Queensland Opposition Leader John-Paul Langbroek

Cr. Tully’s Actions Condemned

Victor P Taffa

Liberal National Party Leader John-Paul Langbroek has joined Premier Anna Bligh in condemning the actions of Ipswich councillor Paul Tully for wrongly announcing two bodies had been found at Goodna.

Mr. Langbroek said Cr. Tully had over-stepped his role and should leave any matter relating to possible deaths to the Police and medical experts.

“Surely Cr. Tully should know it’s not the role of a local councillor to announce any deaths, particularly at this time …it’s the role of the Police.” Mr. Langbroek.

“No one in Public Office should be running to the media about such matters. They should contact the Police immediately.” Mr. Langbroek said.

Victoria Shadow Minister for Local Government Jeanette Powell

BRUMBY GOVERNMENT STARVING RURAL COUNCILS

Victor P Taffa

There is a crisis looming in regional Victoria as Rural Councils struggle to cope with Brumby Government cost shifting, Shadow Minister for Local Government Jeanette Powell said.

 “I have met with nearly 30 Rural Municipalities across Victoria over the past 18 months and they have told me they are struggling to cope with the additional cost burdens that are being imposed by the Brumby Government.” Mrs. Powell said.

 ”Rural Councils are suffering from 11 years of cost shifting under Labor. Additional charges imposed on local councils range from the landfill levy to roadside weed management, family day care, libraries, statutory planning and school crossings.”

 “Councils are being starved of funds as the current levels of government funding in areas such as general purpose and local roads grants, are not sufficient to fund the maintenance and upgrading of council assets such as roads and bridges.”

 “To protect their assets many councils have been forced to close bridges, apply load limits or restrict the movement of trucks. Just this week Strathbogie Shire Council was forced to close the 120-year-old heritage-listed Kirwans Bridge near Nagambie, because it can’t afford to maintain it.”

 “This critical piece of infrastructure will not be repaired and that will affect Fire, Ambulance, and SES services, along with residents.”

 Mrs. Powell said rural councils already had higher expenditure per person than Urban Councils and were faced with the burden of higher costs because they maintain more Kilometres of Roads per person and many more bridges.

 “Many Rural Councils have significant numbers of bridges needing repair, with estimates of about $700,000 to repair or replace a bridge.” Mrs. Powell said.

 “These councils have to rely more and more on rate revenue, and that has seen some councils nearly doubling their rates over the past eleven years.”

 “The recent announcement by the Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition of a $1 Billion Regional Growth Fund will go a long way to helping ease the burden on rural councils.”

 “It is time the Brumby Government listened to rural communities and stopped shifting costs onto local councils and starving them of the funds necessary to support vital infrastructure.” Mrs. Powell said.

Western Australia Minister for Local Government John Castrilli

Women rewarded for their contribution to Local Government

Victor P Taffa

Local Government Minister John Castrilli today acknowledged the number of long-standing female elected members in local government in Western Australia.

In his address to the ‘Women in Local Government Conference’, the Minister highlighted the importance of increased participation of women in the local government sector.

Mr. Castrilli said although the overall representation of women in senior positions in WA remained relatively low with 11 female chief executive officers, it was encouraging to see a wide range of initiatives under way to develop further opportunities.

“Women have been making a substantial contribution to local government through review, forward planning and change of management activities in their local and regional areas and this has been evident in the reform process.” the Minister said.

“This involvement will be increasingly important in the next stage of the reform implementation process as local governments improve their capacity and sustainability and provide better services to the community.”

The following were recognised for more than 20 years of service to local government:

• Ainslie Evans – Shire of Katanning;

• Olwen Searle – City of Gosnells;

• Chris Thompson – Shire of Murray;

• Judith Jones – City of Bunbury;

• Janet Savage – Shire of Gnowangerup;

• Maria Haynes – City of Swan;

• Anne Brinkworth – Town of Bassendean;

• Barbara Thomas – Shire of Mullewa.

The Minister said greater female participation would expand the skills resource and increase the overall effectiveness of local government decision-making and service delivery.

“It is important to remove structural barriers in advancing women into senior management and leadership positions.” Mr. Castrilli said.

Western Australia Minister for Local Government John Castrilli

Local government reform on track

Victor P Taffa

Western Australia Minister for Local Government John Castrilli today re-affirmed the State Government’s resolve to introduce local government reform in Western Australia.

Addressing more than 400 local government representatives in Perth, Mr Castrilli said the process of reform was on course and progressing well.

The Minister congratulated those local governments that had embraced the concept of amalgamation and encouraged other councils to further consider the benefits of reform.

Mr Castrilli said the State Government remained committed to reducing the number of local councils from 139 to less than 100 in five years.

“Local government reform will generate stronger and more efficient delivery of services throughout the State,” he said.

“It will also assist in reducing unnecessary governance and bureaucracy within the local government sector.

“And, importantly, it will provide improved focus on regional priorities and attracting funding and economic development, thus improving the outcomes for community.”

Up to $2.5 Million would be made available this year and in 2010-11 from the Country Local Government Fund to help those local government groups which had formalised their position and wanted to proceed to amalgamation.

The Minister re-iterated that participation in a regional transition group was voluntary.

He said that if local governments did not want not to engage in the process, they were free to decide. They were also free to choose their partners.

“For those local governments which have not reached agreement but wish to amalgamate, the Government is offering a staged process to assist in progressing reform at a considered pace, with options for review and negotiation,” he said.

“The first stage is for local governments to get together and discuss how the Regional Transition Group (RTG) or Regional Collaborative Group (RCG) process might apply to them.”

Mr Castrilli said the RTG and the RTC models provided local governments with a clear direction to reform, with the initial focus on the production of a regional business plan.

Local governments have been asked to advise the Minister of their intention to join a regional group by March 26.