Decision details

Moved by Councillor Scott, seconded by the Chair (the Lord Mayor) –

(A)        Council support the national funding priorities of the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA), which would contribute an estimated $6.46 billion per year to Australia’s GDP and create 43,444 jobs;

(B)        alongside Australia’s 536 other councils, Council is advocating for:

(i)          economic recovery:

(a)        an initial injection of Financial Assistance Grants to local government of $1.3 billion to support communities and jobs and also resolve the current practice of bringing forward two quarterly Financial Assistance Grant payments each year; and 

(b)        a commitment to return Financial Assistance Grants to at least one percent of Commonwealth taxation revenue via a phased approach.

(ii)         transport and community infrastructure: 

(a)        $500 million per annum for a four-year continuation of the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program; 

(b)        a strategic local roads investment program of $300 million per annum over four years to address road transport first and last mile issues and congestion on local roads; 

(c)          an increase in Roads to Recovery to $800 million per annum (an additional $300 million per annum) and the Black Spot Program to $200 million per annum over four years, while addressing the South Australian road funding anomaly by making the additional $20 million per annum to SA in 2021-22 and 2022-23 permanent; 

(d)        continuing the Stronger Regional Digital Connectivity Package at $55 million over four years; and 

(e)        $200 million over four years to assist councils to develop and implement innovative housing partnerships;

(iii)        building resilience:

(a)        a targeted disaster mitigation program of $200 million per annum for four years which will reduce the costs of response and recovery and strengthen community resilience; 

(b)        a commitment to ensuring betterment funding as a core element of disaster recovery funding arrangements; 

(c)         a commitment to include community infrastructure that is publicly accessible and owned, and local government waste, water and wastewater assets under Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements; 

(d)        a Local Government Climate Response Partnership Fund of $200 million over four years to enable planning and preparation to minimise the impacts of climate change in local communities and enable councils to achieve climate neutrality as soon as practicable; and 

(e)        $100 million per annum over four years provided directly to local governments to support the capabilities of Indigenous councils and the implementation of the Closing the Gap local/regional voice;

(iv)       circular economy:

(a)        support to provide guidance and advice to councils on how to unlock the circular economy locally, particularly in rural, regional, and remote areas; 

(b)        support to investigate and, if feasible, implement a national bin harmonisation program that will improve kerbside recycling, reduce contamination, and maximise opportunities for reuse; and 

(c)         $100 million per annum over four years to fund local government circular waste innovation projects;

(v)         intergovernmental relations:

(a)        reinstating local government representation to the primary intergovernmental forum in Australia, the National Cabinet; and 

(b)        ensuring local government’s ongoing voting membership of other relevant Ministerial forums; and

(B)        Council agrees to support and participate in the Australian Local Government Association’s advocacy for their endorsed national funding priorities by writing to the local Federal Member(s) of Parliament, all known election candidates in local Federal electorates and the President of the Australian Local Government Association to:

(i)          identify priority local projects and programs that could be progressed with the additional financial assistance from the Federal Government being sought by ALGA; and

(ii)         seek funding commitments from the members, candidates and their parties for these identified local projects and programs.

Carried unanimously.

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