As 2001 draws to a close, our year long celebration of the Centenary of Federation has seen Councils across the nation working with their communities on numerous projects. One of the positive offshoots of this milestone in our nationhood has been wider media coverage of how and why we have a federal system of government, and more importantly, how it operates. This has led to increased discussion and greater understanding of the role of each of our three spheres of government. The involvement of Local Government in ensuring the celebrations became a reality in all localities has once again demonstrated the importance of Councils in implementing programs and policies where they really count, at the grassroots community level.
In this edition of FOCUS, we present two four page supplements, one highlighting Local Government’s role in governance and policy direction on behalf of its constituents, and the other, the practical side, delivering optimum services. A special supplement on the Australian Local Government Association’s National General Assembly staged in Canberra from 25-28 November, as well as this year’s winners of the National Awards for Innovation in Local Government, are both vital reading.
The Innovation Award winners showcase Councils large and small – urban, regional and remote – all making a difference in the lives of their constituents. This is the result of the dedication and inspiration of Council staff, coupled with the strong leadership of their elected members in encouraging and supporting such initiatives. Former Federal Minister for Local Government, Senator Ian Macdonald, when presenting the Innovation Awards at the National General Assembly emphasised the role played by Mayors and Councillors stating that ‘every community is only as good as its leaders’.
In his closing address at the National General Assembly, President, Councillor John Ross, said that this annual forum publicly indicates Local Government’s commitment to good governance and policy development, demonstrating an ongoing commitment to the communities it serves.
With the Assembly theme being ‘Community Renewal – Citizens In Action’, many of the keynote speakers emphasised that strong, vibrant and successful communities are those that are inclusive, bringing all players together to work for a better future.
The key role played by young people, not only in terms of their potential as future leaders, but empowering them to get things happening now, was an important message. Keynote speaker, Vicki Buck, former Mayor of Christchurch in New Zealand was first elected to Council at the age of nineteen. Councils need to question how representative they really are, if few or any of their number are aged under 40 and, even more pointedly, under 30 years.
If young people rarely run for Council, start asking why and how this can be turned around. Involving young people on advisory groups and supporting their self help projects is a good place to start. When young people fee very much a part of, and a vital component in building a vibrant future for the locality a number of issues will be addressed. Not the least of these is turning around a lack of self esteem, a major contributor to disenchantment and disillusionment leading to far reaching social and health problems that impact so profoundly on youth, their families and the community at large.
As we move into the second century of our nationhood, Local Government is yet again the obvious and most ideal place to start in empowering our young people as we build more prosperous, fulfilling, fair and inclusive communities.
