Agreements

The Northern Australia Indigenous Development Accord (the Accord) is an intergovernmental agreement to progress Indigenous economic development as a critical part of the Northern Development Agenda. The agreement recognises Indigenous participation in the economy is essential to fully realise the development of northern Australia, and provides a framework for governments to work together and individually to advance Indigenous economic development in northern Australia.

This Intergovernmental Agreement seeks to strengthen Australia’s biosecurity system through enhanced national collaboration among Australian governments. The Agreement came into effect on 3 January 2019, when the Commonwealth and South Australia became the first signatories.

On 10 December 2018, the Commonwealth and Tasmanian Governments entered into the Bilateral Agreement between the Commonwealth of Australia and the State of Tasmania on the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

An agreement to establish and support the Australian Digital Health Agency and to contribute to the incremental transformation of the way health information is used to plan, manage and deliver healthcare services through the implementation of a world class digital health capability in Australia.

An agreement between the Commonwealth of Australia and all States and Territories

On 29 June 2018, the Commonwealth and South Australian Governments entered into the Bilateral Agreement between the Commonwealth of Australia and the State of South Australia on the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

The Intergovernmental Agreement on the National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse provides the foundation for Commonwealth, State and Territory governments to work together to implement the National Redress Scheme. The Scheme aims to recognise and alleviate the impact of past institutional child sexual and related abuse, and provide justice for people who have experienced institutional child sexual abuse.

Please note: This version of the Agreement and Appendices A and C are no longer up to date. For an updated version, please see Intergovernmental Agreement on a National Framework for Responding to PFAS Contamination which came into effect 7 February 2020. This page has been kept for historical purposes only.

The Heads of Agreement between the Commonwealth and the States and Territories on public hospital funding and health reform was considered by COAG and signed by the Commonwealth, New South Wales and Western Australia on 9 February 2018. South Australia, Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory subsequently signed the agreement.

The updated Intergovernmental Agreement on Australia’s National Counter-Terrorism Arrangements came into effect on 5 October 2017. The updated IGA builds on the 2002 IGA and its 2012 variation.

The Intergovernmental Agreement on Identity Matching Services came into effect on 5 October 2017. The IGA, between the Commonwealth and the states, makes it easier for security and law enforcement agencies to identify people who are suspects or victims of terrorist or other criminal activity, and prevent the use of fake or stolen identities.

This Agreement implements a new framework for competition and productivity‑enhancing reforms.

An agreement between the Commonwealth and the States & Territories (NSW, WA, Tas, ACT and NT)

In 2013, COAG agreed to a permanent inter-jurisdictional exchange of criminal history information for screening people working with children (‘the Exchange’). The Exchange increases the range of criminal history information shared between jurisdictions and is an important measure in protecting children from harm.

The Intergovernmental Agreement on Biosecurity (IGAB), which came into effect in January 2012, is an agreement between the Commonwealth, State and Territory governments, with the exception of Tasmania. This Agreement was developed to improve the national biosecurity system by identifying the roles and responsibilities of governments and outlines the priority areas for collaboration to minimise the impact of pests and disease on Australia’s economy, environment and the community.

The National Environmental Biosecurity Response Agreement (NEBRA) is the first deliverable of the Intergovernmental Agreement on Biosecurity, and sets out emergency response arrangements, including cost-sharing arrangements, for responding to biosecurity incidents that primarily impact the environment and/or social amenity and where the response is for the public good.

An agreement to establish a national system of regulation for all heavy vehicles over 4.5 tonnes, consisting of uniform laws administered by a single national regulator.

An agreement to establish a national system of rail safety regulation and investigation to include uniform regulation and a single national rail safety regulator, complemented by a national rail safety investigator.

An agreement between the Commonwealth and the States and Territories on the establishment of a national maritime safety jurisdiction and regulator for all commercial vessels in Australian waters.

On 29 November 2008, COAG agreed the Intergovernmental Agreement on Federal Financial Relations (IGAFFR). The IGAFFR established a new framework for the Commonwealth’s financial relations with the States and Territories.