Each edition we feature the views of a Local Government Association President. The following is from Councillor Brad Matheson, President of the Municipal Association of Victoria.
Last month , I was honoured to lead an Australian Local Government delegation to the Commonwealth Local Government Conference in London. This conference, conducted by the Commonwealth Local Government Forum, is an invaluable opportunity to share ideas and initiatives among Local Governments from throughout the Commonwealth and to highlight the enormously positive contribution of Local Government to daily life in Australia.
The theme of the conference was Partnerships in Governance: People Centred Development in the New Millennium. Far from being a talk fest, this conference allowed the participants from across the Commonwealth to explore some of the key issues confronting all of us. These included democratic values and best practice, sustainable economic development, and the topic I was invited to address, the partnership between central, provincial and local spheres of government. This topic is one of particular relevance to Local Government in Victoria at this point in time.
For the first time in more than a decade, we have a commitment from the State Government to strengthen recognition of Local Government in the Victorian Constitution &endash; clearly, with the intent of giving greater status and protection to Local Government in this State.
In cooperation with the Victorian Local Governance Association, the MAV is working through a process to ensure any constitutional change meets the following four key objectives.
- Recognition of Local Government as a representative governing institution.
- Recognition of each individual Local Government within an identified municipal area.
- Establishment of a constitutional relationship between the State and Local Government.
- Protection for Local Government against undue interference from the State.
A Local Government Constitutional Convention, co chaired by former Premiers Rupert Hamer and John Cain, will take place in Melbourne on 30 November. This convention will debate the issues of recognition and protection and formulate recommendations to the State for change. Every Victorian Council is invited to participate in the convention. We are also seeking wider community input and debate through the discussion of these issues at the Council level and at other Council or community forums.
Clearly, given the recent history of Local Government in Victoria, strengthened constitutional recognition and endorsement of the democratic role of Local Government are issues of great significance to the sector.
I encourage everyone involved in Local Government and everyone committed to Local Government in Victoria to become involved in this discussion process.
The Commonwealth Local Government Forum concluded that three ingredients were necessary in order to move towards greater partnership between the spheres of government &endash; the political will, effective operationalisation and official culture.
This constitutional convention and the State’s willingness to consider change are our opportunities to change that official culture and enshrine the proper status of Local Government in the State’s principal charter. If we achieve that, official recognition of Local Government in the Australian Constitution must surely be one step closer.
