Speeches: 2005
Engaging communities
Around the world, greater engagement of citizens, clients and communities is becoming a feature of many governments and organisations. People are expecting to be able to be involved and to have a say in the business of government and in the decisions of organisations that affect their interests.
Address to the Engaging Communities conference
Cr Paul Bell
President, Australian Local Government Association
16 August 2005, Brisbane
Thank you Greg
It's my task to give you an overview of how local government - at the national level - acts as a conduit between our communities and our national government. But I'd also like to advocate some important changes that need to take place to if we are to have a truly effective federal system of government - a system where the voice of communities is heard in loud and clear in the corridors of power in Canberra.
In Australia, we have a federal system of government with three spheres of government - federal, state and local. And these are spheres of government - not tiers of government. All three spheres of government should work together, ensuring each is respected and valued as an equal partner within the federation. This is what should happen. What does happen is quite different altogether.
Local government is the sphere of government closest to the people. As such, it reflects their values, priorities, concerns, passions - much more closely than either state of federal government. It's important - therefore - that local government is effectively engaged in the federal arena. Over the past decade, much has been achieved to make this happen.
At the national level, local government is represented by ALGA - a federation of state and territory local government associations. ALGA is increasingly engaged with the federal government and key inter-government forums. We also participate on a large number of other national bodies - such as the National Public Health Partnership, the Development Assessment Forum and Austroads. More importantly, we are a full member of the Council of Australian Governments, a body that brings together the Prime Minister, state premiers, territory chief ministers and the ALGA President.
Local government also has representation on 14 other ministerial councils which cover issues as diverse as"
- local government and planning
- housing
- transport
- natural resource management
- Indigenous and multicultural affairs, and
- the arts.
We actively participate in the work of these important ministerial councils. Our voice is important and brings a local perspective to issues of national importance. But representation doesn't always equate to engagement. Local government is but one voice on these councils. They are - inevitably - dominated by the larger states and the Commonwealth. The fact of life remains, here in Australia, local government continues to be under-valued, under-funded and over-looked.
Why? The answer is complex. But much of it has to do with the political development of Australia.
Local government was out there early. The first municipality was formed in Adelaide in 1840. Local government was - and has remained - the creature of colonial - and later state - government simply because there was for the formative decades, no government at the national level. When federation came in 1901, we had a minimalist model. States ceded powers to Canberra only where they believed a truly national interest lay. As a result, local government has not been recognised in the Australian Constitution. Does this matter? Have communities missed out as a result? The answer is emphatically yes.
Local government believes in the principle of subsidiarity. That is, the functions of government should be exercised as closely as practicable to the affected citizens. Local government delivers services and facilities on a human scale. It is responsive to local need, provides local leadership and advocacy, fosters civic pride and reflects local priorities in a way state and federal governments never can. Councils should not be creatures of state government. They should be seen as expressions of Australia's commitment to community democracy. This is why recognition of local government in the Australian Constitution is so important.
Local government should not only be recognised, but should also be protected from restructure and arbitrary change without due process. Local communities must be in firm control of their own destiny. Some argue that - as we move towards a more globalised world - the relevance of local communities and local government is becoming less and less relevant. Some even argue it hampers the move to a more efficient and productive economy.
For example, I've spent the past year fighting developers who want to remove the ability of local councillors to decide on make decisions on controversial development applications. They say less emphasis should be placed on local communities. Yes, we are less inclined to socialise with our immediate neighbours than in the past. We choose instead to find friends from a wider geographic area, communicating over the Internet, more and more - and over the back fence, less and less. But this trend is cause for concern.
I know it is not fashionable to quote Mark Latham - but he told Parliament last year that people are losing close trusting relationships between each other to an extent where many don't even know the names of their next-door neighbours. There is increasing social isolation. People are losing respect for each other. Kids are kept at home and not allowed to run around the park or kick a footy in the street. Older residents keep themsevles looked up at home, fearful of venturing out onto the streets.
Latham spoke of the need to re-engage people in their communities and find new ways of doing this. "These are," he said, "pressing concerns".
The social researcher, Hugh McKay, talks about the fact that - as we become more globalised - people want to connect more strongly with their immediate communities. So, I don't buy the argument that local communities are becoming less relevant or necessary in a globalised world. The need for local identity, local affinity and a sense of belonging is of increasing importance, particularly for young people in today's competitive society. We should be placing more emphasis on our affinity with a local community - not less.
Constitutional recognition will - without doubt - help place local government on a more equal footing within the Australian federation. There is another reason why the nation - as a whole - needs to place more emphasis on local communities. As we face the international threat of terrorism, we must ensure that our communities are inclusive and cohesive. We must do all we can to ensure everyone - everyone - feels part of our community. They must feel that they are valued. They must feel that they are included. They must feel that they are the community - not alienated from it. To this end, we must be putting more resources into local government to build better communities. One size does not fit all. Local governments are best placed to build and grow local communities.
Next moth, I will attend the COAG special summit on security issues. I will urge state and federal governments to provide more resources to cash strapped councils to build on the great work we do to engage our communities and build social cohesion. The Australian Government - to its credit - funds the Living in Harmony initiative. But the program is coming to an end and - even now - provides just $1.5m a year in grants. We should be spending ten times that amount to help councils to what they do best - building and growing our communities with and for its citizens.
Australia is still a lucky country - but we face significant challenges as some parts of society enjoy the fruits of our strong economy while others do not. As advocates of strong, inclusive communities, we must continue to do all we can to engage our culturally and linguistically diverse communities so that no part feels excluded or unable to contribute. Local government can succeed where others have failed Why? Because we're government of the community, by the community, and for the community.
Thank you.
Councillor Paul Bell AM
President, Australian Local Government Association
16 August 2005
Brisbane
