Councils’ vital role along the road to recovery

Leader of the Opposition, Malcolm Turnbull, said that for all three spheres of government the motivation and objectives as elected officials is the same, “to serve the Australian public as best we can”.

“Local Government’s contribution to the national economy is substantial,” he said. “Your $23 billion annual expenditure represents two per cent of GDP.”

On Constitutional recognition for Local Government, Malcolm Turnbull said that the Coalition parties will continue to work with Local Government “to devise a pathway to recognition that may be of most value to Australians and of the most interest and appeal to them”.

He said that the proposal put to the people must be geared to a practical outcome rather than any symbolic gesture.

“The practical outcome would be to enhance the ways the Commonwealth Government can work more closely with Local Government across Australia,” Malcolm Turnbull said. “Would any proposal going forward to the Australian people be sure to create a better, easier, more functional working relationship between our tiers of government?”

Malcolm Turnbull acknowledged that Local Government is hamstrung by its lack of direct revenue raising capacity and that cost shifting by the States onto Local Government is a further problem.

“Local Government has to take on so much of the heavy lifting with a tiny rates base and very little control over raising additional funds compared to the Federal and State Governments,” he said.

“Now is an exciting time for Local Government. You are experiencing an unprecedented expansion of your role and responsibilities and your contribution will be critical as we travel down the road to recovery from this economic downturn.

“We are committed to a new partnership with you when we are returned to government.”

On the proposed emissions trading scheme (ETS) Malcolm Turnbull said that to date little analysis has been provided on the long term effects this will have on the economy, regions and business sectors.

“We need cost–benefit analysis and modelling to be completed on what could be enormous impacts on our regions and firms,” he said.