Melbourne Constitutional Summit 9–11 December
Speaking at the recent Australian Council of Local Government (ACLG) meeting in Canberra, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd told delegates that one of the three key objectives of the first ACLG meeting was “to receive your input on our election commitment to the Constitutional recognition of Local Government, rather than us simply imposing our view”.
“At the last election, Federal Labor said that we would take steps towards Constitutional recognition of Local Government, and we intend to deliver on that commitment,” the Prime Minister said.
“Previous governments have sought to give recognition to Local Government in the Constitution twice before – in
1974 and 1988. However, they were both unsuccessful.
“That’s why we have not predetermined a time line or a set of words. This must be got right. And rather than us simply dictating from on high what that should be, we want to take your views into account.”
He said that the outcomes from the Australian Local Government Association’s special convention in Melbourne on 9–11 December will be especially important for the Commonwealth Government as it moves forward on this important matter.
Also speaking at the ACLG meeting, then President of the Australian Local Government Association, Councillor Paul Bell, said that Constitutional recognition will ensure that future intergovernmental decision making would see Local Government at the table “in its own right and not just as an invited guest”.
“Local Government is seen as an invited sphere of government not a robust partner,” Paul Bell said. “In its history, there has only been one Local Government agenda item presented at the Council of Australian Government (COAG). And this was two years ago, on Local Government financial sustainability.”
Councillor Bell said that with the two major parties now supporting Local Government on Constitutional recognition, it is vital to bring communities on board.
“We must ensure people see this as a means to provide better, more efficient governing arrangements,” he said.
“If people see this as Local Government merely wanting to get more money and not understanding the vital role councils play in service delivery then we will not get far.”
