Essay on comparative federalism wins national prize

February 28, 2008

An essay by Braeden Donnelly, a student at the University of New England, has won second place in the 2007 Governor-General's Undergraduate Essay Competition.

More than 700 students from universities around Australia submitted essays in the competition. From a range of nine possible topics, Braeden chose one that required him to analyse contrasting patterns in the development of federalism in Canada and Australia, and suggest lessons that nations like Iraq might draw from such an analysis when contemplating the introduction of a federal system.

The annual competition, organised by the Constitution Education Fund of Australia (CEFA), is designed to appeal to students from all Faculties. Braeden, who is studying for qualifications in Arts, Law and Business, included the Politics unit "Comparative Federalism: Australia, USA and Canada" in his UNE program last year. "The unit covered much of the ground required for the essay," he said.

UNE's Dr Jim Maher, the lecturer for – and creator of – the "Comparative Federalism" unit, said that the essay topic had "fitted nicely" into the framework of the course.

Braeden's closely-argued essay examines judicial and financial influences on the contrasting development of federalism in the two nations, pointing out that "the movement of Canadian federalism towards decentralisation comes as a natural consequence of its cultural and linguistic heterogeneity", while "the culturally homogeneous nature of Australia drives it towards further centralisation". "The ethnic and religious diversity of Iraq is analogous to that of Canada," he concludes, "and logically drives Iraq towards a coordinate federal system."

In addition to writing the essay, Braeden had to undergo a rigorous interview by a panel of examiners including Justice Michael Kirby (High Court of Australia) and Professor George Winterton (Professor of Constitutional Law at the University of Sydney). After interviewing Braeden and the other finalists (including the first-place winner from La Trobe University), Justice Kirby said he had "thoroughly enjoyed hearing intelligent young people present their arguments". The other essay topics on offer dealt with faith and religion in Australian public policy, the possibilities of admitting Pacific microstates into the federation, media laws, citizenship, voting for prisoners, and the High Court and "Workchoices".

Braeden, who comes from Tenterfield, is a resident of UNE's St Albert's College, where he is a Resident Adviser. He will travel to Sydney in March for a dinner with other finalists, judges and CEFA Trustees and Executives, and will be presented with his prize (including a cheque for several thousand dollars) by the Governor-General, Major General Michael Jeffery, during a ceremony to be held at Admiralty House.

David Furse-Roberts, a UNE Law student, won sixth place in the 2006 Governor-General's Undergraduate Essay Competition.

Entries are now open for the 2008 competition, and CEFA has set aside $33,000 in prize money. Those interested in entering should go to the CEFA Web site at http://www.cefa.org.au or contact Dr Maher on (02) 6773 3810.

THE PHOTOGRAPH displayed here shows Braeden Donnelly (right) with Dr Jim Maher.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at February 28, 2008 02:32 PM