LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS A

NATIONAL ISSUE

No nation can achieve its potential if it fails to respect, and properly resource, the level of government
closest to the people. The Greens understand this. Thats why we are releasing a package to
strengthen local government in the regions.
For regional Australia local government means a lot more than just roads, rates and rubbish. Local
government builds communities, delivers essential services, provides quality jobs and skills training
and forges strong local identities.

What does this mean in detail?

Respect.

With the Liberal and National Parties tearing up

local councils, forcing amalgamations and ignoring
residents, the fact is local government hasnt had a
lot of respect of late. Its time that changed.
The Greens are committed to ensuring that
residents, not politicians, have the final say on the
make-up of their local council. This means that

we guarantee to support and develop legislation

that gives residents in each and every council that
is the subject of a forced merger the right to vote
in a binding plebiscite on de-merging.
Whether this legislation passes in 2016 or 2019 the
commitment remains firm, and residents deserve
nothing less.

Resources.

Did you know that local councils do everything they

do on just over 2% of the nations GDP? On such a
tight budget local councils deliver not just roads,

Whats the Greens promise to Local

Government in your region?
Respect.

This means saying no to forced amalgamations

and supporting legislation that gives residents,
not politicians, the final say on any proposed
amalgamations.

Resources.

Commonwealth financial assistance grants deliver

more than $700 million in roads funding to local
councils. The Greens believe that regional councils
need a fairer share of this finding to deal with their
extensive road network.

Recognition.

Its well past time Local Government was recognised

in the Australian Constitution. The Greens support
meaningful constitutional recognition that gives legal
protection to local democracy.

rubbish and recycling, but also pools, libraries, aged

and child care, health services as well as a sense of
place and community.

lift rates where their residents can afford it. This

means an end to rate pegging and allowing local
councils to set their own rates.

But if regional councils got a fairer deal on funding

they could deliver much more. So what do we need
to do to fix the funding? First we need to make it
fair.

This doesnt mean a blank cheque for rate

increases. Any increase in council rates should of
course only take place after detailed community
consultation and be coupled with a clear plan on
how the money raised will be spent. Ultimately
communities should be deciding the level of
services that their council provides and the rates
that they are willing to pay to get them.

Regional councils have large road networks,

often small populations and a limited rates base.
Bizarrely Commonwealth Financial Assistance
Grants that fund roadworks are distributed
essentially on a per-capita basis. This means

regional councils with small populations and

extensive road networks get less funding
than most metropolitan councils with larger
populations and much smaller road networks.

We are not talking small beer here either. This year

the Commonwealth government budgeted $712.2
million in Financial Assistance Grants to NSW
Councils. This is crucial funding that needs to be
distributed fairly, with those regional councils in
most need getting priority funding.
Its not just the Greens saying this. The NRMA have
said the same, so has a recent NSW Parliamentary
report.
If we are to redirect some Commonwealth funding
from more well off metropolitan councils then we
also need to allow them the financial autonomy to

Recognition.

By putting local government in the federal

constitution it will protect it from being the
plaything of state governments. Our system of
government is designed to have three tiers, local,
state and federal, and the constitution should make
this clear.
The Greens arent interested in just some bland
empty statement in the constitution. We believe the
constitution should provide that commonwealth
funds can go directly to local councils and
that local residents have the final say on the
composition and shape of their local council.
Entrenching and protecting local government in
the constitution would help the most grassroots
level of government resist the kind of undemocratic
attacks we have seen from the Baird governments
forced amalgamation agenda.

The Greens believe in supporting, respecting and empowering local

councils. This means that we are committed to implementing long term
policies that keeps councils strong, sustainable and connected to
their local community.
David Shoebridge MLC | www.davidshoebridge.org.au | nsw.greens.org.au
AUTHORISED BY JAMES RYAN FOR THE GREENS NSW. SUITE D, LEVEL 1, 275 BROADWAY NSW 2037. PRINTED BY SENATOR LEE RHIANNON, 72 Campbell St, Surry Hills NSW 2010