❓ Ms. Kelsbie asks about the benefits and transparency improvements of the Local Government Amendment Bill 2024. The Minister outlines the reforms, including inspectors, monitors, rate transparency, superannuation, resource sharing, and conduct standards.
AnsweredQoN 550Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
LOCAL GOVERNMENT AMENDMENT BILL 2024
550. Ms E.J. KELSBIE to the Minister for Local Government:
I refer to the Cook Labor government's significant
reforms to local government laws.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house how these reforms will benefit residents and
ratepayers across Western Australia?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house how these reforms will improve transparency and
accountability in government?
550. Ms E.J. KELSBIE to the Minister for Local Government:
I refer to the Cook Labor government's significant
reforms to local government laws.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house how these reforms will benefit residents and
ratepayers across Western Australia?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house how these reforms will improve transparency and
accountability in government?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2)
I thank the member for the question. Our government has been delivering the
most significant reforms to the system of
local government in more than 25 years. We recognise that it is critical that
local government works well for every Western Australian. Earlier today,
I was proud to introduce the Local Government Amendment Bill 2024. The bill
provides for the establishment of a local government inspector and monitors to
form a much stronger system for identifying and resolving issues within a local
government at the earliest possible stage. Although the vast majority of local
governments across our state operate effectively, there have unfortunately been
several high-profile examples of councils falling into division, dysfunction
and chaos. Division and dysfunction in local government diverts resources away
from the delivery of services to residents, ratepayers, small businesses and,
importantly, community groups. The inspector and monitors will mean that local
governments will be supported to fix problems early, before they escalate.
Specialist monitors will be able to proactively help governments resolve
problems.
The old tools of dealing with
dysfunction often meant that problems continued to be unsolved while ratepayers
continued to foot the bill for the costs of dysfunction. As members know,
isolated cases of dysfunction in one council can unfairly tarnish the standing
of local government generally. It is therefore no surprise that the sector has
long supported these important changes.
The bill will deliver on a range
of our other reform commitments, including a new requirement for every council
to publish an annual rates and revenue policy and provide ratepayers with a clear
forecast of rates and revenue, to reduce nasty surprises when rates become due.
It will allow superannuation for council members. There will be new measures to
support local governments to share resources, including senior staff. There
will be powers to prevent councils from deciding to use an election method that
might reduce voter participation, and there will be stronger penalties,
including suspensions and disqualifications, to discourage council members from
breaching conduct standards. This is another major milestone in the delivery of
our landmark local government reforms.
We have already delivered a range
of positive changes, including major electoral reforms put into place at last
year's council elections. This year we have bolstered the local
government long service leave portability scheme, which provides an incentive
for workers to stay in the sector. This record of achievement could not be more
different from that of those opposite, who put local government into years of
paralysis and division with their botched amalgamation agenda. Our government
has worked hard to engage sector stakeholders throughout the reform process. I am
extremely grateful for the involvement of the Western Australian Local
Government Association and LGPro throughout the reform process and I am
committed to continuing our positive engagement with the sector.
I am proud to be able to continue
the work of my predecessors, Minister Templeman, Minister Carey and Minister
Michael. Our Cook Labor government has long been committed to continuing to
work to ensure that local governments work well for every Western Australian.
I thank the member for the question. Our government has been delivering the
most significant reforms to the system of
local government in more than 25 years. We recognise that it is critical that
local government works well for every Western Australian. Earlier today,
I was proud to introduce the Local Government Amendment Bill 2024. The bill
provides for the establishment of a local government inspector and monitors to
form a much stronger system for identifying and resolving issues within a local
government at the earliest possible stage. Although the vast majority of local
governments across our state operate effectively, there have unfortunately been
several high-profile examples of councils falling into division, dysfunction
and chaos. Division and dysfunction in local government diverts resources away
from the delivery of services to residents, ratepayers, small businesses and,
importantly, community groups. The inspector and monitors will mean that local
governments will be supported to fix problems early, before they escalate.
Specialist monitors will be able to proactively help governments resolve
problems.
The old tools of dealing with
dysfunction often meant that problems continued to be unsolved while ratepayers
continued to foot the bill for the costs of dysfunction. As members know,
isolated cases of dysfunction in one council can unfairly tarnish the standing
of local government generally. It is therefore no surprise that the sector has
long supported these important changes.
The bill will deliver on a range
of our other reform commitments, including a new requirement for every council
to publish an annual rates and revenue policy and provide ratepayers with a clear
forecast of rates and revenue, to reduce nasty surprises when rates become due.
It will allow superannuation for council members. There will be new measures to
support local governments to share resources, including senior staff. There
will be powers to prevent councils from deciding to use an election method that
might reduce voter participation, and there will be stronger penalties,
including suspensions and disqualifications, to discourage council members from
breaching conduct standards. This is another major milestone in the delivery of
our landmark local government reforms.
We have already delivered a range
of positive changes, including major electoral reforms put into place at last
year's council elections. This year we have bolstered the local
government long service leave portability scheme, which provides an incentive
for workers to stay in the sector. This record of achievement could not be more
different from that of those opposite, who put local government into years of
paralysis and division with their botched amalgamation agenda. Our government
has worked hard to engage sector stakeholders throughout the reform process. I am
extremely grateful for the involvement of the Western Australian Local
Government Association and LGPro throughout the reform process and I am
committed to continuing our positive engagement with the sector.
I am proud to be able to continue
the work of my predecessors, Minister Templeman, Minister Carey and Minister
Michael. Our Cook Labor government has long been committed to continuing to
work to ensure that local governments work well for every Western Australian.
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