Legislative Council Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1) 52 1 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Question Time Regional Councils REGIONAL COUNCILS The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY Legislative Council REGIONAL COUNCILS The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (14:43): My question is to the Minister for State/Local Government Relations. The Hon. R.I. Lucas interjecting: The President Legislative Council The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY Legislative Council The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY: Will the minister explain how the state government is better communicating and liaising with regional and country councils? The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY Legislative Council Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for State/Local Government Relations The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (14:43): I am pleased to advise that the Department of— Members interjecting: The President Legislative Council The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY Legislative Council The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: I am pleased to advise that the Department of Planning and Local Government has appointed regional liaison officers to forge closer links with country councils. The purpose of the regional liaison officer is to establish an ongoing point of liaison and contact between government and councils, as well as the significant regional bodies such as the natural resources management (NRM) boards and the Regional Development Australia boards. This will assist councils to fulfil their core responsibilities and engage fully with a wider policy agenda by facilitating a consistent flow of information and support between government and the councils. The establishment of a regional liaison officer system creates a direct and immediate point of contact between the department and the local government sector by formalising a relationship between councils, regional or local government associations and a departmental officer. This will result in an improved conduit for information for individual councils and better identification of issues within local government on a regional basis. Key responsibilities of a regional liaison officer will be: attendance at regional Local Government Association meetings; maintaining regular contact with individual council members within the regional Local Government Association; identifying any need for greater information or assistance from government on planning and local government issues; and promoting stronger links between regional local government associations, the RDA boards and the NRM boards. This system of liaison with councils will support existing policy and implementation priorities both within the department and across government by: encouraging South Australia's country councils to understand and implement regional planning priorities; improving sector-wide governance structures that will support councils in fulfilling current responsibilities and meeting increased future challenges; and complementing processes underway for infrastructure planning across South Australia.