❓ Ms. Mettam asks how the Country Local Government Fund will enhance the capacity of regional local governments. The Minister responds outlining initiatives to attract young leaders, improve online management, governance, and community development planning.
AnsweredQoN 122Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
COUNTRY LOCAL GOVERNMENT FUND
122. Ms L. METTAM to the Minister for
Local Government:
The minister was recently in my
electorate to announce funding for regional local governments through the
country local government fund. Can the minister please advise the house on how
this investment will enhance the capacity of local governments across regional Western
Australia?
122. Ms L. METTAM to the Minister for
Local Government:
The minister was recently in my
electorate to announce funding for regional local governments through the
country local government fund. Can the minister please advise the house on how
this investment will enhance the capacity of local governments across regional Western
Australia?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Vasse for
hosting us in her electorate last Thursday. It was great to go out and visit a couple
of community groups with the Minister for Regional Development. We launched a great
campaign through the country local government fund, which is part of royalties
for regions, to provide $5.4 million to build the capacity of regional local
governments in Western Australia. This again shows that our government is very
supportive of local governments and making sure we build the capacity of local
governments to support their communities. A raft of measures in this bundle of
money will help support local government. One of the key issues in local
government is the ageing workforce and trying to attract and retain young
leaders and young managers to our local government sector to make sure they
become our next lot of chief executive officers and directors. The important
part is that we are putting in a program to make sure we can support and
encourage young people to stay within local government.
Of course, there are some tools in there for online
management and information and undertaking a governance review; it is very
important that local governments ensure that their governance models are
correct. All local governments are now going through the process of making sure
they draw up their community development plans, along with their long-term
financial plans and integrated reporting plans. This money will help with that.
It will enable them to consult and work with their communities to make sure
they have a better understanding and will be able to connect with their
community.
For the understanding of members,
since 2013 the Department of Local Government and Communities has provided a capacity-building
program that has provided more than $10 million to support our local councils
throughout Western Australia to make sure they can build capacity and deliver
good services to their ratepayers. Also, more importantly, providing
transparency will be the next measure we look into. I thank the member for
Vasse for her support, and the Minister for Regional Development and royalties
for regions for making sure we can help build the capacity of regional local
governments and make them stronger and more accountable to their ratepayers.
hosting us in her electorate last Thursday. It was great to go out and visit a couple
of community groups with the Minister for Regional Development. We launched a great
campaign through the country local government fund, which is part of royalties
for regions, to provide $5.4 million to build the capacity of regional local
governments in Western Australia. This again shows that our government is very
supportive of local governments and making sure we build the capacity of local
governments to support their communities. A raft of measures in this bundle of
money will help support local government. One of the key issues in local
government is the ageing workforce and trying to attract and retain young
leaders and young managers to our local government sector to make sure they
become our next lot of chief executive officers and directors. The important
part is that we are putting in a program to make sure we can support and
encourage young people to stay within local government.
Of course, there are some tools in there for online
management and information and undertaking a governance review; it is very
important that local governments ensure that their governance models are
correct. All local governments are now going through the process of making sure
they draw up their community development plans, along with their long-term
financial plans and integrated reporting plans. This money will help with that.
It will enable them to consult and work with their communities to make sure
they have a better understanding and will be able to connect with their
community.
For the understanding of members,
since 2013 the Department of Local Government and Communities has provided a capacity-building
program that has provided more than $10 million to support our local councils
throughout Western Australia to make sure they can build capacity and deliver
good services to their ratepayers. Also, more importantly, providing
transparency will be the next measure we look into. I thank the member for
Vasse for her support, and the Minister for Regional Development and royalties
for regions for making sure we can help build the capacity of regional local
governments and make them stronger and more accountable to their ratepayers.
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