Bulletin (PDF 18.3 MB) - City of Armadale

Information BulletinCorrespondence & PapersPage Cor-10Local government is the backbone of local communities and local economies and deliversinfrastructure and services which everybody needs. Because we are right there working inand amongst the community, we engage with our communities and respond to their needs.Councillors are drawn from and live in their local community. During the Global FinancialCrisis, local government was called on to promote economic activity across the nation bydelivering $1 billion of the Australian Government's Stimulus package at the local level. Weare called on to deliver services, on behalf of the Commonwealth and state governmentsbecause we are innovative, responsive, flexible and efficient.Ongoing concern regarding the Commonwealth Government's power to directly fundcommunity initiatives through local government makes constitutional reform vital, in orderto secure the services that our communities need. The High Court's decision in July last yearin the case Pape v Commissioner of Taxation has brought into question the Commonwealth'slegal ability to fund local government directly, because it is not included in theConstitution. Such a result would have a devastating impact on our local communities,particularly those in rural and regional areas. Ensuring that the services and infrastructureneeded by communities can be delivered by local government lies at the heart of our pursuitof constitutional reform.Including local government in the Australian Constitution will protect the local services thatwe take for granted and ensure that councils have the funding security to provide the levelof services that local communities need and deserve. Local road funding is currentlyprovided under the Roads to Recovery Program and community infrastructure funding underthe Local Community Infrastructure Program. By any measure these two programs have beenextremely successful examples of the partnership between the Australian Government andlocal government.The Australian Local Government Association has been involved in extensive consultationwith local government, the broader community and state and federal politicians. PrimeMinister Gillard has promised a dual referendum during the life of this parliament - thepeople will be asked to vote on two issues - the constitutional recognition of localgovernment and recognition of Indigenous Australians as the nation's first people.The Prime Minister's announcement and indications of bipartisan support are enormous stepstoward a referendum, but we do not underestimate the task ahead - a majority of voters ina majority of states and an overall majority of voters, need to vote yes for a referendum tosucceed. Our research shows that many Australians, particularly young Australians, havelittle understanding of the Constitution or the process required to change it. There is a needto educate the public about the Constitution - not only what it contains, but that it shouldbe a living document which needs amendment every now and then to remain appropriate tothe Australia of the 21 st Century.I will be making constitutional reform a priority in my term as your president. The clearobjective of this reform will be a positive result in our referendum so that all of Australia'slocal communities get the chance to achieve their full potential.Cr Genia McCafferyALGA President