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.
Elections can be drawn out affairs, and the democratic process usually means that the elected representatives and contenders have their eyes off the ball for some time. In Tasmania, Council elections were held in October; then comes the silly season, rife with speculation about the timing of the State elections; and then the State election itself. Effectively this means that a number of significant issues have had to be sidelined while the people get on with making choices about who is going to do what. Perhaps the next constitutional reform conference could consider the merits of simultaneous elections for all spheres on fixed terms.
Now that this six months of exceptional activity has concluded with the return of the majority Labor Government, life will resume pretty much where it left off in October. Major issues Councils will be taking to the incoming government include infrastructure funding, degeneration of roads, poor water quality in many rural areas, and inadequate provision for wastewater treatment.
While the financial reforms of 2004 have clarified the State/Local tax regimes, the matter of rating of electricity generators – wind farms, hydro electric installations – remains a problem. The payment of tax equivalents to the State Government is not seen as a satisfactory situation, particularly for some of our remote (and relatively impoverished) Councils.
Another major issue for the immediate future is the review of the Local Government Board. This has been in the wings for some time, awaiting the conclusion of the review of the Local Government Act, and the conclusion of the first round of Council reviews which the Board undertook following the amalgamations of 1993.
A working group has been formed to determine Local Government’s position to the Board – to consider its merits, its problems, and most importantly, how effective it is for Councils themselves. As a starting point, this should not be a one way street for the Government to check up on Councils: greater attention has to be paid to the benefits which a sweeping functional audit and report can provide for the Council itself, and its community. Hopefully there will be changes which will benefit both spheres of government.
