Australia's National Local Government Newspaper Online

President's comment

Each edition we feature the views of a Local Government Association President. The following is from Councillor Noel Playford, President of the Local Government Association of Queensland.

During my first term as a Councillor (1982-5), the most frequently recurring topic of conversation in Local Government circles was the lack of funding for roads in Australia and the inadequate share of total taxation received by Local Government. Nothing has changed, which says something about Australian Local Government's lack of influence at the National level.

There is, however, some hope of change following the decision of the Executive of the Australian Local Government Association to recommend participation in a National Roads Campaign leading up to the next Federal election.

This is ALGA's opportunity to demonstrate that Local Government can influence the National agenda. If we fail because of lack of unity, then we will continue to be ignored as virtually irrelevant by Federal Governments in the future as we have in the past.

The ball is now in the court of individual Councils throughout Australia. Support the National campaign financially and by participating in actions suggested by ALGA and your State Associations, or confirm the belief at the National level that Local Government doesn't really have to be listened to because Councils prefer talk to action. The significance of this campaign cannot be overstated. While it is about inadequate road funding, success will translate to influence across the range of issues which Local Government has to deal with at the National Level.

In particular, we must address the disparity between the share of taxation received by Local Government and the cost to Councils of meeting the expectations of our communities and both State and Federal Governments. The sensible way of addressing this increasing problem would be for the three spheres of Government to participate in a complete review of the appropriate division of responsibilities in delivering services to the Australian people, and the consequent allocation of funding. This type of review is commonplace in the private sector which has to remain competitive in order to prosper.

Success in the Roads campaign would maximise the chances of Local Government getting some action on the serious problem of the mismatch between responsibilities and funding. Failure will mean that fundamental decisions affecting Local Government's ability to build better communities will continue to be made by other Governments and National Forums like COAG which will continue to be set up without Local Government participation.

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