In each edition we feature the views of a Local Government Association President. The following is from Councillor Lynn Mason, President of the Local Government Association of Tasmania.
Tasmania is currently undertaking the first major review of the 1993 Local Government Act. The Government now in power is one of the most publicly consultative the State has had, and some of the angst attached to this review arises from the expectations built up in a community which must bear full responsibility for its own level of input.
Three Working Groups have been dealing with over 300 proposals for change within the Act, in the broad areas of Governance and Intergovernmental Relations; Accountability; and Financial Management.
The process started with intensive Local Government input through both elected members and officers and the Local Government Division. A series of proposals went to public forums around the State and then back to the Working Groups, with broad representation of a range of groups including the electoral office, the unions, managers, Mayors, the Ombudsman’s office, and so on.
A fresh series of public workshops will be held this month to let the world at large know what has been happening in the Working Groups. This is where consultation can backfire, as the expectations of those who have committed themselves to involvement see the outcomes from the representational groups.
What does Local Government expect: less prescription in many areas; greater independence from State Government; and greater ability to deal with its own issues in its own way. State Government expects that any reform will improve the relationship between the community and Councils, and at the same time continue to allow the State to oversee Local Government in the performance of its functions.
And the public? From the workshops, the general cry appeared to be for greater accountability (no problem with that); but unfortunately, the demand for this was often answered by a call for greater intervention from State Government, or more prescription in the Act. Both of these calls have been strongly resisted by Local Government representatives, who at the same time acknowledge that the diversity of Local Government may lead to difficulties in some Council areas.
Local Government in Tasmania is already the most accountable level of government in this State. All meetings are open, the majority allow public questions and delegations, we have Annual General Meetings, and we can be called for a Public Meeting with only a moderate amount of effort by disgruntled constituents.
Councils know they will not get all they want from this Review. But it would be good if through this process, both the State Government and all its Departments, and the communities of Tasmania acknowledge that Local Government is not only the level closest to the people, it is also the level of government which willingly listens to and interacts with its community most readily and with greater effect than either State or Federal Governments.
Credit where credit is due, please, and in return, even greater efforts from Tasmanian Councils to be accountable to community and State.
