Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) President Genia McCaffery and President of the Australian Local Government Association of Queensland, Mayor Paul Bell, are among the 18 members of the independent Expert Panel established to progress the recognition of Local Government in the Australian Constitution.
Led by former Chief Justice of the NSW Supreme Court, James Spigelman, the panel members represent a range of backgrounds and areas of expertise.
Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government, Simon Crean said the panel will consult with stakeholder groups and the community on options for recognising Local Government in the Constitution.
“Under the guidance of Mr Spigelman, the panel members have been asked to look into the level of support for constitutional recognition of Local Government and to identify possible forms that recognition could take,” Minister Crean said.
“The panel will consult widely and the outcomes will help shape any proposal to put to a referendum. The Gillard Government is progressing the issue of recognising Local Government in the Constitution and this is a commitment that successive Labor governments have never wavered from.
“Just like the Whitlam and Hawke governments, the Gillard Government believes in recognising Local Government in the Constitution – our foundational document.”
The 18 members include a range of Local Government experts and councillors, past and present, such former Lord Mayor of Brisbane Jim Soorley; former Lord Mayor of Sydney, Lucy Turnbull; and the Right Honourable Lord Mayor of Perth, Lisa Scaffidi.
The other panel members are:
- Professor A.J. Brown
- Senator Bob Brown (Australian Greens)
- Fr Joe Caddy
- Ross Cameron
- Peter Clarke
- Rob Hudson
- Karlene Maywald MP (South Australia)
- Greg McLean
- Jane Prentice MP (Federal Liberal)
- Professor Graham Sansom
- Sid Sidebottom MP (Federal Labor)
- Tony Windsor MP (Federal Independent).
Considerable work that has already been carried out by ALGA since it engaged in a process aimed at Constitutional recognition in 2007. This has involved commissioning social research on community attitudes and understanding of Local Government and the Constitution.
The Expert Panel is due to report back to the Federal Government by the end of the year. Its recommendations will inform the strategy development process and a national campaign to be undertaken by ALGA.
