Newly elected Local Government NSW (LGNSW) of president Mayor Darcy Byrne has wasted no time in advocating for councils across the State, heading to Canberra to meet with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Fresh from his election to the role, Mayor Byrne travelled to the nation’s capital inviting outgoing President Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM and Chair of the NSW Country Mayors Association, Mayor Rick Firman to join him for the high-level talks which took place on the last sitting day of Parliament.
“I want to thank the Prime Minister for taking the time on such a busy day to meet with us and discuss the critical issues facing councils – and our communities – right across New South Wales,” said Mayor Byrne.
“As a former Minister for Local Government, the Prime Minister absolutely recognises the many challenges facing the sector as well as the need for direct engagement between Federal Government and our Councils.”
Mayor Byrne said the meeting was extremely productive and that the Prime Minister was receptive to what the three NSW Mayors had to say.
Top of the agenda was the long-standing concerns around the financial sustainability of all councils across NSW.
“This is our number one priority to ensure that all councils across the State – who stand at the frontline of service delivery to their communities – are appropriately resourced for what we do”.
“At a Federal Level, this means restoring our Financial Assistance Grants to 1% of Commonwealth tax revenue and to looking closely at how federal grants in general are processed and administered.”
“I’m pleased the Prime Minister has agreed to come and speak to a meeting of the NSW Country Mayors Association in the New Year – as rural, regional and remote councils are really doing it tough. Increased funding from the State and Federal governments to these councils is desperately needed for basic infrastructure such as sewerage, water, and roads.”
“This is just the beginning of our conversation with the Federal Government and we’ve got off to a great start.”
