Quote:
Originally Posted by MITCHAY
No it wasn't. The states and territories agreed to run hotel quarantine at the start despite it being a federal responsibility because it was part of public health and they saw advantage in doing so and/or thought the feds would not be able to manage it.
Additionally to this it was agreed that the states and territories would foot the bill for their residents and then the rest was split pro rata amongst them all which both QLD and WA are refusing to pay to GSS.
Ever since they have deflected blame to the feds for any bad outcome and expect to wedge the feds on the costs of their own restrictions  |
Spot on!
As far as I know the Australian Constitution can only be altered by a referendum and it requires a super majority to gain approval.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-01-...ralia/13070108
Quote:
A deal was struck between Prime Minister Scott Morrison and state and territory leaders.
The states and territories agreed to run hotel quarantine as part of their broader responsibility for public health, despite it being a federal role under the constitution.
The states also agreed to fund most of it.
You might find that surprising given the usual fights over money. But the states give a number of reasons why they were happy with this arrangement.
They needed Canberra to use its Centrelink systems to distribute income support to casual workers who might be holding down multiple jobs and, as a result, may be spreading the virus....
|
The only question ever left in my mind was "If it was a Federal responsibility, then why were the states so eager to take over that responsibility? Surely they would fight tooth and nail to avoid it." My only conclusion was that they felt there was some benefit in it for them. They they could do things how they wanted however they deemed fit.