WIN! Advocacy on Federal Assistance Grants Rewarded
ALGA welcomes news last week that the Morrison Government has no plans in the short to medium term to review how Financial Assistance Grants are distributed by state/territory jurisdictions.
We welcome the Federal Assistant Minister for Local Government, the Hon Kevin Hogan MP’s undertaking.
The ALGA Board has a long-standing and well-developed policy position on Federal Assistance Grants – the Federal Government must increase these grants to at least one percent of Commonwealth taxation revenue.
Changes to the distribution formula are a distraction from the real need to halt the steady deterioration in our sector’s overall ability to fund services or infrastructures that respond to local needs.
Our objective is to grow the untied funding pie, not slice it differently and in ways that conform to doctrinaire thinking.
Click here to access all the campaign materials that ALGA has prepared for your councils for the forthcoming federal election.
Congratulations!
Last week’s announcement that that Col Murray, the Mayor of Tamworth Regional Council, is to be the next chairman of Infrastructure Australia is welcome news for our sector and our priorities for investment in local government infrastructure.
Local government’s role in helping meet the nation’s key infrastructure challenges and opportunities is considerable but frequently overlooked.
Our connections to community enable us to deliver infrastructure that creates new jobs, boosts local economies, and makes our cities, towns, and regions great places in which to live and work.
But leveraging our unique capabilities requires strong partnerships across all levels of government.
Cr Murray has spent a lifetime in construction and is a strong advocate for a strategic and coordinated approach to strengthening our regions.
Infrastructure Australia is pivoting to supporting infrastructure that is more sustainable and resilient, and Cr Murray’s presence on its board will speed that journey.
Congratulations also to Latrobe Councillor Vonnette Meade, former Charters Towers Regional Council Mayor Elizabeth Schmidt, and former Brisbane City Councillor Amanda Cooper, who are joining Cr Murray on the revamped IA Board.
You’re Invited! ALGA’s 2021 National State of the Assets report is being launched on 9th December from 2-3pm.
In the lead-up to the Federal Election, we’re excited to invite you to the launch of our key advocacy strategy, providing the strongest possible evidence base for additional investment by other levels of government.
I hope you can join me, as well as Local Government Minister Hogan, Romilly Madew AO (CEO of Infrastructure Australia), Fiona Simson (President of the National Farmers’ Federation) and Myles Lind (President of IPWEA) for our launch of this important research.
Your input and support have made this research possible and I encourage you all to register for the launch of the latest report and to learn more about the findings, and how you can support our advocacy efforts on your behalf in the lead up to the federal election.
Linda Scott,
ALGA President