Legislative Council Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1) 52 1 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Question Time Local Government Grants Commission Funding LOCAL GOVERNMENT GRANTS COMMISSION FUNDING The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK Legislative Council LOCAL GOVERNMENT GRANTS COMMISSION FUNDING The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (14:33): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for State/Local Government Relations a question on the subject of Local Government Grants Commission funding. Leave granted. The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK Legislative Council The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: The minister wrote to me (and, I assume, all honourable members) on 25 August in relation to the Local Government Grants Commission funding. In one of the paragraphs, he advised the following: ...the Commonwealth advised that there was an underpayment of $0.6 million in the 2010-2011 grants due to the difference between CPI and population estimates made at the beginning of last financial year and the actual outcome. My questions are: is the minister concerned that South Australia's loss of regional status will reduce local government funding directed to it as population falls, and does he have a strategy to manage this issue? 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) (14:34): I thank the honourable member for her question. Yes, you are right; I did send a letter out to all members of parliament to inform them of the results of the local government grants. The formula which regulates the money that goes out to councils is reviewed every now and again and a number of things are taken into consideration. Population would be one of them, so I imagine there could be a review in the coming year. There are a number of factors, and population is one of them. It has to be constantly reviewed because circumstances change, so that may have an impact on the grants. The President Legislative Council The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Ms Lensink has a supplementary question.