COAG Legislation Amendment 2021

# COAG Legislation Amendment Bill 2021 ## What it does The federal government is shutting down the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) and replacing it with the National Cabinet. This bill updates all the laws that currently mention COAG—over 40 different acts—to swap in "National Cabinet" instead. It's essentially a paperwork exercise to make sure existing legislation still makes sense under the new structure. ## Why it matters COAG was how federal, state, and territory leaders coordinated on major issues like disability care, health, education, and infrastructure. If the laws still refer to a body that no longer exists, decisions made by the National Cabinet could be legally unclear or challenged. This bill prevents legal confusion and ensures the new system actually has the authority to do what it's meant to do. ## Key details - **Scope**: Changes references in major legislation including the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act, National Health Reform Act, Australian Education Act, and infrastructure and environment laws - **National Cabinet accountability**: The bill also modifies laws controlling transparency, like the Freedom of Information Act and Archives Act, to clarify how the National Cabinet fits into government oversight systems - **No new powers**: This bill doesn't give the National Cabinet extra authority—it just makes sure existing laws work under the new name and structure