
Issue No 120		23 November 2001

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Tassie On Top, While NSW And WA Slip

Tasmania has been assessed as Australia's best performing State for the first time while NSW has slipped drastically in the Evatt Foundation's annual State Government League Table.

Tasmania defeated runner-up South Australia and third-placed Queensland. Tasmania out performed the other States with its environmental policies, and performed above average in social policy.

In a surprise outcome, NSW has slipped to fourth place, after holding the top spot for five years straight.

"The main reason for the NSW fall was a below average performance in the crucial social policy area," said Dr Christopher Sheil, who prepared the report for the Evatt Foundation.

"NSW came second last in the social policy area. This was a steep fall, and it has been compounded by the loss of the State's leading edge in environmental policy."

In another surprise outcome, Western Australia won the wooden spoon for the first time in the eight-year history of the League Table.

Western Australia recorded the worst social policy performance, and the second worst environmental performance.

"It should be noted that the Western Australian performance relates to the period of the former Coalition Government led by Richard Court", said Dr Sheil.

"The WA result continues the League Table's extraordinary track record. Every single State government that has won the Table's wooden spoon has lost at its subsequent election"

In other results, Queensland rose from fourth to third position, and Victoria rose to fifth position, finally surrendering the League Table's wooden spoon during the first year of the Bracks Labor Government.

The Evatt Foundation and the Public Sector Research Centre at the University of New South Wales produced The State of the States 2001 report.

The research is based upon data from the Commonwealth Grants Commission and the Australian Bureau of Statistics and covers the 12 months to June 2000.

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Issue 120 contents

Interview: Civilising Capital
Peter Butler is a global investor with a difference. He believes that environment, shareholder democracy and workers rights make good business sense.

Industrial: All In The Family
In his opening submission to the landmark case, ACTU assistant secretary Richard Marles argues working hours are vital to life.

Unions: Saving Cinderella
It is a modern day fairy tale - a Cinderella from the suburbs, worked like a slave from morning to night injured and then abandoned.

International: Recognising China
Gough Whitlam draws the links, past and present, between recognition of China and the continuing struggle to achieve a genuinely inclusive Australian democracy.

History: The Speakers Square
A new book lifts the lid on Melbourne's radical past - including the soapboxes that dotted the city in the 1890s.

Economics: Back to the Pack
The big story in this yearďż˝s State of the States League Table is the end of the long reign of New South Wales at the top of the heap.

Satire: Man Reneges On Promise To Leave The Country If Howard Re-Elected
A Sydney man has decided he wonďż˝t leave Australia despite the re-election of the Howard Government.

Review: When Hippes Meet Unionists
A new book investigates how links between politics and culture reached a high point in the 1970s

» Calls for ALP Fundraising Code

» Mad Monk Keeps IR

» Ignored Warnings Bring Tragic Results

» ACTU Executive To Mark Union Bounce Back

» Workers Will Lose from Unfair Contract Changes

» Tassie On Top, While NSW And WA Slip

» Costa Gets First Union Call

» Hamberger in Hot Water

» Egan to Pay for Welfare Win

» Sweet Victory for Sugar Workers

» Selectron Demise Spells Death of Tech Inustry

» Telco Industry Growth Hits The Wall

» Shocking Conditions in Clothing Industry

» Workers Force Council Backdown

» New Dili Project Launched

» Airport Guards Welcome Work Study Case

» No News is Bad News for the Bush

» Getonboard Closes Doors

» Activists Notebook

» Organiser of the Year Nominations Open

» The Soapbox

» The Soapbox

» Trades Hall

» Tool Shed

» The Cost a Costa

» Unionism and the ALP - a Workers View.

» Is 60-40 Good Odds?

» Ancient OHS - The Wergild Sysstem

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