Despite the fact that local government is a significant tier of government in Australia, as a result of being established through state government legislation, it is not recognised in the Australian Constitution.
Implications of that lack of recognition include legislative obstacles to direct federal funding for local government activities. Consequently, recognition may result in more effective funding arrangements.
Recognition of local government in the Constitution may also have implications for services to our communities, industrial relations, the financial strengths of local government and giving Australians more say over their local community. Local government in Australia is covered by both state and federal industrial relations systems, just like many state government employees (police, nurses and teachers).
As Australia's largest local government union, working with council employees across all states of Australia, the ASU is unique as the union with the most interest in local government and a strong voice for local government employees. The ASU will be carefully investigating how Constitutional recognition may affect the employees and their industrial relationship. We will be advocating for methods of recognition that best reflect the needs of our local government members and their communities.
The outcomes of the panel's deliberations, which are due by the end of the year, will help shape the proposal put to the Australian people via a referendum, as all changes to the Constitution need to pass a referendum.
ASU Assistant National Secretary and PSI Activist Greg McLean is a member of the expert panel. Full membership can be found here: http://www.regional.gov.au/local/crlg/panel.aspx
More information, including the panel's Terms of Reference, is available at http://www.regional.gov.au/local/crlg/
By the ASU, the local government union http://www.asu.asn.au/media/localgovt/20110818_constitution.html
