A new theme in the old tension between centralization and decentralization in the governance and administration of Australian higher education is explored. The argument is that the various major attempts to restructure Australian education systems both in centralizing and decentralizing forces have gained new strength, and that the recent stated policies of ministers and governments for increased decentralization often have been largely unsuccessful because of the strength of new centralizing forces, often not anticipated or perhaps properly understood even by key policymakers themselves. The result is often considerable frustration and disappointment. A theoretical look is taken at the terms of centralization and decentralization and related concepts. Centralization and decentralization in relation to the various major attempts of the past decade to restructure state school systems are discussed. Themes of centralization and decentralization in relation to recent attempts by the Federal Minister for Employment, Education, and Training (John Dawkins) to restructure Australian higher education are explored. It is suggested that a new theory to explain why the forces of centralization are strong is needed. Such a theory would take into account new currents within the education sector and forces which derive from major social and political changes outside. Contains 13 references. (SM)