Is Federation a Benefit or Defect to Australia?

During 2001 Australia celebrated its century as a federation. Evaluate the apparent benefits and defects of this constitutional arrangement for Australia.

Federation is the creation of a nation by uniting previously separated states, which will retain some powers of self-government but will also give some powers to a national government. In Australia’s case, federation began in 1901, after Australia was formed from six colonies: Western Australia, NSW, Victoria, Tasmania, Queensland and South Australia. Each state has its own State government and the National government is known as the Commonwealth of Australia. The Founding Fathers of Australia’s Constitution incorporated several theories and other federal models, and each factor caused Australia to either benefit or defected by Federation. Examples of the theories and federal models are: the United States, Canadian and Swiss Constitutions, Liberalism, Democracy, Washminster System and the ‘separation of powers’.

The belief of the ‘separation of powers’ comes from the French political thinker Montesquieu, where the legislative, executive and judiciary are held at separate institutions and the powers are divided across society to create ‘checks and balances’. This would stop an individual or group from abusing their political power. Allowing no one to abuse their power can be seen as a benefit; however, the separation of power has also caused defects of the constitutional arrangement for Australia. Examples are: there is “over government” and confusion as there are too many politicians, divided regulations and laws, and unclear