The new Governor General Sam Mostyn addressed the National Assembly of Local Government on Wednesday, July 3, in her first official public event after being sworn in earlier that week.
Mostyn said communities craved care, kindness and respect.
“Your work builds community and trust,” she told delegates.
More than 1200 councillors or senior council staff from the 537 councils across Australia listened to her address which kicked-off the national assembly, the 30th gathering of councils organised by the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA).
Mostyn and the delegates were Welcomed to Country by Paul Girrawah House who said the Governnor General, who replaced David Hurley on Monday, July 1, was “freshly minted”.
Mostyn acknowledged Hurley’s service to Australia and to local government and communities in particular.
The conference dealt with more than 220 Motions sent in by councils to be debated and voted upon.
If more than 50 per cent of delegates adopt a Motion, it then becomes the responsibility of the ALGA board of directors to advocate on the issues and to decide which ones receive priority.
Topics included: local government wanting full membership of the national cabinet of the federal government; rule changes for a return to local rezoning authority to councils; disaster funding upfront; subsidies for insurance; flood-proofing roads; and better telecommunications to cope in emergencies, to name just a few.
Many Motions addressed the lack of funding sustainability for councils and the need for a better formula for the annual federal assistance grants (FAG).
The ALGA has been campaigning for an increase in the FAG which has dropped from one per cent of the Total Government Tax to 0.55 per cent.
The two-day event was preceded by a regional forum on Tuesday, July 2 which saw more than 750 council representatives gather to discuss common issues such as the need for more funding for roads, infrastructure, housing.
Merilyn Vale
This article was made possible with the support of the Industry Association; Local and Independent News Association LINA