Speaking at the LGANT General Meeting on 27-28 June, Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) Chief Executive, Ian Chalmers, told delegates that he believes the Federal election will be held on 1 December or possibly 24 November 2001.
He said as the Queen will be in Australia for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Brisbane and is not leaving until mid October, it is highly unlikely that an election would be called while she is visiting.
“As your embassy in Canberra, ALGA’s role is to lobby the Federal Government for better deals for Local Government,” Ian Chalmers said.
Referring to a recent meeting between ALGA President, Councillor John Ross, and the Prime Minister, he said this one to one meeting indicates that the national President has as good a relationship with the Prime Minister as the State Premiers or Chief Ministers.
He said road funding, Constitutional recognition, environmental issues and reconciliation will be some of the key issues ALGA will be canvassing with all parties in the lead up to the election.
“The $1.2 billion Roads To Recovery program over the next four years is critically important to Councils,” Ian Chalmers said. “Our major objective is to work to ensure this funding does not end after the four years.”
He said infrastructure asset management strategies will be vitally important for ongoing funding.
“When the issue of Black Spot funding not being continued past 2001-2002 was raised, the Prime Minister seemed surprised,” Ian Chalmers said. “Although giving no commitment, Mr Howard said he would look into this matter.
“The anomaly of Financial Assistance Grants tied to the CPI while the growth of Council services is based on increased economic activity, was pointed out to the Prime Minister. The Government’s policy of containing inflation means that funding tied to the CPI results in Local Government going backwards.
“Mr Howard agreed that this needs to be looked at. Meetings between the ALGA and the Treasurer and Shadow Treasurer will occur in the near future to discuss this situation.”
Ian Chalmers added that ALGA also received a commitment from the Prime Minister that Local Government owned enterprises are GST free, and this will be legislated in August to be applied retrospectively back to 1 July 2000.
