ANZSOG COAG Working Group Seminars

We are excited to announce that in the coming months ANZSOG will be conducting a series of seminars for senior officials on topics associated with current Council of Australian Governments (COAG) agenda items. This new initiative has been developed in conjunction with the Victorian Government.

These seminars arose from discussions between Professor Allan Fels and Mr Terry Moran, Secretary, Prime Minister and Cabinet, regarding the need for senior officials to have a chance to explore COAG related subjects from different perspectives, and to provide an opportunity for forward thinking and to explore longer term challenges. The Victorian Government has generously provided funding to support the seminars.

The first workshop will relate to the Productivity Agenda and will focus on school education. Participants include members of the Productivity Agenda Working Group and some selected school policy experts including representatives from New Zealand.

The seminar is being organised by a steering committee headed by Allan Fels, and takes place in Canberra, 22 April 2008.

At this stage ANZSOG is intending to hold seminars during 2008/09 in relation to:

• Housing
• Health and Ageing
• Infrastructure
• Business Regulation and Competition.

The School believes these events will be an important forum in which to enhance the COAG process throughout 2008.