Give Commonwealth total power: Abbott

(Thursday 10 July 2008)

Liberal frontbencher Tony Abbott is to publish a book that will argue for federal government to be given authority to override the states on any law at any time.

In what would be a radical shift from the current system, Mr Abbott told the Sydney Morning Herald yesterday that the Commonwealth needs overall power beyond the current Section 51 amendment if the nation is to operate effectively.

“The biggest problem Australia faces today is the dysfunctional Federation. It’s absolutely critical that we establish who’s in charge of all areas of governance,” he said.

“We need to face the fact that we are a nation today, not a federation of states, and we need to clearly establish in law that, when it comes to the crunch, the federal government is in charge.”

(read the full story at http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/abbotts-quest-for-power/2008/07/09/1215282927979.html)

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