Council supports ALGA Federal election campaign

Published on 27 April 2022

Clarence Valley Council has thrown its support behind the Australian Local Government Association's (ALGA) wish list ahead of the upcoming Federal election.

Mayor Ian Tiley put forward a Mayoral Minute at the Ordinary Council Meeting at Maclean Council Chambers on Tuesday, 26 April 2022, to secure Council's support for the ALGA Federal election national advocacy campaign, titled Don't Leave Local Communities Behind, on behalf of Australian local governments.

"The goal of the campaign is to secure funding and policy commitments that will support every Australian council and community, and ensure all Australians have an equal opportunity to share in the benefits of Australia's post-pandemic recovery," Mayor Tiley said.

The nine councillors voted unanimously in favour of Mayor Tiley's motion that Council support the national funding priorities of the ALGA, which will contribute an estimated $6.46 billion per year to Australia's GDP and create 43,444 jobs. The motion included that Council writes to the local Federal Member of Parliament and all known candidates ahead of the upcoming Federal election.

The ALGA Don't Leave Local Communities Behind campaign will highlight 17 priorities in the five portfolios of economic recovery, transport and community infrastructure, building resilience, circular economy and intergovernmental relations. These priorities are based on motions passed by councils at ALGA's annual National General Assembly.

Some of the priorities include:

• Increase Roads to Recovery funding to $800 million per annum and the Black Spot Program to $200 million.
• A targeted disaster mitigation program of $200 million per annum which will reduce the costs of response and recovery and strengthen community resilience.
• A Local Government Climate Response Partnership Fund of $200 million over four years to enable planning and preparation to minimise the impacts of climate change in local communities and enable councils to achieve climate neutrality as soon as practicable.
• $200 million over four years to assist councils to develop and implement innovative housing partnerships.
• $100 million per annum provided directly to local governments to support the capabilities of Indigenous councils and the implementation of the Closing the Gap local voice.
• $100 million per annum to fund local government circular waste innovation projects.

All 537 Australian local governments have been asked to participate in this campaign to ensure a coordinated approach that will deliver the best possible outcomes.