The Minister, Mr Tuckey, tabled in Federal Parliament in March the 2000-01 report on the operation of the Local Government (Financial Assistance) Act 1995. Transparency, accountability and equity are key principles underpinning the distribution of the more than $1.3 billion in untied grants under the Act to Councils around Australia.
The 2000-01 Local Government National Report provides a national perspective of the services delivered by Local Government in response to a wide range of community needs. As well, it details the distribution of financial assistance grants in 2000-01 and provides estimates of grants in 2001-02.
Under the Act, State and Territory Grants Commissions are responsible for the distribution of grants to Councils in line with equalisation principles mandated by the Commonwealth. There are different challenges faced by Councils in rural and remote Australia, particularly in responding to the need to provide the services that many in metropolitan areas take for granted. The distribution of the grants strives to reflect this task. In 2000-01, General Purpose grants ranged from $14.50 per person in some urban areas to $4,700 per person in the more remote areas.
Councils also received Local Roads grants which varied from about $100 per kilometre to $3,400 per kilometre. This is in addition to the Federal Roads to Recovery package announced in 2000.
The report outlines the work completed by Councils in response to local needs and priorities, including local road maintenance, flood mitigation, provision of online services, childcare and aged care. It also includes details from the States and Territories and Local Government Associations on Local Government structural reform, competition policy and customer satisfaction.
Two copies of the Local Government National Report have been distributed to all Councils across Australia. Additional copies are available from the National Office of Local Government on 1800 065 113 or from the web site at www.nolg.gov.au
