PORT Macquarie-Hastings Mayor Peter Besseling has welcomed the announcement by Prime Minister Julia Gillard that Australians will have the opportunity to secure financial recognition for local government.
The referendum, to be held in conjunction with the 14 September federal election, will ask Australians to vote on whether or not they agree on the financial recognition of Local Government in the Constitution.
Having addressed the joint select committee on the issue in March, Cr Besseling said he was thrilled the referendum had been announced.
“This has been a five-year campaign to get to this point and now the public will vote on whether we can secure federal funding for local infrastructure projects,” he said.
“People may think it’s overly complex once we start talking about the constitution, but it doesn’t have to be complicated.
“A vote of yes in this referendum will guarantee the Federal Government’s ability to directly fund road and infrastructure projects at a local government level.
“Formal recognition of local government in the constitution would not only provide certainty for this type of grant funding but also create other avenues for the Federal Government to support local government.”
Over the past decade local councils have received billions of dollars in federal funding grants from both sides of politics through programs.
Recent High Court cases, such as the challenge to the school chaplaincy program, have highlighted serious legal issues with the Australian Government’s formal ability to continue to directly fund local councils.
“A simple and minor change to the constitution will solve this problem and guarantee essential funding from the federal level,” Cr Besseling said.
“A successful yes vote in this referendum can address the unsustainable situation we are currently in where the infrastructure and services are being provided by Local Government and the taxes are actually being collected by the Federal Government.
“A great deal of work now has to be done in a short timeframe to explain this issue to the community and ensure they understand how vital a yes vote is.
“Port Macquarie-Hastings Council will be working with others across the country on this campaign.”
