Our lead story for this edition provides some insight into the thoughts of the new Federal Minister for Local Government and his counter part from the Opposition benches, the Shadow Minister. Not only is the Minister with responsibility for Local Government a member of Cabinet, but Anthony Albanese is also the Labor Government’s Leader of the House. Similarly, Shadow Minister for Local Government, Warren Truss, is Leader of the National Party. So both men hold quite senior positions within their respective camps.
With Anthony Albanese being Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, there was some concern from Local Government sectors about Local Government not having its own Minister. However, this should be offset by Local Government now having a permanent voice in Cabinet.
How well Local Government will fare under the new guard in Canberra remains to be seen. With the first sitting of Federal Parliament taking place the day this edition was printed, major policy changes promised by Labor during the election campaign will soon begin the legislative process.
Some of the foreshadowed cuts to government spending have already been announced with various funding programs from late in the Howard Government’s term already getting the chop. It is most likely more announcements will follow running through to what is expected to be a particularly tight May budget.
In spite of the Government’s warnings of rising inflation, it appears the $31 billion “tit for tat” tax cuts, announced early in the election campaign to match the Coalition’s promised cuts, are going to proceed.
Within communities as families and individuals continue to struggle with rising interest rates or rent, increasing prices of petrol, food and various other commodities, these tax cuts would bring some relief. However further cuts to Government spending is not good news for Councils and their communities. Many people have said they would be happy to forgo the tax cuts they currently don’t have in favour of more spending to improve health, education, transport and community infrastructure. To date this has not swayed Government thinking on these very substantial cuts.
In the lead up to the May Budget, the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) is lobbying strongly on behalf of its members Councils and their communities. A summary of its 2008/2009 Budget submission is available at www.alga.asn.au. This submission sets out five strategic priorities that Local Government believes the 2008/2009 Federal Budget should pursue.
With these proposals aiming to improve outcomes at the local level for all Australians, ALGA is rightly urging all Councils to be canvassing these five priorities with their local MPs
and Senators.
