I am proud of what my Government has been able to achieve by working together with Local Government. Our Partnership Agreement program leads Australia. Our approach is innovative and focuses on outcomes, through a structured commitment to cooperation, consultation and communication. We have now signed 19 bilateral Agreements between the State Government and individual Councils, as well as three regional and four statewide agreements.
Through the Partnership program we have demonstrated an ever increasing capacity to work together. That’s a significant change from the open hostility that existed between these two spheres of Government when we came to office, six years ago.
The Premier’s Local Government Council, which I chair, has been important in making the change. It provides the framework for us to meet, debate and make decisions on matters of statewide significance.
The two projects highlighted in these pages are the two most recently signed statewide Partnership Agreements. In March last year the State Government and the Local Government Association of Tasmania signed the Communications and Consultation statewide Partnership Agreement, and in September this year we jointly signed a statewide Partnership Agreement on financial reform.
The Communication and Consultation Partnership Agreement will improve the way we engage on issues such as legislation and service delivery. The State-Local Government Financial Reform Partnership Agreement reforms the financial relations between the two spheres of government.
Working with Local Government and the broader community continues to be the philosophy of my Government’s vision for Tasmania. Our use of bilateral agreements recognises that ‘one size does not fit all’ in Local Government, while the regional and statewide agreements focus on areas of common interest and responsibility.
By looking for joint agreement and improved outcomes in all our Partnership Agreements, we are sending a very positive message to the Tasmania community – we will always achieve better results when we work together.
Other States and their Local Governments may be interested in our achievements in Tasmania. Feel free to seek more information through the contacts provided.
Jim Bacon
Partnership Agreements
Statewide Partnership Agreements
- Simplifying Planning Schemes Partnership Agreement, signed October 2000
- Waste Management, signed October 2000
- State and Local Government Consultation and Communication, signed March 2003
- State and Local Government Financial Arrangements, signed September 2003
Regional Partnership Agreements
- region north!, signed July 2001
- Cradle Coast Authority, signed October 2001
- Southern Tasmanian Councils, signed December 2003
Bilateral Partnership Agreements
- Break O’Day Council, signed April 2002
- Burnie City Council, signed September 2002
- Central Highlands Council, signed October 2002
- Circular Head Council, signed June 1999
- Derwent Valley Council, signed September 2002
- Dorset Council, signed October 2003
- Flinders Council, signed October 2000
- George Town Council, signed March 2003
- Glamorgan -Spring Bay Council, signed December 2003
- Glenorchy City Council, signed October 2000
- Hobart City Council, signed December 2001
- King Island Council, signed April 2003
- Kingborough Council, signed December 2001
- Latrobe Council, signed July 2003
- Launceston City Council, signed November 1999
- Meander Valley Council, signed July 2003
- Northern Midlands Council, signed December 2003
- West Coast Council, signed September 2002
- West Tamar Council, signed October 2003
Partnership Agreements under negotiation
- Brighton Council
- Devonport City Council
- Tasman Council
Agreed to commence
- Waratah-Wynyard Council
- Kentish Council
- Clarence Council
If you would like to find out more about the projects covered in these articles or the other State Local Government Partnership Agreements, please contact Marguerite Scott, Director Local Government Division, telephone (03) 6233 2113, email Marguerite.Scott@dpac.tas.gov.au or Phillip Hoysted, Director Local Government Partnerships, telephone (03) 6233 6091, email Phillip.Hoysted@dpac.tas.gov.au
