New Australian Council of Local Government
September 19, 2008
Cr Paul Bell, President of the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA), has welcomed the announcement by the Prime Minister of the establishment of the new Australian Council of Local Government (ACLG) in November, saying it marked a new chapter in Federal-Local Government relations.
"The Council heralds the beginning of the Federal Government building a stronger relationship with local government and local communities across Australia," he said. "Local government's aim is to make sure that this is a substantial engagement on important issues that affect the lives of all Australians."
The Prime Minister and Minister Albanese jointly announced that the Federal Government would convene the first meeting of the new Council in November in Canberra and would also invite all mayors and shire presidents to attend.
The one-day meeting would address a number of issues including local infrastructure, the challenges facing major cities and steps towards the constitutional recognition of local government. The meeting would also see the announcement of the ongoing membership and charter of the ACLG.
"The focus of the Council's agenda reflects the challenges currently facing local government, particularly in the area of financial sustainability and community infrastructure. The size of the community infrastructure investment deficit was estimated by PricewaterhouseCoopers to be in the order of $14.5 billion in 2006, with an annual underspend on infrastructure maintenance of around $1.1 billion," said Cr Bell.
"ALGA is also progressing the issue of constitutional recognition of local government this year through a process of engaging individual councils and through a Constitutional Summit to be held in Melbourne on 9-11 December. The outcomes of the Summit will provide a firm basis for taking this issue through the ACLG and with the Australian Government."
Cr Bell noted that ALGA would now work closely with the Government to develop the timing, the format and the agenda for the meeting in November and the arrangements for the ongoing operation of the ACLG.
- Contact
- Cr Paul Bell, ALGA President - 0418 791596
- Amanda Lynch, Director, Public Affairs - 0419 123 862 / 02 6122 9434
