http://www.asu.asn.au/news/categories/localgovt/130517-local-government - The ASU has been a
major supporter of funding recognition of local government for a long time. We
have supported the recognition of the role local government plays in our
communities and the need to also recognise the problem of cost shifting by
state governments, which includes asking councils to do more with less money.
The referendum at this year’s federal election for the recognition of local
government will help resolve these issues.
There is a need to realise
that local government faces increased needs from the community as standards of
living grow and the population grows (in both numbers and age).
We also need to recognise
the work ASU members do in local government across our communities from
regional water services, to child care, libraries, city planning, sport and
recreation, street cleaning, garbage collection, parks and gardens,
administration, rangers and the hundreds of industry classifications.
Constitutional recognition
also means that federal governments that raise the monies providing financial
support direct to local government can stop state governments creaming off any
administration fees, or creating an extra layer of red tape and not making sure
all monies get to the local government authority/council itself.
Assured and direct
funding will support local employment and local community spending,
thereby keeping money in local communities to create more jobs. That means more
purchases from local stores and increased demand for local services (eg.
schools, hospitals, ambulances and much more). When local services are lost,
you also lose towns and community values, both financial and quality public
services.
All of the above can only
occur if local government is funded in real dollar terms and the funding is
guaranteed, without creaming off and without the fear that the funding might
cease because of some individual taking the government to court to argue some
technical legal point.
In recent times some
matters have been taken to the High Court with decisions that have both raised
the question of funding direct to communities through local government from the
Federal Government and the possibility that the Federal Government might have
to cease providing funding direct to councils.
Some of the top legal
minds in the country that both practice law and teach it at our universities
have said the federal government funding to local government is now in danger.
This is also why we are seeing Minister Anthony Albanese (ALP) and Barnaby
Joyce (National) and Tony Windsor (Independent) share the same view: that local
government must be recognised at law to ensure it can be funded by the federal
government and the only way to do this is by a
small change to the Constitution.
ASU Assistant National
Secretary Greg McLean OAM, who is a member of the Expert Panel on
Constitutional Recognition of Local Government that advised the Federal
Government on recognition, said, “I endorse the ASU’s position as well as the
Minister’s comments and the Government’s proposal for the referendum as the
best way to ensure funding for our communities and more decisions made locally
and more local employment.”
“It’s been a long time coming
and with the support of all politicians it can happen. With the growing
reliance on local government to provide services in times of flood, bush fire
and as well as in ordinary circumstances, this security is needed by our
communities. I would urge all ASU members and their families to spread the word
and support this important community recognition campaign,” Greg McLean
concluded.
Minister for Infrastructure
and Transport, Anthony Albanese’s media release can be found here:
Release
of Draft Constitutional Amendment to Recognise Local Government and a
related news item from NEWS.com.au can be found here Govt
releases council referendum wording.
Labor people have
always been champions for local community services
Email
from Minister Albanese
Roads
and footpaths. Parks and gardens. Sports clubs and community centres.
Childcare. Help for seniors. Festivals and events. Community gardens.
For
more than 40 years, federal governments have given funding to local councils to
ensure our communities have these vital services.
Despite
this, our most important document – the Australian Constitution – doesn’t
recognise this.
That’s
why I've just made an important announcement with the Prime Minister that on
September 14 we are planning to hold a referendum on recognition of local
government in our Constitution.
We
need to add a few words so that federal governments can keep supporting vital
services. It’s a small but important change.
If
you support your local community services, can you share this with your
friends?
This
isn’t about politics. This change to our Constitution has the support of all
the major parties – at this stage, even Tony Abbott.
Our
challenge is to make sure our local communities know if they want to say “yes”
to local services, they need to say “yes” to changing the Constitution.
Help
us spread the word about this important opportunity.
Cheers,
