Council advocates at national assembly for more support for local government

Redland City will be well represented at the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) National General Assembly when Council advocates on five key issues on behalf of the community.

Mayor Jos Mitchell said the National General Assembly (NGA) in July 2024 provided an opportunity for Council to influence the national policy agenda and propose new ways of strengthening the local government sector.

“Local governments play an important role in delivering for their communities every day and the motions Council has adopted not only respond to the needs of the Redlands Coast community, but to the needs of local government throughout Australia,” she said.

“All five motions support this year’s Assembly theme of ‘Building Community Trust’ by identifying opportunities that will support councils to meet the needs of their communities, particularly in the areas of infrastructure and the environment.

“As the national voice of local governments, ALGA advocates on behalf of all local governments for funding and policy outcomes that support and deliver better results for our communities.”

The five motions endorsed by Council include:

A fairer approach to the application of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 to provide greater clarity around the application of the Act and to provide acknowledgement for previous environmental protection efforts appropriate for the threatened species. This would ensure local governments can plan and deliver important community infrastructure for their communities.The restoration and maintenance of local government Financial Assistance Grants to at least one per cent of Commonwealth taxation revenue. Without appropriate Financial Assistance Grants, Councils need to generate additional revenue to maintain community infrastructure, levels of service, and meet needs and expectations of communities, shifting the financial burden to ratepayers.Greater access to federal funding by local government for essential infrastructure projects and establishment of a framework linking infrastructure investment with forecasted population growth.A review and amendment of The Native Title Act 1993 to make certain mainstream Australian law applies over native title land and to restore financial assistance for responding to native title claims.Calling on the Australian Government to consult with and empower local governments, through funding, to deliver on-ground activities that achieve the goals, objectives and strategies of the National Recovery Plan for the Koala.

Council also endorsed Mayor Jos Mitchell to be the city’s official delegate at the Assembly and to move and speak to the motions.