By Julian Bajkowski Opponents to a change in the Constitution that could give financial recognition to local government through a referendum at the 14th September federal poll have launched their official campaign with an attack by former Howard government minister Peter Reith on the Nationals leader in the Senate,. Barnaby Joyce. After months of sniping […]
3 June, 2013
By Paul Hemsley and Julian Bajkowski Councils in New South Wales have repudiated claims by the state’s Minister for Local Government, Don Page, that an amendment to the Constitution to allow financial recognition of local governments will lead to pork barrelling as baseless scaremongering. As the September 14th referendum debate heats up, joint presidents of […]
21 May, 2013
By Julian Bajkowski Independent power broker Tony Windsor has expressed confidence that a referendum on financial recognition of local government in the Australian Constitution on 14th September can succeed, despite Prime Minister Julia Gillard announcing vote without a form of words for the question. Mr Windsor told Government News that a ‘yes’ vote was “achievable” […]
9 May, 2013
By Julian Bajkowski and Paul Hemsley Prime Minister Julia Gillard has finally confirmed that the federal government intends hold a September 14 referendum that if successful would allow the financial recognition of local government in the Australian Constitution, but there are signs of growing tensions and signs of fracturing support for the poll within the […]
9 May, 2013
By Julian Bajkowski A referendum on the financial recognition of local government in the Australian Constitution now appears to be highly likely after both federal Local Government minister Anthony Albanese and the Australian Local Government Association strongly hinted that a positive announcement is imminent. Sources close to the process have hinted that a formal announcement […]
3 May, 2013
By Julian Bajkowski Prime Minister Julia Gillard has rewarded Anthony Albanese, one of the key protagonists in the attempt to unseat her, with the Local Government and Regional Development portfolio as fresh uncertainty over the prospect of a referendum to guarantee federal funding for councils grows. In an announcement on Monday, Ms Gillard said that […]
26 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 The Australian Local Government Association has officially overcome its public anxiety attack over the timing of a referendum on Constitutional recognition of local government at the next federal election. In a Friday afternoon bulletin to members, the peak group said that its board had had now “formally resolved to support and campaign […]
1 March, 2013
By Julian Bajkowski Queensland Premier Campbell Newman has thrown down the gauntlet to other Australian state and territory leaders to back the ‘yes’ case in a proposed referendum on financial recognition of local governments or risk losing billions of dollars of direct Commonwealth funding for council projects and services. In a dramatic escalation of pressure […]
21 February, 2013
By Julian Bajkowski and Paul Hemsley Local governments keen to persuade a parliamentary committee of the merits of holding a referendum on Constitutional recognition of local government alongside the 2013 federal election have set at a cracking pace, with more than 33 documents lodged as the deadline for submissions looms. The slew of input comes […]
11 December, 2012
By Julian Bajkowski South Australian and Mayor of Marion, Felicity-ann Lewis, has been elected as the president of the Australian Local Government Association, beating outspoken Queensland Central Highlands councillor Paul Bell in a ballot at the organisation’s annual general meeting held in Hobart. The election of Mayor Lewis comes as the peak body faces renewed […]
14 November, 2012
By Paul Hemsley Outgoing Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) President Paul Bell has reversed his decision to downsize to a smaller role in local politics, revealing instead he will run for the presidency of the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) for a second time. The ALGA presidency has been open since the departure of […]
23 October, 2012
By Julian Bajkowski and Paul Hemsley The Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) has increased pressure the federal government to have local governments officially recognised in the Constitution after Prime Minister Julia Gillard postponed another looming referendum that would have acknowledged indigenous Australians. ALGA President, Felicity-ann Lewis has called on Canberra to establish a parliamentary committee […]
20 September, 2012
Felicity-Ann Lewis, Mayor of the City of Marion in Adelaide, South Australia, will replace Genia McCaffery as the head of the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) according to an announcement released by the peak body. ALGA said that that Ms Lewis will fill the role of president until a formal vote is held at its […]
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