Audit Office misses the point on councils and community infrastructure funding
27 July 2010
The president of the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA), Cr Geoff Lake, has expressed his dismay at the lack of balance and objectivity in a report released today by the Australian National Audit Office into the Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program.
The report raises some procedural issues around how the 'strategic projects' funding stream of the program was allocated to councils.
"We don't feel that the Audit Office has properly grasped or understood the environment in which councils operate. They have been quick to reach opinions about the performance of councils and the management of the program which we don't think are fair or reasonably based," Cr Lake said.
"This is an important national program that has delivered thousands of projects to local communities across Australia and has helped to sustain local employment through the Global Financial Crisis. It is fundamentally wrong to suggest or insinuate that funds have been misused, politically directed or wasted.
"We're disappointed that the report concentrated on fairly semantic process detail while ignoring any consideration of the wider economic benefits flowing from the program's investment at the local level throughout the country.
"Every single day, Australia's 565 councils are doing great things with limited funding to deliver key services to local communities. The Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program was a great initiative to boost community infrastructure at the local level, while providing important stimulus through an uncertain period for Australia.
"The department has expressed its concern that the report does not present a balanced perspective of the program. ALGA shares that view as well.
"Reports like this one are what happens when government bean counters run out of beans to count and get a bit excited in the middle of an election campaign. We feel their report is lacking objectivity and would have been strengthened by engaging directly with councils to better understand the operating environment they were inquiring into."
ALGA's main priority for the federal election campaign continues to be to secure commitments from both sides of politics to an annual and ongoing Regional and Community Infrastructure Program.
- Media contacts:
- ALGA President, Cr Geoff Lake: 0411 645 281
- Amanda Lynch, ALGA Director Public Affairs, 0419 123 862
