Constitutional change: a step closer
15 June 2010
The President of the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA), Cr Geoff Lake, has welcomed the announcement this morning that the Rudd Government will fund a $250,000 education campaign to promote a referendum to include local government in the Australian Constitution.
The announcement was made by Local Government Minister, Anthony Albanese, who opened the 2010 National General Assembly of Local Government in Canberra in front of more than 700 mayors and councillors from across Australia.
Cr Lake said, "Local government is excited that the Rudd Government has signalled that, of the various constitutional referenda proposals discussed during its time in government, this is the one it is prepared to put some money towards advancing.
"Regardless of which party forms government after the coming election, we look forward to a referendum being progressed in the next parliamentary term. The Rudd Government continues to support a referendum in their policy platform and we have received in principle support from the Opposition as well."
Today's announcement follows a four year campaign by local government to amend the Constitution to fix the uncertainty over whether or not the Federal Government can fund councils directly. This uncertainty became even more pronounced last year following the High Court's Pape decision which indicated that the Federal Government lacks constitutional power to fund local government.
"It is in everybody's interests to fix up this funding uncertainty. It is certainly in the interests of state governments and councils, however most significantly, it is in the interests of the millions of Australian ratepayers who deserve to see their funding burden eased by more general taxation revenue flowing to local government."
Tomorrow ALGA will launch a local government constitutional reform website and a series of fact sheets which have been produced to highlight the need for reform.
- Media contacts:
- ALGA President, Cr Geoff Lake: 0411 645 281
- Amanda Lynch, ALGA Director Public Affairs, 0419 123 862
