In his address the Leader of the Opposition, Simon Crean, said that it is vital to get partnerships working properly across the spheres of government.
“People want solutions not blame shifting,” he said. “We need to tap into communities, to ask them what are their needs and then respond to this. Local Government has made this work for employment programs so why not for health, aged care and education?”
Simon Crean committed the Labor Party to pursuing Constitutional recognition of Local Government. He also said that Local Government must be given a greater say in infrastructure planning.
“I want to give Local Government a greater say in infrastructure planning by giving them a seat on Labor’s proposed National Infrastructure Advisory Council,” he said. “The National Infrastructure Advisory Council will help to remove the politics from infrastructure decisions and promote a smarter, whole of governments approach to national infrastructure provision and maintenance. Widening the definition of infrastructure for accessibility to infrastructure bonds is a necessary first step. At the moment they are limited to road, rail and ports. Everyone who knows anything about infrastructure understands that it must go beyond that to include things such as telecommunications, energy and water infrastructure.”
To deliver the services all Australians expect and deserve, Simon Crean pledged that a Labor Government would ensure Telstra remains in majority Government ownership.
He criticised the fact that only the Federal Government is able to raise issues at CoAG meetings? “A Labor Government will ensure the States, Territories and Local Government are able to raise issues and put them on the CoAG agenda,” he said. “A Labor Government will also ratify the Kyoto Protocol. This will not only be good for the environment but good for business.”
He said it would create new opportunities and jobs as businesses seek rewards for energy conservation.
“Our industries are the most efficient and energy wise in the world,” he said. “This is a strategic mistake by the Prime Minister and we are missing enormous opportunities. Local Government is doing great things to reduce emissions. As a nation, we can position ourselves in a leading role, if we are prepared to embark on it.”
Simon Crean said that he has enormous faith in the regions delivering community cohesion, economic growth and sustainability.
“If you identify the issues and say what your community wants, what Federal or State Government can afford to ignore you?” he stated.
