What are the advantages and disadvantages of a federal system of government?How has the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the advantages and challenges of federalism?

Part A: Core Concepts (20 marks)

Questions

1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of a federal system of government?How has the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the advantages and challenges of federalism? (10 marks)

2. What is the difference between representative and responsible government? To what extent does the current federal Parliament represent the diversity of Australia’s people? (10 marks)

Part B: Law Reform (30 marks)

Questions

3. In August 2021, the Surveillance Legislation Amendment (Identify and Disrupt) Act (Cth) passed the federal Parliament. What powers did this law create, and why are the powers controversial? (10 marks)

4. In March 2021, the Queensland government established the Women’s Safety and Justice Taskforce. Among other issues, the Taskforce will examine whether the Queensland Parliament should enact a new domestic violence offence for ‘coercive control’. Does Queensland need new laws against coercive control, and how would this new offence help to improve safety and justice for Australian women? (10 marks)

5. Based on the Uluru Statement from the Heart, there have been ongoing calls to establish an Indigenous Voice to the Australian federal Parliament. What would an Indigenous Voice to Parliament involve, and how would it be achieved? (10 marks)