The Australian State in the 21st Century- Greg Smith

Thursday, 18 September at 6.00pm

Manning Clark House

In the first event of a new Manning Clark House series – “Australia in the 21st Century” – Greg Smith will speak to his paper “The Australian State in the 21st Century”, in which he discusses the role of the Australian state as the most powerful institution within both the political and economic orders within Australia, and concludes that it is not “match fit” to meet the likely challenges of the 21st century while sustaining a viable and healthy liberal democracy.

Greg will present the case for strengthening the will and capacity of the Australian state, both in its capacity to exert countervailing force and in its support for liberal democratic institutions and values, through a future reform task that would include:

·        expanding and strengthening the executive mind of the core state, matching its capacity to address complexity with that of its 21st century environment

·        transforming information conditions across society and within the state itself

·        rebuilding dilapidated Westminster relationships in political governance

·        comprehensively reforming the institutions and relationships of the federation.

Greg Smith has significant experience at the senior levels of Australian public policymaking over many decades, including tax and superannuation policy adviser to the Federal Treasurer (1983-86), head of Treasury Taxation Policy and Financial Institutions divisions (1980s and 1990s), Secretary to the Australian Financial System (“Wallis”) Inquiry (1996-97), head of the Treasury Budget and Revenue Groups (1998-2004) and panel member of the Future Tax System (“Henry”) Review (2008-09). He was a member and then Chairperson of the Commonwealth Grants Commission (2006-2020). He also engaged as a policy consultant in both public and private sectors, lecturer (economics, taxation policy and policy advising) and in unpaid roles with the Centre for Policy Development, Tax and Transfer Policy Institute (ANU) and CEDA Council on Economic Policy.

A copy of Greg’s paper can be downloaded here.

There will be a Q&A session following the presentation, then light refreshments.

MCH members $15; Concession (Gov’t support and full-time students) $15; Non-members $20

Tickets at: https://www.trybooking.com/DEUBY