If I had not been already convinced that a federal election was imminent, my recent trip to the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) National General Assembly (NGA) in Canberra would have convinced me.
Attending politicians were in electioneering mode. Even the Prime Minister put in an appearance, albeit informally, as the warm up act before the NGA dinner and Local Government National Awards.
And it has been a long time since the last appearance at the NGA by a sitting PM.
Inside the NGA I was presented with an almost complete round up of the issues currently occupying local government.
Constitutional recognition of the sector was the first motion put to the vote, it’s wise to get it on the table in case there is a change of government.
Along with other suggested topics for referenda, a motion was passed calling for constitutional recognition of Indigenous Australians as the first peoples of this land. It seems a fitting position for Local Government to take in time for NAIDOC Week which begins as LG Focus goes to press and all over Australia civic events are taking place to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The various motions covered all the usual suspects – federal funding, roads and transport, water, disaster recovery, communications. Recycling and waste management received a larger than usual prominence this year.
The introduction of electronic voting enabled the proceedings to run more efficiently than in the past and ensured accuracy of the vote.
Although the issues were on occasion debated with enthusiasm and passion, a comparison was inevitable with question time just a couple of km away ‘up on the hill’. Mayor O’Loughlin kept order better than any house speaker, firm but with a sense of humour. Councillors argued their points respectfully and articulately, sometimes cynically and often heartfelt. But always in a display of public debate for primary school teachers to exemplify. No one was ejected from the house, and no legal suits ensued.
Democracy is a complex process. Compulsory voting ensures that Australian adults have some experience of participating. But the majority of citizens are blissfully unaware of how many opportunities they have to engage in our democratic process. One of the clearest examples is through their local councillors.
Australia’s future: make it local was apt. Local Government is the closest level of government to the people. I was proud to sit in the Assembly and watch democracy working as it is supposed to work by Local Government.
