The process has been hampered by a breakdown in trust between the Commonwealth and the states, writes Paul Kildea on Inside Story.
COAG
podcast Canberra Calling: The Crikey cure for all that ailes you podcast
Crikey’s Canberra correspondent Bernard Keane and Crikey deputy editor Jason Whittaker discuss the the latest COAG health reform agreement and how the politics will play out.
healthcare 
Health reform: does it go far enough?
The Business Council of Australia have released a report that argues for a more transformative health reform agenda and process than what has been on the table to date, reports Melissa Sweet.
COAG and health: a mega-wrap of reaction
What will Sunday’s COAG agreement mean for hospital financing, health reform and the community’s health? A range of expert contributors to Crikey’s health blog Croakey share their thoughts.
COAG health reform: a long road to … where?
So we have another “historic health reform deal” which is making loud promises while falling short on detail. Getting the agreement is one thing, writes Melissa Sweet, but there’s a long road ahead.
Howard was right on COAG — lips move but nothing sensible comes out
Yesterday’s COAG meeting was more of the same — low farce from a useless collection of politicians.
Aunty ABC’s soft spot for Sunday template journalism
On the weekend a story published on the ABC website about COAG once again blatantly recycled the Opposition line. Mr Denmore warns of the perils of lazy ‘Sunday template journalism.’
Changing political landscape means changes to health reform
The new Victorian Liberal government, like the old Victorian Labor government, is a major player in Australia’s health reforms, writes Paul Dugdale, director of the ANU Centre for Health Stewardship.
The invisible housing crisis
If you want evidence of how devoid of serious content this election is — as if we hadn’t had enough already — then look no further than the response to yesterday’s housing approval figures.
Energy ministers accused of gagging criticism on policy
A new directive issued by the Ministerial Council of Energy (MCE) last month will infringe on the independence of the Consumer Advocacy Panel, consumer groups have told Crikey.
Housing: another bloody review
COAG announced its “reform agenda” for addressing housing supply this week. It has a familiar ring to it.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Why Federalism is stuffed
One Crikey reader writes that all the brouhaha, posturing, chest beating, and COAGulation, shows what is wrong with federalism. Plus, readers weigh in on the GST, the ABC and human rights.
Waiting for Ruddo — mental health misses out at COAG
Yesterday may have been an historic occasion for some hospital patients, but for the four million Australians who have a mental illness, the wait for real reform goes on, writes Sebastian Rosenberg.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Tales from a volcano
Crikey readers weigh in on airlines and volcanos. Is it so bad that aeroplane transport has stopped? Plus, thoughts on COAG, states and the death of Carl Williams. Oh, and the Pirate Party.
Political snippets: With hospitals out of the way, will Rudd turn to taxation?
Kevin Rudd has achieved enough at his COAG meeting to defuse health and hospitals as an election campaign negative for Labor. Now it’s time to tackle taxation. Plus, the budget deficit, mortgage rates and other business news.
Crikey Says: A ‘planned negotiation process’ — so that’s what it was…
So that’s that whole health reform deal was. A “planned negotiation process” that started and ended with posturing by premiers who needed to appear macho to their constituencies.
revealed How the health deal was done
Simon Benson has the inside story of how the health deal was struck, with Kristina Keneally’s powerful secret handshakes, John Brumby walking out of meetings and the last minute $800m sweetener.
Deal and no deal between PM and Premiers
Daily media wrap: All sides are declaring victory in the battle over public hospital reform, except no one seems to have actually won — yet.
States stick it up Rudd
All those commitments Kevin Rudd is making to the states to buy their support for health reform will add up to more middle-class welfare. Whoever wins out of this, taxpayers will be the losers.
Political snippets: Waiting for COAG
Failure to convince the Premiers on hospital reform would not really be a failure for Kevin Rudd, a coming of age for the Greens, mixing sport and politics (and Twitter) in India and more nuggets of political news.
Kohler: Bugger health, this is all about Howard’s GST stuff-up
The debate about national control over health and hospitals is just Rudd’s Trojan tax horse, writes Alan Kohler. Kevin Rudd wants to wrestle back the GST from the states who’ve just wasted all the cash John Howard recklessly gave them.
Do we still need state govts?
It isn’t the GST that should make the premiers fear the “thin end of the wedge”; the entire purpose of their existence is in question.
Remember us? We’re called nurses
Nurses are the people who will be critical to achieving health reform on the ground, since doctors aren’t alone in providing front-line health care, writes mental health nurse Kim Ryan.
Political snippets: Rudd will win health reform at COAG
There might be a minor grumble or two from a Premier pretending that the offer should have been more but Kevin Rudd will get his health reform victory. Plus, Rudd get the Obama tick of approval and other political tidbits.
