Hon Bruce Donaldson asks if the WA government will support federal constitutional recognition of local government, given past reluctance. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich, the Minister for Local Government, expresses strong support for the move.

AnsweredQoN 240Legislative Council
Asked
19 March 2008
Portfolio
Local Government

QuestionView source ↗

LOCAL GOVERNMENTS — CONSTITUTIONAL RECOGNITION
Since the change of federal government, there have been indications that it will move to recognise local government in the Constitution. Will the state government fully support this move, given that successive state governments have not? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH

AnswerView source ↗

Constitutional recognition of local government has been a long time coming. There is no doubt that local government in particular is very keen for that recognition to occur. As the Minister for Local Government, I am totally supportive of that. Local government should be recognised in the Constitution. Local governments should be able, also, to deal more directly with the commonwealth government on a range of issues so that state governments do not have to act as middlemen and go into battle on behalf of local government. Constitutional recognition of local government would be a good thing and a good step forward. I fully support it.
Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: Constitutional recognition of local government has been a long time coming. There is no doubt that local government in particular is very keen for that recognition to occur. As the Minister for Local Government, I am totally supportive of that. Local government should be recognised in the Constitution. Local governments should be able, also, to deal more directly with the commonwealth government on a range of issues so that state governments do not have to act as middlemen and go into battle on behalf of local government. Constitutional recognition of local government would be a good thing and a good step forward. I fully support it.
Constitutional recognition of local government has been a long time coming. There is no doubt that local government in particular is very keen for that recognition to occur. As the Minister for Local Government, I am totally supportive of that. Local government should be recognised in the Constitution. Local governments should be able, also, to deal more directly with the commonwealth government on a range of issues so that state governments do not have to act as middlemen and go into battle on behalf of local government. Constitutional recognition of local government would be a good thing and a good step forward. I fully support it.

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