The Western Australian Municipal Association (WAMA) selected the theme, ‘Flat Earth or Level Playing Field’ for its Annual Conference staged as part of Local Government Week from 23-29 August. Then President of WAMA, Councillor Ken Pech, said the notion of a level playing field demands a sense of fairness with everyone playing the same game. However, he believes a ‘level playing field’ is as much a myth as is ‘a flat earth’.
“If it was a level playing field in Western Australia, we would want to see the same rules for Local Government as the State Government,” he said. “We would want to be part of the negotiations rather than being dictated to, and have a share of tax the same as the States.”
He referred to the State Government interference when it recently overruled the Town of Cottesloe and its ratepayers, regarding parking fees, so people from outside the area could contribute to the maintenance of this popular beach area.
Ken Pech congratulated Local Government across the nation in its efforts to ensure rates would not be subject to GST under the Coalition’s recently released Tax Package. However, in the case of Financial Assistance Grants being passed to the States, he sees problems.
“Even with the assurance Grants will be maintained at current levels, the problem is that we are starting from an historically low point,” Ken Pech said. “With no provision for any growth in money to Local Government as the GST increases, Local Government could well be shoved into a poverty trap.”
The WAMA Conference was officially opened by Premier Richard Court. With an impressive record of attending all six Annual Conferences since becoming State Leader, he told delegates that he views this Conference as ‘the greatest annual gathering of community leaders in this State’.
“It is an opportunity to say thank you to the hundreds of people who give their time, largely voluntarily, to good Local Governance in this State,” the Premier said.
He referred to a partnership agreement between the two spheres of Government in the area of law and order. Part of the ‘Safer WA Program’, the Premier said that the maintenance of community law and order is a joint responsibility, with Councils best placed to find local solutions for local problems.
To assist in this regard, grants of up to $10,000 would be made available to Councils to conduct crime and security audits leading to the development of strategies to address graffiti and drug abuse plus the possible introduction of security patrols. The Premier also congratulated Councils on the fact that Western Australia is the only State where there has been a 100% response by Councils in putting in place Access Plans.
“Planning and implementing access for people and their families demonstrates communities are reaching out not closing in,” Richard Court said.
In his keynote address, David Lange, Former New Zealand Prime Minister, said that, although it is highly likely that with increasing globalisation Local Government will become more influential and take a more prominent place in the life of the community, it must be wary of the potential for the other spheres to dump responsibilities onto Councils without commensurate finances.
