What does the state government actually do?
TL;DR
The state runs things like hospitals, schools and public transport. Councils and the federal government handle other jobs.
Like I'm five
Think of three levels. Your council does bins, parks, libraries and building permits. The state does hospitals, schools, public transport and crime prevention. The federal government does defence, foreign affairs and social security. Spinder's statements are all about the state's jobs, because that's what this election decides.
The grown-up version
The state runs things like hospitals, schools, transport and crime prevention. Councils do rubbish, parks, libraries and building permits. Federal handles defence, foreign affairs and social security.
Source: VEC: State elections; VEC: What are electoral boundaries; AEC: Three levels of government
Sources
Sources last read Tuesday 3 November 2026 · Not yet independently checked