In each edition, we feature the views of a Local Government Association President. The following is from Councillor Jamie Edwards, President, Western Australian Municipal Association.
In the food chain of Australian government, Local Government is all too frequently portrayed as the bottom dweller. ‘The government closest to the people’ is wrung out as a back handed compliment for activities that are neither well understood, and much of the time, under appreciated.
Together, we in Local Government need to elevate our sphere of Government into the consciousness of the public and that of our politicians.
We need to win the battles for local infrastructure and programs but we also need to win the war for recognition and appropriate consideration for our sphere of Local Government.
Local Government is pursuing the issue of its recognition by State and Federal Governments, not just in terms of constitutional recognition, but in concrete agreements providing hard edged benefits to local communities.
Current examples of these agreements in Western Australia are the State-Local Road Funding Agreement and the Expression of Intent with the State Government on purchasing and procurement.
In the wings, the Western Australian Municipal Association (WAMA) is actively progressing the review of the roads agreement and the initiation of a ‘partnership agreement’ for libraries.
Over all of this activity, the Premier himself, the Hon Richard Court has agreed to explore the idea of a State-Local Accord that would provide some real benefits in recognition of Local Government by the State.
Key elements that WAMA would like to see included are:
- Halting the flow of ‘hospital handpasses’, that is, giving Local Government areas of responsibility without adequate resources, otherwise known as unfunded mandates.
- Improving consultation with Local Government on State proposals for legislation or regulatory frameworks that impact on local autonomy.
- Addressing the underlying financial relationship between the State and Local Government, providing for the payment of rates by State Trading Enterprises to Local Government directly and not to State Treasury.
- Binding the Crown to abide by all its own laws and particularly the ones that Local Government administers, including health, building and planning.
If these issues were addressed in the proposed Accord then I believe we could make a positive contribution towards resolving a majority of issues that member Councils raise with WAMA. The commitment of both parties to the Accord process will be fundamental to its effectiveness and impact.
The establishment of such an Accord will provide benefits outside of the specifics. It should act to define the relationship between Local Government and the State and elevate those issues that I have canvassed to a status that State bureaucrats can no longer ignore.
