❓ Ms. Collins asks about the progress and public consultation regarding local government reforms. The Minister responds positively, highlighting the government's consultative approach and contrasting it with the previous administration's failures.
AnsweredQoN 144Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
LOCAL GOVERNMENT REFORM
144. Ms C.M. COLLINS to the Minister for Local Government:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's commitment to improving the transparency, accountability
and efficiency of local government across Western Australia.
(1) Can the
minister update the house on the progress of proposed reforms to the Local
Government Act?
(2) Can the
minister outline to the house how members of the public have been consulted in
these significant reforms?
144. Ms C.M. COLLINS to the Minister for Local Government:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's commitment to improving the transparency, accountability
and efficiency of local government across Western Australia.
(1) Can the
minister update the house on the progress of proposed reforms to the Local
Government Act?
(2) Can the
minister outline to the house how members of the public have been consulted in
these significant reforms?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the
question.
(1)–(2) I
am deeply proud to be part of a government that is committed to serious local
government reform. The reform package that we announced late last year is the
biggest reform to local government in 25 years. It is built on a number of
reports, including the City of Perth inquiry, the parliamentary inquiry in the
upper house and, of course, our discussion panel report. It is very clear, in
our first term and our second term of government, that we are taking a very
measured and consultative approach to local government reform. Contrast that
with the diabolical efforts of the previous Barnett Liberal–National
government. It was just a series of stuff
ups that wasted ratepayers' money and time. In fact, some local
governments invested more than $1 million preparing for local government
reform that never happened under a Liberal–National government.
Instead, our process is measured and we have been working with the Western Australian
Local Government Association and the sector.
I am pleased to say that we received
245 submissions, with the majority giving in-principle support for the changes.
I note that WALGA has come out in support of the local government inspector and
monitors. This is pivotal because it is about dealing with dysfunctional local
government early on. We will have a chief local government inspector who can
send in monitors to deal with problems early on, because we know what the
alternative is. If we have an inquiry into substantial dysfunction, no-one
wins. Ratepayers do not win, developers and
applicants do not win, and small business does not win. But there is other
reform within this package that is also being well-received. Our
proposals to streamline and cut red tape for small business like alfresco laws,
standardising crossovers and signage for small business has been welcome. I note
the comments by Mark Irwin, the City of Stirling mayor who said that a lot of
the reform around simplifying approvals and making it easier for business and
smaller development applications are definitely supported. I also note we have
had some unexpected support for our preferential voting reforms. Albert Jacob,
the City of Joondalup mayor who was the Minister for Environment in the most
recent Liberal state government believes
that the fears that preferential voting would bring party politics to councils are overblown. There are people from all parties in local government anyway.
I think it is fantastic to see
that we are getting widespread support for our local government reforms and,
again, it highlights the difference of our government's approach, which
is engaging and consultative of the local government sector, as opposed to the
former Barnett Liberal–National government that had a crash through,
all-or-nothing approach that, ultimately, failed Western Australians.
question.
(1)–(2) I
am deeply proud to be part of a government that is committed to serious local
government reform. The reform package that we announced late last year is the
biggest reform to local government in 25 years. It is built on a number of
reports, including the City of Perth inquiry, the parliamentary inquiry in the
upper house and, of course, our discussion panel report. It is very clear, in
our first term and our second term of government, that we are taking a very
measured and consultative approach to local government reform. Contrast that
with the diabolical efforts of the previous Barnett Liberal–National
government. It was just a series of stuff
ups that wasted ratepayers' money and time. In fact, some local
governments invested more than $1 million preparing for local government
reform that never happened under a Liberal–National government.
Instead, our process is measured and we have been working with the Western Australian
Local Government Association and the sector.
I am pleased to say that we received
245 submissions, with the majority giving in-principle support for the changes.
I note that WALGA has come out in support of the local government inspector and
monitors. This is pivotal because it is about dealing with dysfunctional local
government early on. We will have a chief local government inspector who can
send in monitors to deal with problems early on, because we know what the
alternative is. If we have an inquiry into substantial dysfunction, no-one
wins. Ratepayers do not win, developers and
applicants do not win, and small business does not win. But there is other
reform within this package that is also being well-received. Our
proposals to streamline and cut red tape for small business like alfresco laws,
standardising crossovers and signage for small business has been welcome. I note
the comments by Mark Irwin, the City of Stirling mayor who said that a lot of
the reform around simplifying approvals and making it easier for business and
smaller development applications are definitely supported. I also note we have
had some unexpected support for our preferential voting reforms. Albert Jacob,
the City of Joondalup mayor who was the Minister for Environment in the most
recent Liberal state government believes
that the fears that preferential voting would bring party politics to councils are overblown. There are people from all parties in local government anyway.
I think it is fantastic to see
that we are getting widespread support for our local government reforms and,
again, it highlights the difference of our government's approach, which
is engaging and consultative of the local government sector, as opposed to the
former Barnett Liberal–National government that had a crash through,
all-or-nothing approach that, ultimately, failed Western Australians.
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