The membership of the Victorian branch of the Australian Local Government Women’s Association (ALGWA) voted overwhelmingly to donate $1,000 to support constitutional recognition of local government at their recent Annual General meeting in Euroa.
“We believe very strongly that local government needs financial recognition in the federal constitution,” said Victorian President Cr Coral Ross.
“This is a once in a generation opportunity to safeguard the federal government’s ability to directly fund local government.
“We all need to work to secure a Yes vote in the September referendum.”
The conference was opened by ALGWA life member, the Hon Jeanette Powell, Minister for Local Government.
She said that 665 women had stood in the 2012 Victorian Council elections and 34 percent of Victorian councillors were women and asked the conference to encourage other women to stand in the 2016 elections.
Former Swan Hill councillor and Deputy Mayor, Yvonne Jennings, was given Life Membership of ALGWA for her services to women and local government.
The Federal Member for Murray, Dr Sharman Stone, put her support behind the Yes vote saying that local government needs to be recognised in the constitution to permanently fix funding issues.
“Local Government has been the poor relation for too long,” said Dr Stone.
Other speakers at the conference included Municipal Association of Victoria President Cr Bill McArthur, who spoke about the MAV’s Prevention of Violence Against Women campaign and the achievements of several councils.
Shadow Minister for Local Government Richard Wynne closed the conference by highlighting issues faced by local government including unfunded superannuation calls, the Fire Services Levy and differential rates.
He also strongly backed constitutional recognition for local government and said half the councillors elected in the 2016 Council elections should be women.
