ALGA welcomes O'Brien, Thomson to key portfolios for local government
26 October 2004
The Australian Local Government Association has today welcomed the appointment of Senator Kerry O'Brien as the Shadow Minister for Regional Services, Local Government and Territories and Mr Kelvin Thomson MP as the Shadow Minister for Regional Development and Roads, Housing and Urban Development.
ALGA President, Cr Mike Montgomery, said the next few years will be important for local government and he was pleased to see the appointment of two very capable people to these portfolios.
Senator O'Brien has held a range of shadow portfolios including tourism, regional services, territories and Indigenous affairs.
"ALGA welcomes his appointment and looks forward to building a strong working relationship with him and his office," Cr Montgomery said.
Mr Thomson brings with him considerable local government experience, having served as a councillor with the Coburg City Council (Melbourne) from 1981-88, where he also held the position of Deputy Mayor in 1983-84 and 1987-88.
"We also look forward to working with Labor leader Mark Latham and other key shadow ministers, including Mr Stephen Smith MP (Infrastructure), Mr Anthony Albanese MP, (Environment and Heritage), Senator Jan McLucas (Ageing and Disabilities) and Senator Joseph Ludwig (Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs)," Cr Montgomery said.
"ALGA has worked closely with both the Opposition and the Government over the past few years and deeply appreciates the broad, bipartisan support given to a range of important issues, including the critical Roads to Recovery program, the need to implement key recommendations of the Fair Share report on cost shifting and local government financing, and the need to build strong and enduring partnerships between federal and local government.
"We also thank Martin Ferguson for his strong support for local government in the transport, infrastructure and regional services portfolio over the past few years. His contribution and commitment has been very much appreciated. We also thank Daryl Melham for the part he has played as shadow minister for local government over the past ten months," Cr Montgomery said.
