Minister commits to work with local government on CDEP reforms
14 February 2005
The Australian Local Government Association has today welcomed a commitment by Federal Employment and Workplace Relations Minister, Kevin Andrews, to work with local government on reforms to the Community Development Employment Program (CDEP) and his emphatic statement that this program is not under threat.
ALGA President, Cr Paul Bell, said that CDEP was critically important to Australia's 90 Indigenous councils.
"We are determined to ensure that any future changes to CDEP works in the best interests of Indigenous communities," Cr Bell said. "We acknowledge the Minister's commitment not only to consult widely, but also to work with local communities, state/territory governments and local government to build on the success of CDEP.
"With the abolition of ATSIC, the attention of all three spheres of government must turn to new arrangements for improved service provision. We do not want to see any changes to CDEP reduce local services and turn into a new cost shift onto local government and local communities.
"The Fair Share report on cost shifting and local government financing, brought down in the House of Representatives in November 2003, made it abundantly clear that local government has been on the receiving end of cost shifting by both state and federal governments.
"The Australian Government, states and territories and local government are working on an intergovernmental agreement that will help stop cost shifting.
"We are sure that the Australian Government is not intent on shifting costs onto local communities as it moves to change CDEP arrangements and look forward to future discussions on how the program can be strengthened to meet the social and economic objectives of some of the most disadvantaged communities in Australia. We look forward to the release of the Minister's CDEP discussion paper next week," Cr Bell said.
