With speculation running rife about when the Federal election will be called, early in September the Australian Local Government Association launched its election strategy, ‘A 10 Point Plan for the Reinvigoration of Local Communities’.
“The plan brings together many of the priorities which the Association has been championing over the past 12 months, including the need for a Local Community Infrastructure Renewals Fund,” said ALGA President Councillor Paul Bell. “I have spent recent days discussing the proposals with Federal politicians and participating in numerous radio interviews. I think that maximising our chances to get Local Government’s priorities addressed at the Federal level requires two things, a clear: consistent statement of those priorities and the engagement
of politicians by Councils at the local level.”
Building on the outcomes of the findings of the PricewaterhouseCoopers report released in December last year, the 10 point plan meets this first requirement.
“A good document on its own is not enough,” Councillor Bell said. “As people say, all politics is local and we as Local Government need to fully engage our politicians at the local level if we want them to address our priorities. Local candidates have to see how serious Councils are and we have to persuade them of the local benefits of our priorities if we want them to become our advocates within their own parties.”
ALGA is encouraging all Councillors to contact their local candidates for the Federal election to ensure they are fully aware of Local Government’s priorities.
“Local Government represents all Australians and delivers an increasingly broad range of services that make a difference to the lives of communities across our nation,” Paul Bell said.
“ALGA’s 10 point plan is aimed at meeting three major goals: fair funding for Local Government, fair treatment for Local Government and formal recognition.
“We have added a fourth goal – meeting future challenges – to address some of the emerging priorities in the areas of climate change, water, urban sustainability and broadband.”
Copies of ALGA’s election document were delivered to all Federal MPs and Senators on
6 September. Paul Bell has also met with Local Government Minister, Jim Lloyd, Shadow Minister for Local Government, Senator Kate Lundy, and Democrat Leader, Senator Lyn Allison, to seek their support for ALGA’s
10 point plan. At the time of going to press, support had been received from the Democrats but the two major Parties had not formally responded.
The 10 point plan
Many local communities are struggling to maintain their vibrancy, reasonable standards of local infrastructure and local services. With infrastructure and services vital to sustain communities and the social, economic and environmental fabric of Australia, ALGA believes that political Parties ignoring local communities do so at their own peril.
As the sphere of government that delivers local infrastructure and services, ALGA has called on all political Parties to address the following 10 point plan and assist Local Government in its challenge to sustain local and regional communities.
Fair funding
POINT 1—the principle of a fair share of total Commonwealth taxation revenue to Local Government in the form of untied financial transfers equal to a guaranteed percentage of total Commonwealth taxation revenue (net of GST) of at least one per cent.
POINT 2—invest at least $250 million per year for four years (maintained in real terms) in a Community Infrastructure Renewal Program.
POINT 3—permanent funding of the Roads to Recovery program at announced levels in real terms, and greater flexibility in the application of these funds for transport purposes.
POINT 4—invest $12.87 million over three years for the establishment of a program that would improve national local roads data and extend and implement roads asset management plans across all Councils.
Fair treatment
POINT 5—recognise Local Government as an equal partner in the delivery of important, mutually agreed outcomes for the Australian people and to commit to and continue to honour the Inter Governmental Agreement on cost shifting.
Formal recognition
POINT 6—continue to recognise Local Government’s role in the Australian Federation, including its ongoing role in the Council of Australian Governments and associated Ministerial Councils and support Constitutional recognition of Local Government.
Meeting future challenges
POINT 7—provide national assistance to Local Government and engage it as an integral partner in responding to the emerging impacts of climate change, and ensure Australia shoulders its international responsibilities in meeting climate change challenges.
POINT 8—work with Local Government in protecting water resources, including ensuring that communities that are adversely affected by adjustment to changes in water entitlements, or major water trading resulting in reduced local and regional economic activity, are compensated.
POINT 9—develop a sustainable urban regions program, drawing together the key urban issues of water, energy efficiency, affordable housing, sustainable urban transport, urban design and social cohesion.
POINT 10—develop an affordable high speed broadband network for all communities across Australia, including commitment to capacity building in regional areas in the area of ICT skills development.
See www.alga.asn.au for the full document.
