By Paul Hemsley and Julian Bajkowski The Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) has called for money to be urgently freed up under the Referendums (Machinery Provisions) Act to educate the Australian public about Constitutional matters in the run-up to a vote on financial recognition in the federal election in September 2013 – if it happens. […]
22 March, 2013
By Julian Bajkowski A leaked letter from Queensland Premier Campbell Newman to Prime Minister Julia Gillard reveals that the state government is behind the proposed wording of a Constitutional amendment pivotal to a referendum and does not believe the change will erode state powers over local government. A copy of the letter obtained by Government […]
11 March, 2013
By Julian Bajkowski The final report of the Joint Select Committee on Constitutional Recognition of Local Government has recommended that a referendum be put to electors at the 14th September 2013 federal election despite the relatively short lead-time, but support within the Coalition could be fracturing along Liberal and National party lines. After previously reserving […]
7 March, 2013
By Julian Bajkowski Federal minister for Local Government Simon Crean has ratcheted-up pressure on state premiers to get behind a referendum on Constitutional recognition and direct funding of council projects from Canberra. The renewed push to get states on board comes after crisis talks were held between the Australian Local Government Association and Mr Crean […]
19 February, 2013
By Julian Bajkowski Key independent powerbroker Tony Windsor has vowed that the naming of a September 14th federal election date is no excuse to put off a referendum on Constitutional recognition of local government, saying the long lead-time provides a catalyst not an obstacle for the plebiscite to be held. “I think it’s got a […]
1 February, 2013
By Julian Bajkowski Nationals Senator Barnaby Joyce has accused the Gillard government of attempting to let a proposed referendum on Constitutional recognition of local government deliberately die of neglect – despite the plebiscite having ongoing federal Coalition support. In a broadside aimed directly at Local Government minister Simon Crean, Senator Joyce claimed that the […]
29 January, 2013
By Julian Bajkowski Federal parliamentarians have rounded on their local government colleagues over an attempt to try and postpone a referendum to secure legal certainty over direct funding for council-based projects from Canberra. At a visibly tense public hearing of the Joint Select Committee on Constitutional Recognition of Local Government in Sydney on Wednesday, federal […]
18 January, 2013
By Julian Bajkowski The Australian Local Government Association’s (ALGA) push to secure constitutional recognition has cleared an important political hurdle after the House of Representatives carried a motion last night to establish a 12 member Joint Select Committee to look into the proposal that would need to be put to a referendum. The bipartisan support […]
1 November, 2012
By Lilia Guan Capital City Lord Mayors from around Australia recently met-up in Canberra to discuss the latest issues and agendas concerning capital cities. This year, the Lord Mayors met-up with newly appointed Minister for Local Government, Simon Crean. In an interview with Government News about the annual meeting, City of Melbourne […]
2 December, 2010
By Angela Dorizas Federal Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner has denied claims that the Government will slash public sector jobs to find budget savings. The Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) last week warned that the Federal Government was planning to impose a boosted efficiency dividend on departments and agencies. In its Budget submission, the CPSU […]
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