LGAQ Annual Conference in Townsville
Speaking at the 105th Annual Conference of the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ), Federal Minister, Senator Ian Macdonald called for a redefinition of the role of Local Government. He added, given social and economic developments, a reassessment of the structure of governance in Australia, particularly the future of State Governments, demands long term debate – a debate Local Government should be leading.
Reduced grants from State Governments, and the fact that they are not sharing their GST returns with Local Government, the Minister pointed out that all of this is occurring at a time when the States are devolving more responsibilities to Councils.
Referring to the Commonwealth’s review of Financial Assistance Grants, Senator Macdonald said that following discussions with the State Governments and Local Government Associations, a final determination, will shortly be released.
“The recently launched ‘Stronger Regions, A Stronger Australia’ program, providing $115 million over four years, will assist regional business analysis, and produce more support for exports,” Senator Macdonald said.
Commenting on the fact that 25 years after first being elected to Burdekin Shire Council, the Minister said the goal was the same then as it is now as reflected in the Conference theme “Building Stronger Communities’.
Following on from the Minister’s discussion of inter government relations, the panel session titled ‘Structured Delivery of Government – Federal versus State versus Local’, provided a range of perspectives.
Federal Minister for Workplace Relations, Tony Abbot, did not concur with the view of his colleague, Senator Macdonald. He argued that acknowledging Australia’s success to date as the ‘fairest, freest and most prosperous nation – evidenced by the number of people desperate to come here’ – if it isn’t broken don’t fix it.
Former Premier, Richard Court, said he had no difficulty with States being abolished so long as Western Australia was not included. He asserted that Western Australia could become a nation in its own right entering into a financial partnership with Singapore.
He criticised the ‘100 years insidious trend of shifting more and more power to Canberra’, stating that the best government is the government closest to the people. On the issue of Local Government covering large or small Councils, he argued size is not relevant as both can deliver effectively.
“Local Government is only as good as the people in it,” Richard Court said. “This is the same in all levels of government.”
Brisbane Lord Mayor, Jim Soorley, pointed out that at the time of Federation, the unitary model devoid of States ‘nearly got up’.
He said, “With the GST, new growth tax there has been no commitment by the States to share it. The States want to keep all of it.”
Pointing to the waste and duplication of three tiers of government, Jim Soorley argued that Australia needs a system of government to take us forward in the Asia Pacific region, and within the global economy. He said this means a future without the waste and duplication of States.
In his President’s Address, Councillor Noel Playford said that when the recent Member Attitude Survey asked how the LGAQ should change for the better, some 22 percent of respondents wanted it to be more aggressive and proactive in lobbying.
“We must understand that beating the drum alone is rarely enough,” he said. “We must always act professionally in our dealings, prepare thorough cases that demonstrate the logic of our position, and ideally ensure there are advantages in our proposals for those we are lobbying. It is always easier to achieve outcomes in win win situations.”
