FUNDING WELCOME FOR LOCAL COUNCILS, BUT WHAT ABOUT REFORM?
The Member for Berowra, Philip Ruddock MP has welcomed the allocation funds in the electorate of Berowra as part of the Australian Government’s fiscal stimulus package, but said the Federal Government had failed to address the need to reform local government at the meeting of Mayors and Shire presidents in Canberra yesterday.
Council allocations include:
Hornsby Shire Council of $833,000
Baulkham Hills Shire Council $860,000
“While the stimulus package is welcome, we should not mistake this announcement as anything more than another very large cheque signed by the Federal Government from an ever decreasing surplus,” Mr Ruddock said.
“Yesterday’s announcement did nothing to introduce much needed reforms such as cutting council regulation and red tape and improving transparency in local government decision-making.”
“The move to more direct engagement between the Commonwealth and councils is welcome, but it must have the power to transform and reform local government”
The meeting of mayors highlighted once again the many issues that have been talked about for decades. What matters is not what Councillors talk about in Canberra with the Prime Minister, but the decisions and actions they take in our local community and how funds are spent on behalf of taxpayers and ratepayers.
Local government is ill equipped to deal with the challenges they face. Cost shifting from State Governments and a lack of certainty about financing arrangements make their task even more difficult. There is an urgent need to enhance the capacity of local government by engaging in a comprehensive program of reform.
“Our councils know what they need to do. It is now a question of getting reforms in place that enables Councils to step up and do their job,” Philip Ruddock said.
“With federal taxpayer funds increasingly being used to support our councils, the Federal Government must demand a quid pro quo on reform from local councils to improve how they go about delivering services to our community.”
“Any new partnership between the Commonwealth and local government must ask the hard questions of local government such as reducing business regulation, reforming council workplaces and enhancing transparency in local government decision making.”
“The only demand Mr Rudd is making of Councils for increased funding is for a photo opportunity and a personal and very public thank you, showing once again the Rudd Government has a political strategy for local government, but no strategy for policy,” he said.