During this month, Councils from around the nation will meet in Canberra for what has now become known as the ‘Parliament of Local Government’. The National General Assembly of Local Government is certainly a recognition of the key role Councils play, both in ensuring community aspirations become part of national decision making process and national policy initiatives are translated into reality in local areas.
The 1997 National General Assembly, to be staged in Canberra from 23 – 26 November, is always a major Local Government calendar event and, more so this year being the Australian Local Government Association’s 50th Anniversary. ALGA President, Councillor John Campbell, has stated that the 50th Anniversary is an excellent time for Local Government to revisit where it has come from, its aims and objectives and where it wants to go.
With Constitutional issues high on the national agenda as we prepare for next year’s Constitutional Convention, and Local Government’s ongoing campaign for Constitutional Recognition, clarification of the roles and responsibilities of each sphere of government needs to be spelled out.
Following declarations drawn up by other nations clearly articulating Local Government’s position, and the Worldwide Declaration of Local Self Government renewed by the International Union of Local Government in Toronto in 1993, a Declaration on the Role of Australian Local Government will be a key item at this year’s General Assembly. A draft Declaration has been drawn up by the ALGA Executive. This has recently been distributed to all Councils for consideration prior to it being debated by the ‘Parliament of Local Government’.
As with all previous General Assemblies, participation and input from Councils across the nation is essential. A message must be sent to the other spheres that, although disparate and with varying functions State by State, no matter how large or small, urban or rural, from the north, south, east or west, Local Government has a number of core functions and roles and responsibilities.
The Declaration is intended as ‘a standard to which all Australian governments should aspire in their efforts to achieve a more effective democratic process and secure the environmental, social and economic wellbeing of their constituents’. It will also provide a best practice guide for ALGA’s member bodies, the State and Territory Associations, during their negotiations with State and Territory Governments.
This is a very important document, clearly stating Local Government’s place in our democratic system as the focus of community identity and spirit, to meet local needs in an effective and efficient manner and facilitate and coordinate local effort and resources in the pursuit of community goals.
Focus fully concurs with ALGA’s call that through this Declaration the principles of elected Local Government must be fully enshrined in the Australian Constitution and the Constitutions of each State and the Northern Territory.
