The Australian Mining Cities Alliance (AMCA) has welcomed the strong national support demonstrated by local governments across Australia at the recent Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) National General Assembly, held in Canberra from 24–27 June.
Speaking on behalf of AMCA, Glenn Wilson, Chair of AMCA and Mayor of the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, expressed the Alliance’s satisfaction with the adoption of motions that align directly with AMCA’s key policy positions.
“The endorsement of these motions by councils nationwide sends a clear message to the Federal Government that mining communities are vital to Australia’s economy and deserve equitable support,” Mayor Wilson said.
“Whether it’s ensuring our funding models reflect the true full-time equivalent (FTE) populations of our regions, addressing the housing affordability crisis, or securing fair returns for the immense economic contributions of resource-intensive regions, these motions strongly support the work AMCA has been leading for years.”
AMCA also acknowledged the leadership of two of its member councils—Isaac Regional Council and the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder—in putting forward key motions that secured national backing.
Isaac Regional Council championed a motion calling on the Australian Government to formally recognise FTE populations in federal funding models, acknowledging the additional demand placed on infrastructure and services by non-resident workforces in mining regions.
This motion addresses a long-standing concern for communities with significant FIFO/DIDO populations, ensuring funding reflects the real needs of these regions.
The City of Karratha led the way with a motion advocating for increased housing affordability and long-term residency in mining-affected communities, through reforms to Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT). Their proposal called for a 100% FBT exemption for housing-related benefits in designated mining areas, a key policy that AMCA has long championed.
Key motions supported at the Assembly included:
• A call for a revenue-sharing model that fairly returns a proportion of Commonwealth taxation revenue to local governments in high-contributing mining regions, to fund essential community and social infrastructure.
• Support for FBT reform to encourage long-term residency and home ownership in mining-affected communities, through a 100% FBT exemption for housing-related benefits.
• Advocacy for formal recognition of FTE non-resident populations in federal funding models, to ensure communities receive appropriate resources to meet the demands placed on their infrastructure and services.
These motions align with the positions outlined in AMCA’s key policy documents, including its position papers on sustainable regional mining communities, tax reform, the impacts of FIFO/DIDO on the workforce, and national data collection for mining workforce and population trends.
“Mining regions like Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Isaac, Karratha, East Pilbara, Broken Hill, and Mt Isa generate billions for the nation yet face real challenges, from infrastructure strain to workforce instability,” Mayor Wilson said.
“The national support we’ve seen this week is a step in the right direction towards more sustainable, liveable, and economically resilient regional communities.”
AMCA will continue to work closely with federal, state, and local governments to ensure these policy reforms are implemented, delivering tangible benefits to mining communities and, ultimately, strengthening Australia’s economic future.
