
- Human Capital
The Human Capital agenda is a long-term and
integrated agenda across governments and portfolios
to increase the nation’s productivity
and workforce participation. It recognises the
benefits to the economy and community of concerted
action to build a healthy, skilled and motivated
workforce, and the potential costs of failing
to do so. It underlines the importance of governments
working together to improve outcomes.
The underpinnings of human capital reform are:
- an integrated life cycle approach
- a focus on measurable outcomes and
- jurisdictional flexibility and policy diversity.
At its 14 July 2006 meeting, COAG agreed that
work be undertaken on specific reform proposals
in three initial priority areas of literacy
and numeracy, type 2 diabetes, early childhood
and child care as the first tranche of reforms
in the human capital agenda.
South Australia's action plans were prepared
by the Department of Education and Children's
Services (DECS), the Department of Health, the
Department of Families and Communities (DFC),
the Department of Further Education, Employment,
Science and Technology (DFEEST) and the Department
of the Premier and Cabinet. Click on the following
links to access the actions plans.
Literacy and Numeracy Action Plan
Download PDF format - 257KB
Early Childhood and Child Care Action
Plan
Download PDF format - 161KB
Type 2 Diabetes Action Plan
Download PDF format - 286KB
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