The constant push by State Governments to alter the role of Local Governments right around Australia is a costly exercise of questionable value.
The Western Australian (WA) government pushed for amalgamations and then did an about face that cost them and many Local Councils thousands of dollars in prepared submissions; rate payers dollars that could have been used elsewhere.
The New South Wales (NSW) government is in the midst of their “Fit for the Future” campaign, which saw the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) examine 139 proposals from Local Councils throughout NSW. Each proposal took time and money to prepare and now the Parliamentary Inquiry advocates that no forced amalgamations proceed. Will this mimic the WA outcome with the State Government walking away from the process, and once again leave Councils to bear their costs?
Meanwhile in Victoria, the Andrews Government went to the State election in 2015 with a populist promise of rate capping and has started to pursue that promise. This has necessitated most Victorian Councils having to prepare submissions for the Essential Services Commission (ESC). Each submission once again costs time and money; exactly what the rate capping is supposed to save.
Now the South Australian and Tasmanian Governments are looking at making changes to Local Government in each of their States. One starts to wonder if it will ever stop? Who is actually saving any money? And how many more times will Local Government be expected to foot the bill for State Governments’ grand ideas and misadventures?
