A bit is going on in the Tasmanian local government sector.
We are working through a once-in-a-generation review of the local government sector in our state. This provides an exciting opportunity to take stock and evaluate the way we operate and look at opportunities to improve the services our sector delivers for the community.
The objective of the review, which is being undertaken by the independent Local Government Board, is to create a more robust and capable system of local government, for the benefit of all Tasmanians.
The first phase is complete and has involved consultation with local government, a broad range of the community, users of local government services and other stakeholders. There have also been some interesting research articles prepared by the University of Tasmania on the history of local government in Tasmania that are worth a look.
The Local Government Board is currently reviewing the community and stakeholder feedback to inform the second phase of the Review, which will identify the needs and opportunities for reform and a range of options for further consideration.
In addition to the review, the Tasmanian Government recently introduced compulsory voting in our local government elections, due for October this year.
This change in legislation has been mostly welcomed by the sector although disappointingly the government did introduce the changes with no recent consultation with our sector. A point that was not lost during the Parliamentary debate.
As we head to the polls in October, we are encouraging people from diverse backgrounds, genders, abilities, and ages to represent their community by standing for local government. Strong and effective councils reflect the diverse communities they serve.
