Arrangements for Facilitating Trans-Tasman Government Institutional Co-operation
Introduction
The development of a Single Economic Market between Australia and New Zealand seeks to adopt a strategic approach to shaping and guiding greater co-operation between the two economies in order to realise the benefits for business, consumers, and investors.
The high level of co-operation between Australia and New Zealand partly reflects close economic, social and cultural ties. The range of existing links and the public and bi-partisan political support for them in both countries make it almost inevitable that there will be future enhancements to trans-Tasman co-operation. It is therefore important to provide those seeking to facilitate present and future trans-Tasman institutional co-operation with some readily available guidance on possible options for further enhanced co-operation.
Background
In 2006, the New Zealand State Services Commission and the Australian Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet commissioned a joint project to give policy makers on both sides of the Tasman a framework to support efficient and effective decisions on options for regulatory and institutional co-operation while recognising our respective national interest considerations.
The Ministry of Economic Development and the Australian Department of Finance and Administration have been tasked to lead a working group of officials to produce this framework.
Developing the framework
The joint project is being progressed in two phases.
Phase 1 of the project was concluded with the publication of a paper which provides a systematic outline of the options available to support trans-Tasman government co-operation.
The aim of the paper is to help officials to provide quality advice on co-operation options, efficiently resolve any issues arising from proposed co-operation arrangements and implement existing and future co-operation arrangements. The paper examines the range of current government interactions, and drawing on these, develops a set of principles that can be considered when entering into a new interaction, or reviewing existing arrangements.
The paper was launched on 22 April 2007 at the fourth annual Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum in Sydney and has been published by the Australia New Zealand School of Government [external link].
Phase 2 of the project will deepen the understanding of joint institutional design issues.
The aim is to develop a framework which will set out detailed guidance on governance, accountability, legal interface and technical issues associated with joint institution design.
Documents
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