In each edition we feature the views of a Local Government Association President. The following is from Councillor John Legoe, President of the Local Government Association of South Australia.
The release of the Cost Shifting Inquiry report should create a watershed in the development of Local Government in Australia. Whether it does or not will rest largely on Local Government’s shoulders. Having the Commonwealth Parliament recognise the importance of Local Government’s governance, infrastructure and services and make some recommendations which seem politic or progressive today to the members of the inquiry committee, is very significant.
However, the Parliament is littered with inquiry reports. Whether any actions result will depend on how we respond.
Local Government faces a conundrum of wanting to control its own affairs, but as it has access to only one tax, it is significantly dependent on the ‘wisdom’ of Commonwealth and State Governments and parliaments. They do not control our day to day affairs – but they have the legislative and constitutional framework in their hands. We must be clear what we want them to do with it. The Cost Shifting Inquiry is the first for many years to place Local Government and intergovernmental relationships at the core.
In governmental terms, Australia is a highly centralised country. For example, Local Government here employs only 12 per cent of the public sector workforce compared with 61 per cent employed by Local Government in the US, 52 per cent in the UK, 39 per cent in Canada and 37 per cent in Germany. The trend of devolution to Local Government will continue – the question for the nation is how well we manage it.
Having taken over from Councillor Max Amber as President of the LGA of SA in October, I have inherited a high and increasing level of intergovernmental dialogue with the State Government over major agendas, including stormwater, waste management, natural resources management, funding of rural effluent systems and other issues. From a South Australian and a national perspective, it appears there are opportunities all around us with the challenges they bring.
They will stretch us all but I am confident a stronger, more dynamic Local Government will result. It is my sense that our focus needs to be clearly on building a new future and not on the past. So let’s make sure we know the difference between the windscreen and the rear vision mirror!
Having joined the ALGA Executive I look forward to working with other State Associations to provide the national leadership and representation being demanded of us.
