With a federal government Inquiry into Local Government Sustainability underway, Member for Barker Tony Pasin has encouraged the community, and especially local councils, to have their say.
The inquiry is being conducted by the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Regional Development, Infrastructure and Transport, of which Mr Pasin is the deputy chairperson.
Mr Pasin said Australian councils were under increased financial pressure to deliver core services such as road maintenance as additional responsibilities and natural disaster remediation and mitigation stretched budgets.
“Locally controlled roads account for approximately 77 per cent of total road length in Australia, yet local councils have the smallest revenue base of all levels of government, collecting just over 3 per cent of Australia’s total taxation revenue,” he said.
“In addition to roads, local government provides critical local services including planning, libraries and waste management as well as shared community infrastructure such as parks, sporting grounds and swimming pools. This is before we even factor in addition services many councils in Barker provide including early learning and aged care services.
“We must ensure that the local government sector is financial sustainability so that they can continue to deliver the services and infrastructure that local communities need for generations to come.”
Submissions to the inquiry must be made before May 3.
For more information or to make a submission visit aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House/Regional_Development_Infrastructure_and_Transport/Localgovernmentsustaina
